Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-25

Washington. Nov. 24-Thirty thou sand locomotive engineers on fifty-two eastern railroads gain a partial victory in their demand for more wages under the award announced today by the board of arbitration.
 In it's decision, however, the board holds that the public. which had no voice in the controversy and no choice but to abide by the decision, had more at stake than either engineers or rail, roads, and the report emphasizes the necessity of plans to safeguard the public against the possibility of fu- ture strike whose consequences 1t de- picts in sombre vein.
 Interest of Public is Paramount. Tt would be difficult to exaggerate the seriousness of such a calamity" reads the report Tt is safe to say that the large cities of the east would find their supply of many articles of food exhausted within a week. Of so important commodity as milk they would have no more than days sup ply. If a strike of the character lasted for only a single week, the suffering would be beyond our power of descrip- ton. The interests of the public so far exceed those of the parties to a controversy as to render the former paramount. To this paramount inter est both the railroad operators and the employees should submit"
 Federal and State Wage Commissions. To place such strike beyond the realms of probability the board advo- cates the creation of federal and state wage commissions. These commits sionS, the board suggests, should be vested with practically the same pow CTS over organized labor as public util-
 
 quasi public corporations.
 Tt is the belief of the board" con- tinues the decision, that in the last analysis the only solution is to qualify the people of free contract in the rail- road service
 From this suggestion P H. Norris sey, the representative of the engi- neers on the board, dissents.
 General Increase Not Warranted.
 While the award increases wages op eome railroads and for some classes of service, it holds that a general in- crease on all roads is not warranted. The award dates back to May 1 last and will holA from one year from that date MT. Morrissey, representing the engineers. has already indicated doubt as to it's renewal. In the past, with several notable exceptions, the con- tracts between the roads and the en- g1neers have been renewed annually. Railroads Hoped for Different Outcome The attitude of the railroads, as out lined in statement today by Presi- dent Daniel Willard of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. who represented the railroads on the arbitration board, is likewise indefinite as to the future My acceptance of the award as a whole does not signify my approval of all the findings in detail" said Presi- dent Willard. He added that although the award is not such as the railroads had hoped for" nor such as they felt Justified by the facts, they now accept without question the conclusion which was reached.'
 The members of the board of arbi- tration were appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court of the United States, the United States com missioner Of labor and the presiding judge of the United States commerce court.
 Awards of the Board.
 Following are the more important of the boards awards and the requests of the engineers:
 In passenger service, a minimum wage was granted of $425 for 100 miles or less. and an overtime rate of
 
 speed of 20 miles per hour. The en- gineers asked $40 and s4.6O per day or 100 miles, according to the size of inc locomotive cylinder, with an over time rate of 70 cents per hour after five hours.
 In through freight service, a mini mum was granted of SAYS per day of 100 miles or less, with overtime pro rata after 10 hours. The engineers re- quested rates of S5.25, $5.50 and s5.75 per day of 100 miles, according to size of the engine, and s7 for Mallett en- G1nes; the same rates to apply to mine Eseas, work, wreck, helper or pusher @aslk and circus trains.
 Increase in Freight Service.
 In local freight service. 25 cents ad- dltional to the through freight rates was granted. This met the full re- quest of the engineers.
 In switching service, a minimum oi s410 per day of 10 hours or less was granted. The engineers asked $4.50 per day of 10 hours in switching service and for belt line service.
 All existing rates higher than the minimum granted by the board are continued in force.
 A Higher Minimum Rate.
 In fixing the minimum wage in pas. senger service at $4.25 per day, g higher minimum rate Is established fol the roads parties to the arbitration with the exception of few.
 In awarding the minimum througf freight rate of $4.75 per day, tho board establishes wages for the dis trict that measurably approach tht current minimum of roads now payin, the better rates.
 In making the rate for local freigh service 25 cents higher than through freight service, a general increase O compensation is granted
 20 Mile Rule Favors Engineers.
 The effect of the 20 miles per hou basis of computing overtime in th passenger service, the rules regardinJ final terminal delay, and other changes in the rules of, service, are all nor, favorable to the engineers than exist ing rules upon many of the roads.