The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-13
UNIFORMITY CHIEF
DEMAND ON ROADS
Similar Wages and Rules of En-
ployment Are Asked by En-
gincers and Firemen.
THEIR BRIEF is FILED
They Point to Conditions in
Other Industries to Sup
port Claims.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch. ]


New York. April 1.-THE Brother
hood OF Locomotive Tiremen and En-
gineers to-day filed brief with the
Board OF Arbitration that is holding
executive session behind closed doors
at the Waldorf Astoria to settle the
differences between the enginemen and
the hfty-two Eastern railroads. Tho
brief sets forth fully The demands of
the men. and rcstates tho arguments
advanced in their behalf.
The demands for uniform wages and
uniform rules OF employment on all
the roads participating in tho arbitra-
ton. is the most important question
to he decided by the board. Tho fire.
men and engineemen contend that such
uniform scales are necessary for com
parison in future arbitrations. and
cito tho railroad reports when they
were unable TO furnish data on the in
crease In wages on any one road in
the past to prove this contention
Uniformity i'll rates and rules Is
necessary and desirable in other in
dustries. as evidenced by the peace,
contentment and quiet that prevail in
the mining industry tho brief states.
where uniform rates and rules are
In effect In tho same competitive dis
trct as ompared with the instability
of prices, tho determinations and
abuses: and the continual unrest that
prevails where uniformity Goes not
prevail"
THE industrial advantages" con-
tinues the brief. are apparent in the
printing and building trades. Uniform
lily in rates Is a privilege OF the rail-
roads guaranteed by Federal leEisla
ton, thus eliminating discrimination
and favoritsm. and by the regulations
promulgated by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. placing all railroads
on an equality under the law"
This uniformity should not be influ
enced by the relative wealth OF the
roads, the firemen contend. because in
no other trade does the wealth of the
employer fix the wage OF the employee.
and the less prosperous railroad profits
as greatly by the labors of the fire.
men and engineers as does the wealth
lest. and the productive efficiency Of the
enginemen is just great on one road
as the other
Statistics refutinS the claims of the
managers that the railroads are not
financially in position TO grant the
wage increase demanded form n large
proportion of the brief. 1t quotes from
the Interstate Commerce Commission
TO show that the nfty-two representa-
tives of Eastern railroads carried CO. Q
per cent more freight i'm 1912 than they
did in 1902, and in the same period
passenger traffic Increased by 49.l6 per
cent.
Concluding. the brief SAYS:
IF the stocks and bonds of 4 rail
road company have been improperly
issued for the purpose OF granting
bonuses to stockholders. underwriters
or promoters or acquiring the bonds
and stock OF other transportation and
industrial corporations at Inflated val
Nes, and nothing has been added TO
the earning capacity of the railroad,
the necessity for paying dividends up
on such stocks or interest On such
bonds cannot be urged as a reason
against the grant OF Increased wages
to fremen."
The document is signed by w 5.
Carte. president of the Brotherhood
Judge Chambers. chairman OF the
Board OF Arbitration, said to-day that
1t would surely take more than seven
more DAYS 70 arrive AT the award