Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-30

its report of the investigation:
The position of the Bangor & Aroos-
took Railroad CO., as forth set by its
president and as may be supplemented
by it's other officers who have appear
ed before the board, appears in the
first instance to admit of no arbitra
tion or mediation of the subject matter
now in controversy. 1t bases It's posi-
ton as much upon the principle that
It's emnloyes are receiving an adequate
COMPENSATION for the risk, extent and
character of the services rendered, as
it does upon the proposition. which II
asserts to be a fact, that in view OF It's
financial status now ana Tor d IONS
time existing, it finds itself. as IL
states, absolutely unable TO meet any
demands from any sources OF It's va
rious classes of employees Tor PCS.
Bile increase in wages; ana upon tll9
point it has submitted for inspection
comics of the sworn monthly seate-
ments of it's proper officials TO tpe ~.
partment of Commerce and LABOR ol
the United States, as required BY id",
tending to show its exact ithfihciai
condition for Il period COVERING tie
time ensuing since the last annual re-
MORT of the company for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1912, together with the
report of the company for the iseai
wear above mentioned, and BY lile
testimony of its president and treas
urer given personally before the ooaru'
Much evidence has been introduced
nv both narties to the = controversy
hearing upon the cost of operating the
-,
it's earnings, or losses, as the case
NAV he. and upon its ability or It's III
ability to meet either as moral vi d
business proposition, the deillahas VI
the striking brotherhood. and upon the
relative conditions attending the WORK
of the engineers and firemen win
those obtaining in 81 of the % ran
roads in the eastern territory so-eaileo
which contains New England. As the
reguIt of concerted action on the part
of the engineers, at least, OF the %
railroads above mentioned. basis OF
IA standard minimum scale OF wages
WAS reached by arbitration pufsutii'
10 the terms Of federal legislation
known as the Erdman act copy Oh
which will be submitted To your eX-
cellency with the complete steno-
graphic report of the boards SEES
sions. which standard was accepted by
all of the companies included IN TINS
territory, saving and excepting the
Rutland whose employees did not
present a demand for the standard
scale. and the Central Vermont ana
Bangor & Aroostook railroads, which
said corporations did not enter into
this standard arrangement.
A quantity of evidence bearing upon
phases of the matter in controversy
and with particular relation TO the
prior attitude of the parties and their
attempt to amicably adjust their dr.
ferences. has been introduced INTO the
record of the boards sessions, but Is
regarded by the board as collateral TO
the subject matter under inyestiga-
ton. and it therefore confines this
summary of its investigation to 2
statement of the parties grievances
as they exist at the present moment.
The same has already been set forth
in the public press and will need no
consideration by US at this time.
The position of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and the Broth
erhood of Locomotive F'iremen and
Enginemen may be summarized in q
claim for compensation according To
the standard minimum wage scale en-
tered into the 50 railroad companies
above mentioned, without particular
regard to the financial status of the
company as it may exist ct this time,
The brotherhoods contend that in view
of the character of service rendered by
them and the working conditions un-
der which the same is performed, a.
based upon comparative condition
obtaining upon lines of similar char
acter as the Bangor & Aroostook rail
road, that they should receive at leas
an equal compensation. Much cyl
dence has been introduced upon this
point in support of this proposition.
The brotherhoods believe that the true
basis of adjustment of compensation
should be an equitable return for SER
vices rendered at the market price OBJ
tanning. for those services, without the
special consideration for the capacity
of the purchaser to pay, And upon
this point it is in testimony that Ban
gor & Aroostook passenger engineers
are paid at the rate of 1919 per 100
tmilesss while :. Maine Central passenger
engineers are paid at the rate Of $4.25
per- 100 miles: Bangor & Aroostool1
through freight engiiieersrare paid at
the rate of 81 per 100 miles, While
Maine Central through freight en-
gineers are paid at the rate of $4.75
per 100 miles; Bangor e Aroostook
way freight engineers, 1870 per 100
miles. Maine Central way freight en-
gineers, S. per 100 miles; Bangor s&
Aroostook switch and yard engineers.
$3.50 per 100 miles, Maine Central
switch and yard engineers $40 per
100 miles; all other Bangor & Aroos-
look engineers, s3.60, all other Maine
Central engineers. $4.75. Firemen get
60 per cent of the above wages. All
of which is based on rate per 100
miles per ten hour service per day.
with overtime extra These com
PARSONS arc based upon what is
known as the standard minimum as
fixed by the arbitration hitherto re-