Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-30
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NINETY.
EIGHT RAILROADS AND EN-.
PLoYEs TO De SETTLED.
MOST IMPORTANT CASE TO
COME UNDER NEWLANps ACT
Hsad Of Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers Presents Case For Engine.
msn-Dsclarss Labor and Responsi-
biIity Havs Been Increased But
Wages Have Not Boon Advanced.

/ Chicago. Nov 30.-Arbitration Of the
differences over wages and hours Of
employment of ninety eight western
railroads and their $1,000 enginemen
began here today before board of d.
lrectors under the provisions Of the
Newiands act. It Is regarded as the
most important case thus far to come
under the law.
In a general way 1t is stated that the
wage increases sought by the men 10
about 10 per cent. They were repre-
sented in court by Warren S. Stone.
grand chief engineer of the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Engineers and
William S. Carter, president OF the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen. The railroads were
represented by the twelve committee
men of the managers association, as
sisted by legal counsel. The evidence.
1t was predicted. will be largely statis-
tical. altho it Is probable that about
forty witnesses, divided equally be-
tween the two sides, will be heard.
The arbitrators are w. Y. Park and
H. e. Byram, representing the rail-
roads; F. A. Burgess and Timothy
Shea. for the employees. and Judge
Jeter c. Pritchard and Charles Nagel.
appointed by the government.
Stone in Opening Statement.
In his opening statement TO the arbi-
tration' board, Warren S. Stone grand
chief engineer of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers, reviewed the
conferences which have preceded the
present arbitration OF the differences
between the railroads and their en-
ployes. He laid great stress on tho
hardships suffered by the men. their
long hours of service. their hazard and
their responsibility. He said they were
entitled to better service conditions
and higher wages than the railroad
managers We're inclined to accord
them.
He said the wage movement OF the
employees was begun two years ago and
that later 1t was decided the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen should work with the Broth
erhood Of Locomotive Engineers in the
presentation of the request to the rail
roads. He told OF counter propositions
of the managers and Of the Joint con-
ferences last winter, which eliminated
In the agreement to arbitrate.
Employees Responsibilities Increased.
Mr.. Stone insisted that any award Of
the board Of arbitration should not de-
crease the present wage rates nor i'm
pose less favorable conditions on the
employees.
After describing the hardships Of the
men In the cab and noting that the
traffic is becoming more congested each
ovN1 A1,nv IL
| time and better service, that each year
larger locomotives are built and ton
mage hauled, he said. 1t must not be
| overlooked that these burdens fall on
the same men, their number not having
been increased for the purpose OF di-
viding this work and responsibility.
| Summing up. Mr.. Stone said:
I'VE shall endeavor to show that dur
Ing the past twenty four years, the
western railroads have made remark
able gains in productive efficiency by
! the installation OF locomotives OF
greater tractive power. BY the elimin-
a ation Of curves and reduction of grades,
remarkable increases in trainloads have
! been made. The burden of all these
economies in the interests of railroad
industry are borne by the men In the
transportation service. The effect on
engineers and firemen has been three
fold. Their labors and responsibilities
have been increased; their productive
efficiency has been greatly increased,
but their earning capacity. even Mt
slightly increased payments, has de-
clined.
Road Plan Increased Service.
I'VE hope to show that the roads, not
satisfied with the present hard condi-
tions, are intending to add further to
existing trainloads. thereby increasing
the labors and responsibilities of the
engineers and firemen.''
1 Quoting statement Of the railroad
managers last June, in which 1t was
pointed out that increases OF the ex-
penses Of railroad operation thru COM
pliance with the employees request.
would in the long run make the public
the sufferer, Mr.. Stone said:
1T Is refreshing to see this change In
sentiment. but 1t Is only when some
question Of increase of wages of en-
ployes is concerned that they become so
sOlicitous for the long suffering public.
A little group Of financial pirates will
exploit some railroad and place a bur
den on the public, which generations yet
unborn will have to bear. and you hear
not even whisper OF the rights or suf-
1 ~ Il. n. ~