The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-12
HIGH LIVING COST
FELT BY F|REMEN
Its Relation to Wages Discussed
at Hearing Before Board OF
Arbitration.
SEVEN WITNESSES EXAMINED
Employees Contend That Heavier
Engines Compel Them to
Work Harder for Same Pay.

New York. March 1.-THE high cost
OF living and its relation to wages re-
ccived by firemen was one of the ques-
tions discussed to-day at the hearing
of the board, chosen under the Erdman
act, 10 arbitrate demands of the fire
men employed on ffty-four Eastern
railways for higher wages and better
working conditions. The rules pro-
mulgated by the railways and the ques-
tion OF promotions of firemcn to be
engineers were other subjects of tes-
timony by the seven witnesses OF the
day, six firemen and one engineer. The
fremen coptended that the heavier en-
Gines now in use cause them TO work
harder for the Same pay. They want
two firemen assigned to such locomo-
tives.
John w. Locke, an engineer former
ly fireman. employed by tho Lake
Shore and Michigan Central Railroad.
stated that il took sixteen years before
a fireman on the Lake Shore could be-
come a regular freight engineer.
James +. Rell, a fireman for the
Pennsylvania lines. admitted that dur
ing the six years and four months he
had been witt! The company ne had re
ceiNed several increases in pay but he
said:
Uci nave tliN more money al the
end OF the month than I had when
first started to work for the road I
have 10 pay more tor rent and more for
living expenses. and everything Is so
high don't seem TO be any better off E"
Bell said his wages averaged 500 n
month.
Goes Into Details.
Chairman William J.. Chambers went
INTO details with The witness concern
ing his living expenses. Bell stated
that his grocery bin was from SIS TO
$50 q month. his fuel bill in summer.
So rent, SIS; insurance. 81: theatres
tmov'nS pictures only), IL to 20 cents:
no bar bills.
Clothing. Bell said. did not count for
himself, as ho had not bought - new
s'iil in "a year. nor Il new overcoat i'm
lWo Years. Ills wife, he said had only
Two, new dresses in II Year He did not
employ servant, he said. yet he was
always in debt.
John W. Locke, formerly a fireman.
now an engineer. on the Lake shore
ana Michigan Southern, resumed rho
witness stand to-day ut hearings he
fore the board which is arbitratinp
demands of $4,000 frcmen of Eastern
railroads.
Locke said that, counting terminal
ueiaSs. iireman's round trip on the
Lake shore consumed forty-six hours
OF which thirty six hours was spent
away from home. During this time the
fireman was obliged to pay for fou.
meals. 1t took sixteen years. asserted
the witness. before fireman could be
come regular freight engineer on
the Lake Shore. Big engines and in
creased tonnage Of trains have delayed
promotions" he said.
itcSnOusibic for Rules.
+. l.. McGinnis testified TINT tircmcn
on the PENNSYLVANIA were required 10
memorize instructions which IL was an
absolute impossibility for ono man 10
remember. Firemen were held re-
sponsible for these rules and were dis
ciplined for failure to observe them.
he said McGinnis produced five books.
containing the rules, One OF the rules
was that fireman must notify his
engineer of every signal passed affect
ing his train.
: we pass. on an average. signal
every forty-fve seconds" said McGin-
mis-.
What do you do when YOU have to
shovel coai?' asked Judge Chambers
Sometimes the signals are far apart,
and that gives me time; but I've got to
see those signals. not only for my own
sake, but for tho sake OF tho train"