The Washington herald., 1913-03-14
RISKS OF ROAD
DRIVE men OUT.
Brotherhood Official Says 15,-
900 Men Sought New Jobs
in Two Years.
MORE WORK, BUT NOT PAY
Witnesses Before Arbitration Board
Testify as to Attitude of In
surance Companies.

New York. March 1S.-Fifteen thousand
men have resigned from the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers
during the last two years, owing TO their
quitting the employ of the railroads and
seeking other occupations, was part Of
the testimony given to-day by Albert H.
Hawley, of Peoria, Ill, general secretary
and treasurer of the brotherhood, when
the Federal arbitration board resumed
the hearing on the dispute between the
railroads and the firemen and engine
men, 1t was also testified that the aver
age pay of wOrkingmen in other trades in
this city would be $3.50 for sixteen hours
continuous work, which many firemen
are compelled to put in.
Daniel W. Watt, of Peoria, Ill, testi-
fled that twenty years of exemplary serv-
ice as fireman and engineer on a West
ern railroad did not entitle him to let
ter of recommendation when he left the
company'S employ. Watt said that he
was at present engaged as a clerk in the
Office of the brotherhood and that his
wages were now higher than any which
he had received while in the employ of
the railroad.
Work Increased in Twenty Years.
In reply to a question put by Judge
w. L. Chambers, chairman and neutral
u,
the work had been made twice as hard
for firemen during the last twenty
years, owing to the increase in the
weight of the locomotives and the
heavier hauls- Further questioning
brought out that the increase in pay
during the same period had been only
10 per cent. The witness affirmed that
he was willing TO go on oath as to
these facts.
Mr.. Hawley testified that there had
been 1000 deaths among members of
the brotherhood between the years of
1904 and 1912, and 1000 accidents in
the same time. and that the fraternal
organization had paid benefits upon all
Of these cases. All of the deaths and
accidents occurred TO men while on
duty.
Dr. Walter B. Cory, medical adviser
of the brotherhood, testified that the
nature of the firemen's work rendered
him subject TO diseases of the heart,
kidneys. liver. and nerve system. Color
blindness was often induced by the
excessive heat and light. He intro
duced a list taken from numerous in
surance companies. showing the COM
panieS regarded the firemen as an ex-
ira hazard. and that many companies
would not insure freight fireman.
Risk on Firemen Greater.
Miles Dawson, an expert actuary OF this
city, testified that the insurance COM
panies lean toward the belief that the risk
On firemen is greater than in the case of
engineers.
Chairman Lee, of the conference COM
mittee of the railroads, announced at the
opening of the session that the Toledo.
St. Louis and Western had signified a de-
sire TO withdraw from the arbitration
proceedings, because it would not be able
TO pay any increase TO its fremen, and
preferred to deal with its men alone.
Judge Chambers said the arbitration
board could not recognize the right of
any road once a party TO the agreement
TO withdraw
Statistics compiled from the Interstate
Commerce Commission showed that in
less than year nine Eastern railroads
had violated the siXteen-hour law 1892
times. Some of these violations. II was
admitted, had been due 10 washouts and
wrecks and were unavoidable.