The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-11-27
ENGINEERS WIN
WAGE INCREASE
ATbitratOrS' Award Partial Vic.
tory For Railroad Employees
SOLUTION FOR LABOR DISPUTES
Board Recommends State and Federal
Je Claims Commission and That
Arbitration Be Made Compulsory.
FEATURES OF THE AWARD.

FEATURES OF THE AWARD.
A minimum wage OF 1925 per
= 100 miles or less for engineers
in passenger service, with an
overtime rate of 80 cents per
hour, with an average speed of
20 miles per hour.
A minimum OF s475 for en-
gineers in through freight serv-
ice per day of 100 miles or less,
with overtime pro rata after ten
hours; 20 cents additional per
= day in local freight service, and
= $40 per day of ten hours or
= less in switching service.
All existing rates higher than
these minima are continued in
: force.
T. - a% 4
The 10000 locomotive engineers of
the eastern railroads have won their
fight for an increase in wages. The
board of arbitration between the rail.
roads and the engineers in its award
does not grant all of the engineers de-
but establishes minimum
wages which amounts to substantial
increase on most of the roads.
The award by the board of arbitra-
tion probably brings the forty eight
railroads OF the east face to face with
demands for increased wages by the
firemen and other employees.
Notwithstanding the increase in
compensation, the report of the en-
gineers on the board dissents from the
award and says the settlement accept
ed by it can be only temporary. The
award is retroactive, running for only
one year from May l, 1912. This
means that within five months the
roads of the east probably will be
confronted by demands and again may
have TO meet the possibility of a
strike.
The railroads estimated that the de-
mands on the part of the engineers If
granted would entail an additional ex-
penditure of $7,172,000 year If the
same percentage of increase were
granted to other employees the addi-
tional expense would amount in all TO
$67 100000.
The board of arbitration expresses
the opinion that this total is too high,
but it does not attempt to give exact
figures as to the additional burden
that the award may impose upon the
railroads Of the east.
The findings of the arbitration board
are regarded here as practically insur-
ing renewed attempt on the part of
the railroads to raise freight rates.
The chief contention of the railroads
in opposing the engineers demands
was that they were unable financially
to meet the increased compensation
asked. The board of arbitration waves
this question aside and holds that if
the railroads are not able to pay
fair compensation to their engineers
with existing rates there is Just cause
for them to open again the question
Of an increase in rates with the inter
state commerce commission.
It Is on the strength of this sugges-
ton that the roads will undoubtedly
quickly move to lay before the inter-
state commission again schedules of
increased rates.
But more striking than the actual
award by the board is a recommends
tion which 1t makes for the solution
of all labor disputes on railroads of
the United States. This recommenda-
tion contempates the establishment
by law of state and federal wage
claims commissions This commission,
the board claims, would be similar to
the interstate commission and all
labor disputes on interstate railroads
would be referred to it for settlement
Under this proposed plan arbitration
Of all railroad labor disputes would be
The board tries to impress upon the
public the seriousness of the situation
that would have confronted this coun-
try If the engineers had acted as they
voted and quit work. The board points
out that a strike would have left the
large cities of the east with their food
supplies exhausted within week.
The arbitrators contend that the
balance of the power in the control Of
wages, which was first with the rail
voads, has now passed to organized
labor
Speaking Of the power lodged in The
grand chief of the engineers and the
committee to declare a strike after
the engineers have voted the report
says:
From the point Of view of the pub
iic It 10 on intelershle situation when
any group OF men, whether employees
or employers, whether large or small,
have the power to decide that a great
section Of the country as populous as
all of France shall undergo great loss
Of life, unspeakable suffering and loss
Of property beyond the power of de-
scription through the stoppage of a
public service"
"
Allen Given Fifteen Years.