New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-25
DR.. WARNE SUMS Up
FOR R. R. EMPLOYEES
Closes Direct Presentation OF
Their Case Before Board
of Arbitrator.
LEE OPENS FOR ROADS
Head of Conference Committee
Says He Will Show Wages and
Working Conditions Are
Adequate and Fair.

The last witness on behalf OF the train
fore the arbitrators in the Manhattan Ho-
tel was Dr. Frank J. warne. the expert
on statistics. who testified several days
ago and was recalled at yesterday fore
moons session. When he finished Elisha
Lee. chairman OF the conference commit
tee OF the railroads. began his .presenta-
ton OF the case on behalf OF the railroads.
Or. Warne read statement in which
he went over briefly the arguments on be-
half OF the men. lie said the revenues OF
the railroads had been increasing through
the increasing tonnage and the men whose
work and responsibilities also had been
increasing should receive better wages.
He gave statistics from the records OF
the Interstate Commerce committee show
| ing that there was an increase in the rev.
cnues OF the passenger service from $780,
cp0.co in 1909 TO SOS 5000 in 1911. and in
the freight service, from Ii7l.o".c"o in 1850
10 tsi5.0,o.cco In 1911. There was an in
crease in the transportation revenue per
conductor from $500 Ia 1879 10 $1,000 in
! 1911.
Tho representatives OK the trainmen and
conductors then declared the direct pre-
s.ntation Of their case 10 be closed and
! Elisha Lee began his presentation OF the
| railroads case. He said he was prepared
! to show through the testimony OF wit
uesscs ana by means OF statistics that the
wages and working conditions OF the
iralumen and conductors were adequate
and fair.
When their wages were increased In
1910" he continued, they were liberal
] and the working conditions were fair and
/ reasonable We will show that since then
/ nothing has happened and no changes
/ have taken place calling for Increased
/ wages"
/ The first witness called for the railroads
was r. r. Hewitt, assistant train master
! for the Bcssemer 4 Lake Erie Railroad
at Albion. who went into the service OF
! the railroad as a brakeman In 1884,. The
/ witness asserted the trainmen did not
| have 10 work as hard as ten years ago.
and this no ascribed 10 the modern I'm
provements OF the roads. lie described
the general system OF work and the
.. duties OF the men. and said the men on
I the mine runs as q rule were able TO take
from two to three regular meals every
day and were home eich night.
The men," he said. had formerly no
pay for thirty minutes each day when
! they did preliminary work; now they are
paid from the time they report for work.
The question Of overtime was brought
up. overtime I'm the work OF tralnmen
being paid for as straight time. The
railroads wanted the work done quickly.
the witness said. and somo men on the
road he was connected with were dis
ciplincd for delaying. with the apparent
idea of making overtime.
I'VE are all human" he continued, land
there would be a temptation not TO work
too hard If overtime could be made, cspe-
cially If 1T were paid for at extra rates
Here Garretson tackled the witness and
asked II there were not other causes pc
sides the alleged desire to steal time.
Garretson said lie could mention many
i
expressed suppostion that men might be
| 'soldiering" To- make overtime.
The witness made the admission. In
reply to a number of questions, that there
we're many reasons and causes for over
time. Some of the causes were accidents.
delays owing to wrecks. and defective
equipment lie said. however there were
not many cases of defective equipment.
When Hewitt was examined as to the
number of rules In the Book of Rules. 1t
was figured out by Garretson that there
there were 1856 rules for the men. The
witness agreed with him eventually. but
A. II. Smith one OF the arbtrators for
the railroads, said this was misleading
There were only 30 rules that he could
find. Garretson held that there were sub
divisions In the 2lO. which would probably
bring the number up to 756.
Shortly after a discussion on this point
the hearing was adjourned until this fore
noon.