New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-20
F|REMEN FINISH CASE
W. ]. Lauck, Statistician, Ends
Testimony for the Men.
HIS EVIDENCE DAMAGED
Expert Admits Many of His
Tables Are Worthless for
Comparison.

Elisha Lee. representing the managers
of the fifty-four Eastern railroads in
volved in the labOr controversy with the
firemen they employ. finished the cross
examination of the last witness for the
firemen yesterday. and the arbitration
board which is to settle the dispute under
the Erdman act took a recess until to-
morrow. The railroads then will begin
the presentation Of their side of the ques-
ton.
II is expected that the taking of testi-
mony OF the witnesses for the railroads
will occupy about "A week. Many document
AIRY exhibits. which have been compiled
by the experts IN the transportation and
operating departments Of the various rail-
roads will be- placed in evidence before
any witnesses are examined. The rail-
road men have worked out averages in
the wage scales on the different lines. H.
was said, which Will tend To refute the
statistics submitted By ". j. lauck. the
principal witness for the firemen. 10 the
effect that the firemen had not received
in recent years an equitable Increase IN
wages. as compared with the large in
crease OF revenue on the railroads in
yolved
The executive officers Of some Of the
Eastern roads probably will De called a.
witnesses. Samuel Rea. president Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad. and William c.
Brown. president Of the New York Cen
trail lines. were mentioned yesterday as
possible Witnesses
LaEck. regarding several tables which he
had submitted. and under close question
INK Dir. Lauck admitted they were worth
less As bases o: COMPARISON These adj
missions followed eacn other So closely
thai Nh. Carter president of the Brother
mood of Firomen. asked the witness II he
bad not changed his mind overnight
Mr. I,auck said be had not
We'll. YOU are fast creating the i'm
preston said Dir Carter. that YOU Pc
pudiate your statistics
Mr. Lauck FASTENED 10 explain that the
tables lu question were not Inserted IN
~. statement Tor the purpose OF cOmraTi-
son. ana that hc had admitted their worth
lessncss a such IN order that there might
L. no ulstakc as 90 their value Judge
Chambers. chairman OF the board Of ar
bitration. assured Mr.. Carter that the
board did not entertain the impression
lions
Mr. Lauck pointed out in his figures FOR
all the railroads for the period .aJ2- l.
that the cost 20 o.. roads of the hrcmen,
on basis Of revenue miles. had Increased
~, cent while there had been an Increase
lu revenue ON tine same basis OF IS cents.
or forty times a. much Mr. Lee tried 70
pin the witness down 20 percentages. but
Mr. i.auck said bee preferred the straight
figures which spoke for themselves.
HAS the ratio 81 the cost OF the fire
men 90 the roads. as compared with the
total cost OF labor. gone up or down in
the past eleven years" Judge Chambers
asked the witness.
1T has gone down two one-nundredtl IS
OF per cent Iauck replied.
Mr. lee asked the witness II road was
run at Il loss instead Of making money
no thought the firemcn should help 10
make NJ tho deficit The witness said the
iiremen should not De- held responsible
for losses owing TO bad management or
any other reason. and should he pHd
their wages anyway.
Labor should be reimbursed for what
IL performs said Mr. Lauck. II hre-
man does efficient work he ought 20 be
paid"