Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-24
Firemen Given
 Wage Increase
ARBITRATION BOARD MAKES ITS
 AWARD.
TEN TO 12 PER CENT.
Demand for Two Bremen on Largo Engines Denied Except in Cases of Necessity-Need Not Clean Engines.


 New York. April 23.-Eastern rail- road fremen are granted an increase Of pay estimated at from 10 to 12 per cent by the award of the Erdman act arbitration board in their case, hand ed down tonight. Other claims of the fremen are allowed. but the demand for two fremen on large locomotives 1 is denied except ina case of necessity. Need Not Clean Engines.
 Another request for which the fire men fought, namely, the standardiza.- tion of wages based on the weight of locomotives on drivers, was granted, | although the al5ard provides that all wages that were higher or conditions that were better than fixed in the award shall not be interfered wiLE. J1Iis provision affects a number of the railroads involved. The fremen were also relieved of the duty of cleaning engines. The award is considered in tEe nature of a compromise as the frernen asked an increase estimated 1l. the neighborhood of 15 per cent. Will Cost from $2,9oo,ooo to $3,4so, 900. The total amount of wages paid the firemen, who number about 35.O00, is $29,000,0 900, so that the increase of from 10 to 12 per cent. will cost the railroads from S2,900.000 to $3,480, 900 annually. The award is effective May 3,this date having been fixed in accord ance with the provisions of the Erd- man act. under which the board was appointed.
 Judge William L.. Chambers, chair man of the board, and his associates, Albert Phillips, vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and 6nginemen and W. w. AtterburyD third vice president of the Penngytva- mia railroad ali declared that the award had been unanimous, although it waR admitted that there had been several points on which they had been unable tn agree until almost the last moment
 The Two -Firernen Issue.
 Two frenen question is disposed of by providing for an adjustment com mission" to decide whether an extra fireman is necessary. This commission is empowered to act where a settle ment cannot be made between the firemens committee and ohtctals Of the road" The adjustment commits sion" the award sets forth, must con sist of two members chosen by the railroad company, two by the hremen, and one selected by the four. who shall be chairman. Should the four fail to agree upon the fifth. he shall be chosen by the presiding judge of the United States commerce court, or, if for any reason the selection cannot be made by him, by the United States judge of the district in which the con trcversy may have arisen
 Overtime on Minute BasIs.
 It is provided that overtime in all classes of service, except passenger, shall be paid for pro rata on the min ute bases. When miles exceed hours, miles will be allowed, and when hours exceed miles, hours will be allowed. Overtime in passenger service will be paid on the basis of 20 miles an hour, computed on the minute basis Com pensatior for initial terminal delay is nos allowed beyond that involved n tte rule that pay shall begin In a'l csses at the time a fireman is required to report for duty. but final terminal delay after the elapse of an hour will < be paid for at the end of the trip at the overtime rate, according to the class of engine, on the minute bas1s- Increases for Hostlsrs and HelperSl.
 Bremen tied up between terminals on account of the 'sixteen hours or service" law will be paid continuous time from initial point to be-up poinr.
 Increases in the rates of wages de- manded in behalf of the hostlers and helpers on electric locomotives also are granted, although the increases are not so large as demanded.
 The New Wage Schedule.
 The f1remen's demands ranged from $225 a day on weights of passenger locomotives on drivers of less than 30 900 pounds to $4 day on weights $50 900 pounds or more. They were given in the award increases ranging from s245 on weights less than SO.oO0 pounds to s3.6O on all engines over $50, 900 pounds, and S4 on Ma1let en- zines regardless of weight On freight service the awards were somewhat higher. engines of over 300,O00 pounds on drivers getting an increase to S4 a day.
 Ten Hours or 100 Miles Days Work.
 Ten hours or less or one hundred miles or less shall constitute a days work in all classes of service, with certain exceptions and the time Tor which fireman shall be pair shall begin at the time he is required to re- port for duty and when the engine is delivered at the point designated
 TEE