The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-21
LABOR BATTLE
 IMPENDING ON NEW HAVEN ROAD
Engineers And Bremen To Fight Proposed Change In
 Seniority Rule

General Manager G. L. Bardo of the Tew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad has given the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and the Brother hood of Locomotive Engineers thirty days notice that he intends to make a change in the existing agreement between the company and those or ganizations and it is understood that Mir. Bardo intends to try to establish a scientific test-a sort of civil service examination-to determine the ability and capability of employees trusted with the running of locomotives Gen eral Manager Bardo'S determination to Etart this system is said to be result of the Stamford wreck, which was claimed to have been due in part at least to physical incompetence of En- gineer Charles Doherty, who had charge of the locomotive.
 The general committee of adjust ment, which repr esents both the en- kineers and firemen, which have been settling all their labor troubles togeth ST for several years, is now in New Haven awaiting a conference with MT. Bardo, who is at present in New York Mir Baxcfo is expected back some time this week and will trnmediately go into conference with the engineers and fire men
 In the reports on the Stamford wreck both the coroner and the pub lie utilities commission criticised the
 
 incompetent man to have charge of locomotive MT. Bardo's idea, it is said, is to establish system which will free the road from all such blame in futuBe eases, bys giving the engin- eers certain tests from time to time to make sure that they are competent to do the duties reQuired of them. Particular stress would be laid, 1t is Baid, upon sight hearing and physical strength
 There is at present existing between the road and the hremen's and engin- eers' organizations an agreement that the men be advanced according to a strict seniority rule T11is has been in operation for a3number of years and is considered one of the most valuable concessions secured by the men, Mir Bardo's plan, if put into effect, it is believed would wipe out this seniority system altogether. The men are strong 1y opposed to any change and see in ahe move by MT. Bardo a possible method of getting rid of some of the veteran men. M The engineers. say that the standard of ability has been kept very high since the existence of the seniority agreement and that there is no need Eor a change in the system. As yet MT. Bardo has not. explained his plan to the fremen and engineers and the discussion so far of his proposed changes is merely speculation The >uTy official step taken so far has been the filing of the thirty-day notice of an intended change, which Is required by the written agr eem ert existing be- tween the road and the firemen's and ngineers' organisations.
 The general committee of adjust ment, headed by Frederick Evans of Boston, win hear the full plan for the s,, fzst tins 2, sSss 9Rfe HsE glth + Mr shs conference can! be arranged so quickly.
 MT. Bardo iss at present in New York in conference with the arbitration committee of the hremen in regard to another matter of dispute. The fire men are dissatisfed with the course taken by MT. ,Bardo in the enforcement of the recent decision of the arbitra- ton board which decided the wage dispute of the dremen of all the east ern railroads under the Erdnan law. When the fremen decided to arbitrate it was agreed they claim, that no de- cision of the arbitration board would be permitted to change any existing conditions to the detriment of the fire men The decision of the arbitra tion board prescribed a certain pay for the frernen, figured according to the num- ber of miles covered on certain work. while this Is an increase for most of the men, 1t proved to be a decrease in wages for some who were working on certain slow trains MT. Bardo de- creased these mems pay in accordance with the general schedule fixed by the arbitration board, in which, the fire men claim, he violated the agreement entered into before the arbitration, khat no decision of the board should be allowed to lower present wages
 The present dispute only affects the New Haven road, and not the other roads interested 5usthe, arbitrat tion-
 The engineers sly stfl stSthey will fight MT. Bardo's plan if he insists on put infn nI1arRffnn-