The Sentinel=record., 1913-11-11
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND EM. PLOYEs OF EASTERN LINES
 GET7 PEh CENT RAISE
LONG WAGE FIGHT ENDED
Threatened Strike of Trainmen on all Eastern Railways is Finally Avoid ed Through Mediation Under the Newands Act

New York, Nov. 10.-The long con troversy between railroads of the east and their conductors and train. men over the latter's demands for more pay ended tonight. The em, ployes are granted an increase in wages averaging per cent and to- taling $6,0O0,00O annually-about half of what they wanted-from Oc- tober 1 fast, effective for one year. One hundred thousand men will share in the increase.
 Thus ends, by arbitration under the Newlands amendment to the Erdman act a convtrosery that threatened at one time to tie up by strike the trans portation facilities of all states east of the Mississippi river and north of the Ohio The award of the arbitra- tion commission filed late this after noon in the federal district court, is representatives of employees filed a minority report in addition to the two reports of the fl railroads without a dissenting opinion.
 In reaching its award the board ruled mainly against the employees on four out of five points submitted as reasons why the increase should be granted and found for them on the fifth-the increased cost of living. Since 1909 when last an increase was granted the arbitrators found the cost of living has increased seven per cent. Certain minor contentious em- braced also were conceded to the em- ployes. It was therefore more than coincidence that the increase grant ed in wages is exactly the increase in the cost of living as outlined by docu- ments introduced by the employees.
 The board does not found it's ac. tion entirely upon the increased cost of living" reads the award, a docue ment of 75 printed pages, though 1t looks upon this as basic"
 Without attempting to standardize the rates of pay between railroad em- of the east and the west, the board asserts it's belief that it is desirab> but not possible at the present time. As to this the award voices the opin- quiry to whether there is any longer substantial reason for the mainte- nance of wage differential between the two sections.
 Such an inquiry ought to result In a recommendation, reads the award, If 1t is found that such a differential ought to exist, as to what the diff ferential should be. Those making the inquiry should be empowered to report of existing wage scales in all territories for the purpose of ascer- taining, if possible, a scientific basis for the payment of railroad employees to operate trains. This suggestion does not contemplate that the body making such inquiry should attempt to fix wages"
 It is suggested that the committee on industrial relations recently ap- pointed by President Wilson might be competent to carry out the sug- gested inquiry.
 As analysis of the vote on each ar ticle submitted by the trainmen ra- veals an almost unbroken coalition between the two representatives of the employees of the two independent members of the board with the rail roads" representatives opposing them The articles are dealt with separately and fix the pay for var ious classiflications of labor. While l technical in verbiage, they provide, chiefly, that the monthly pay of em- ployes in the passenger branch of the service shall be:
 Conductors s135; baggagemen $S2.50; flagmen and rear brakemen SIS, brakemen $76.50; overtime, pei hour conductors 45.7 cents; assistant conductors and ticket collectors. 35.l cents: baggagemen 27.5 cents; flag