The Washington herald., 1913-06-06
EVGINEMEN Hold
BUSY SESSION
Brotherhood Delegates Spend
Five Hours IN Debate on
Constitution.
5000 MEMBERS NOW HERE
Proposition to Increase the Pay Il
06eers Meets with Strong
Opposition.

Deieeates 10 the convention OF the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen and
Ensinemen settled down TO work yester-
day and spent I'VE hours. filled with hot
debate over several sections of the re-
port of the committee on the revision
OF the constitution and bylaws. A
lengthy discussion over the question of
whether statement that the interests
OF the employers and employees on the
railroads In the United States are mutual
should be included in the preamble of the
constitution, lasted all during the morn.
ing session and finally resulted in VIC
tory for the advocates Of the provision.
Following the discussion of the pre-
amble consideration of the constitution
proper was taken up. The delegates lock-
ed horns over the question Of increases
in the salaries of the officers and an in
crease in the number of vice presidents.
Both Of these recommendations were
strongly opposed. and no definite con-
clusion had been reached before adjourn
ment yesterday.
It is expected that the revision Of the
constitution will require about two weeks
1t Is probable that discussion of the con.
stitution will be suspended today for the
building committee to make its report
TO the convention. 1t is understood that
the report of the committee will con-
tain no recommendation as to where thu
Peoria, Ill. The report will simply be a
statement OF what the committee has
done since the last convention relative
to the establishment of permanent head
quarters.
Await Building Report.
This report is of great interest TO
Washington. as upon IL will largely de-
pend the National Capitals chances to
win in the fight being waged by half a
dozen cities to secure the permanent
headquarters of the organization. Friends
OF Washington are busily engaged in
lining up the delegates and are hopeful
OF bringing the headquarters to this city.
Actual consideration of the report will
not take place until the third week of
the convention.
The enemies Of the Sutherland bill.
which proposes changes in the present
workingman's compensation act, claim
that when the bill comes to a show down
in the convention that II will be over
whelmingly defeated. Despite the report
circulated by a few friends OF the bill
in the convention an officer of the organ
ization stated yesterday that the ''ex-
pected fight" on the Sutherland bill would
never materialize He stated that the
opposition to the bill among the members
of the brotherhood was almost universal
Unions of railway engineers and train
men have differed in their attitude toward
the measure, which has been reintroduced
In the Senate by Senator Sutherland. The
Brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen has
the bill while the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers has in
dorsed 1t.
An idea of the greatness of the brother
hood can be gleanned from the report Of
the treasurer published in this months
issue of the organization magazine. The
-
bers, and the balance on hand N the
various funds amounts to se.1 ,i4s. The
holding of the tri-annual convention is
a drain upon the treasury. Each dele
gate receives s. a day during the time
he is attending the convention. and each
member OF a committee receives s.. 1t
Is estimated the convention costs the or
ganization approximately IS a minute for
the actual time it is in session. This es-
innate does not include any allowance
for transportation, as most of the dele
gates are in the active service of the
railroads and get their transportation
free.
Delegates Take in Sights.
A majority of the delegates were glad
Of the opportunity to turn in early last
night and rest up after the long all-day
session of the convention. No special
had been planned for last
night. and a number OF the delegates
took in the sights of the Avenue"
Announcement was made at headquar-
tiers at the Dewey yesterday that 1900
delegates and members OF their families
had registered and that others were con-
stantly pouring in to take the place OF
those who were leaving. II is estimated
that the convention will have brought
fully 10000 visitors to the city before II
adjourns
The delegates are looking forward with
interest to a lecture to be given tonight
by Frank McManamy, assistant chief
Inspector of locomotive boilers Of the
Federal inspection service. The lecture
Is open to the general public, and ar
have been made to care for
an overflow crowd al the convention hall
in the Arcade Building, ESurtseiA Street
and Park Road Northwest NC
Manamy will explain In detail TX
of the Federal inspection servid of
great improvements brough Out
through its efforts. 80