The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-11
IS BIC INCREASE
Trainmen Get ee,OOO,OOO Moro
Wages per Year.
Asked for 20 Per Cent and Get
by Arbitration.

view IOTh, NOV. 11.-An increase
of 100000 amounting to per cent
of the total annual wages of the con-
ductors and trainmen on II eastern
railroads will become effective today.
The award was announced by the
board of arbitration organized under
the Erdman act.
The original demands of the men,
who number approximately 10000
conductors and $4,000 trainmen, was
for an increase of 20 per cent or about
$1S.O0O.000. All parties to the con-
| troversy signed the final agreement
which will be accepted as a solution of
| the wage differences which have for
months threatened to tie up traffic on
the great trunk lines.
A minority report was filed by tho
representatives of the employees and q
dissenting opinion by the representa-
| tiyes of the railroads was submitted
but these do not affect the awards
! made.
The arbitrators justify the increases
granted on the increased cost of liv-
ing, which is estimated to have been
about Z per cent in the last ten wears.
They also took into consideration the
unchallenged charge made by the en-
ployees that the earning capacity of
railroads has greatly increased in the
last ten years.
|
railroads affected numbers approx
mately 47,OOO,O0O. The total operat-
ing expenses of the roads Is estimated
at $748.S92,O71. The amount of
wages now being paid to conductors
and trainmen will be raised from
about $85,OOO.0OO to $91, 100000.
The board of arbitration was COM
posed of w. w. Atterbury, vice presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania and A. H.
Smith, vice president of the New
perd for the Order of Railway Con-
ductors; DIR. c. L. Cease for the Broth
| erhood Of Trainmen; and Seth Low
and DIR. John H. Finley for the public
i No denial is made by the railroad
officials that this increase will be
used as leverage with the interstate
commerce commission to get Increased
freight rates, although official state
ments could not be obtained today.
The board of arbitration declined to
go into the merits Of the proposed in
crease in rates now before the Wash
tngton officials.
In their dissenting opinion Arbitra-
tors Atterbury and Smith for the
roads, declare the railroads, in addi-
/ ton to the $6,OOO,OO wage increase
granted, will have to expend an add,
tional 100000 annually. which has
been added to the railway expenses by
| the full crew law passed in this terri
tory at the request of labor organiza-
L
The percentage of increase in the
passenger service was not large. The
mileage rate granted to conductors IL
the amount asked by the men and Il
the same as the rate in the south. The
rate in the local freight, service, while
less than asked, is also the same now
paid in the south for conductors and
Ibrakemen. The men in the latter class
wanted the western rate which ie
much higher.
Schedule Of the Raise.
Analysis of the vote on each article
submitted by the trainmen reveals an
almost unbroken coalition between
ployees and the two Independent men,
bers of the board with the railroad
Representatives opposing them. The
articles are dealt with separately and
fix the pay for various classification
Of labor. While technical in verbiage
they provide, chiefly. that the monthly
pay of employees in the passenger
branch of the service shall be:
Conductors $135, baggagemen $3.50
fiagmen and rear brakemen SIS, brake
men $76-50 Overtime per hour. con.
ductors As cents. assistant conductors
and ticket collectors 37.7 cents, bag
gagemen z7.7 cents, f1agmen and real
brakemen 26 cents. brakemen 25.!
cents.
For the freight service the chic
awards are: Through runs. conduc
tors 4 cents a mile. flagmen EST I
mile, brakemen 2.67 mile (any run
LESS than 100 miles to be paid for q
| II II were 100 mi1es). In way freight
pickup or drop, mine and roustabou
service. same minimum, conductor
are awarded $4.sOsa day of 100 or lesl
ten hours or less, flagmen $3.rO an,
brakemen -. Overtime to 30 PAL,
for az time and one-hAlH
H. -