The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-25
Board of Arbitration Grants
Enginemen on Roads In
creased Wages
PUBLIC UPHELD IN THE
DECISION OF BOARD
Board Advocates Creation of Federal
and State Wage Commission 10
Prevent Strikes-AIorris-
sey Dissents

w Washington, November 2i-lnnty taou-
sand locomotive engineers on afty-tNo
eastern railroads gain a partial victory
in their demand for more wages. Under
tic. award announced today BY tie aoard
Of arbitration.
In It's decision, however tue boaed
holds that the public. which lad no
voice in the controversy and no choice
but to abide by the decision had .aore
at stake than either engineers Or sail-
roads; ana the report emphasizes lie
necessity of plans to safeguard the pub-
lie against the possibility of mttne
strike whose consequences it depicts IN
sombre vein
Seriousness of Strike
1t would be difficult To exaggerate tho
seriousness Of such calamity aads
the report. IT is safe to say that the
large cities of the cast would fnd .her
supply of many articles Of food ox-
hausted within Il week OF 50 important
a commodity rs milk they would save
no more than days supply Ii strike
OF the character lasted for only a single
week, the suffering would be beyond cur
power of description. The Interests OF
the public SO far exceed those ii N.
parties 10 4 controversy rs 10 render tue
former paramount
ITO this paramount interest both The
railroad operators and The employees
should submit"
To place such a strike beyond tie
realms OF probability the hoard advo-
Gates the creation Of federal and state
wage commissions These commissions.
the board suggests. would be vested
with practically the sume powers oSer
organized labor as public utilities conn
missions now exercise over quasi paelic
corporations
TT is believed by The board e3n-
I tinues the decision that IN the Last
analysis the only solution IS to quality
the principle OF free contract IN tie
railroad service.
AIolrisse, Dissents
I From this suggestion. = II. Morr.aeN
the representative Of the engineers on
the board dissents
While the award increases wages on
some railroads. and some GLASSES oi
service, 1t holds that a general increase
on all railroads Is not warranted. The
award dates back TO May J, last aud VIII
Morrisey representing the engineers has
already Indicated doubt 10 its renewal.
In the past. with several notable exesp-
tions. the contracts between tie foisds
end the engineers have been renewed an-
nually.
The attitude of the railroads as at-
liued Ia II statement today By President
Daniel Willard of the Baltimore & ohio
railroad. who represented the railreuds
on the arbitration board. IS likewise M
definite as TO the future
Roads Accept Conclusion
My acceptance OF the award as a
whole does not signify my approval OF
ali the findings ia detail said President
Willard lie added that although Tho
award is not such as the railroads had
hoped for. nor such they felt jusi-
fled by the facts, 'they now accent witn-
out question the conclusion which Vas
reached"
The members OF the board of arbitration
were appointed by the chief justice II
the supreme court Of the United states,
the United States commissioners OF labor
and the presiding judge Of us United
states commerce court.
Some of tae Awards
Following are the more important OF
the boards awards and the requests Of
the engineers.
In passenger service, minimum Nags
was granted OF si25 for 40 miles or less;
and an overtime rate Of 80 cents per hour
with an average speed of % miles per
hour. The engineers asked I.4a and SiU
per day Of 100 miles according TO he size
OF the locomotive Cylinder with an over
time rate OF 20 cents per hour after i've
hours.
In through freight service, minimum
was granted Of Si7s per day nf 100
miles or less With overtime prorata after
ten hours The engineers requested
rates Of s5.25. $3.50 and S5.75 per day u
100 miles. according 10 size OF the snglfe;
and 400 for Mallet engines The eaile
rates to apply 10 mine runs work yreck.
helper or pusher milk and circus rains.
In local freight service . cents al
ditional 10 the through freight rates was
granted This met the fun request of
the engineers
IN switching service, minimum OF SLID
per day OF ten hours or less vas granted.
The engineers asked Stu per day or in
hours in switching service and for belt
line service.
An existing raise higher than lie
mlnima granted hy he board are con-
tinued IN force.
IA liking the minimum wage in passen-
ger service at $25 per day, higher
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