New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
FIREMAN A CAPITALIST
Saved $500 of His S16O a
Month and Bought Property.
THINKS PAY SUFFICIENT
Engine Mems Advocate in Arbi-
tration Hearing Charges Rail-
road Witnesses with Bias.

S. G. Wise. road foreman on the Penn
sylvania Railroad. and "A former fireman.
surprised members OF the arbitration
board before which he testified yesterday
as witness for the Eastern railroads IN
their wage controversy with the firemen
by telling how he became capitalist
on the comparatively small wages he re-
ceived as fireman and engineer. The wit
ness testified that the fremen on the
PENNSYLVANIA got high rates OF wages
and were proficient men generally.
Under cross-examination by W. 5. Car
ter. representing the firemen, the witness
declared that he had always been able 10
support his wife and two children on the
wages he received during the ten years he
was a fireman and engineer and save con-
siderable money besides. Wise said that
when he received $50 "A month as an en-
gineer he always put 500 OF 1t In the
bank. The hremen have contended that
they could not pay living expenses on the
wages they receive.
How much rent do you pay" Mr. Car
ter asked Wise.
81 don't pay any rent; | buy all my
own property, and ! have got some in
Altoona / rent out you know" replied
the witness.
I'VE will have TO expect that when We
have capitalists firing. but they should
not be compared with other firemen,"
said Carter
IF was not a capitalist when | started
to fire, | was a common ordinary fire.
man" said Wise. When / started to fire
started TO buy my own property; /
didn't throw my money away n rent"
Carter asked the witness if he did not
think the fireman had to work harder TO
make as many miles az the engineer,
which he must do to make as much
money. If both had the same size fam
ily. he wanted TO know If the witness
didn't think the fireman should get as
much money as the engineer The wit
ness said not.
IF he has the same family to support"
said Wise 'it IS up To The fireman to just
simply do like any other class of men. J..
as an assistant foreman, would not expect
TO live like Mr.. McCrea Ga former presi-
dent Of the Pennsylvania or Mr. After
bury representing the railroads on the
arbitration board or the general mana
ger. If did ! would get in a hole"
The witness parted q good many of the
questions asked by Mr. Carter, who I'm
ally made the statement that the mental
attitude of witnesses for the railroads was
not fair and frank in answering questions.
He said that all the witnesses called for
the firemen had been frank and courteous
i'm their answers TO questions by Mr. Lee.
representing the railroads. but that all the
witnesses for the railroads had been APP
parently very much biassed.
He charged that w +. Cavey. super
visor OF locomotive operation on the Bal
timore q Ohio Railroad, who preceded
Wise as a witness, had been complained
OF by the firemen for the way he treated
them Mr. Carter said that witnesses
would be produced to show that the rela-
lions between Cavey and the firemen had
been strained for a long time. Such wit
ness would be likely to be biassed and not
kindly disposed toward the men against
whom he was testifying. Carter said.
Cavey had testified that on tests, under
his directions. iremen on the heavy
freight engines had covered trips In less