Las Vegas optic., 1914-11-30
employees RE OVERWORNED
TRAFFIC LiNa ARE GIVING THEM
MUCH BEAVER TRAlNs
To aE HAULED
LARGE EAGINES ARE IN use
THESE ADD no RESPONSIBILITY
or DRIvERs AND CUT DOWN
THEIR NUMBER


Chicago, Nor go Arbitration Of
the differences over wages and hours
Of employmen IS western railways
and their 55 enginemen began
here today beEos board Of arbitra-
tors under the visions Of the New
lands act II gAgarded as the most
important ease 'as far TO come I'M
der the law Il a general way i is
stated that the ge increases sought
BY the men are bout 10 per cent
The board oi arbitration today SCI
Eleeted Judge Peser G. Pritehard as
chairman and IT. s. Milstead OF Wash
ington, secfeta IN an opening
statement w. Stone, grand cnref
engineer for the Brotherhood Of Io-
comotive EnginseFs, presented the
case OF the enr Dyes He reviewed
the conferences ehich preceded the
present arbiifas Of the wage and
service diffefen between the rail
roads and their employees He laid
great stress 81 harashipa suffered
by the me " long hours pfI
service; their stuesll 7s sala
that tfex wes salsa
ice conditioAe a89 e IN
the railroad managers were inclined
to accord them. He said the wage
movement Of the employees was begun
two years ago and that later it was
decided the Brotherhood of Locono-
tive Firemen and Enginemen should
work with the brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers in the presentations
of the requests to the railroads. He
told Of counter propositions submitted
by the railroad managers and Of the
joint conference last winter, which
eliminated in the agreement to arbi-
trate. Mr.. stone insisted that any
award Of the board OF arbitration
should not decrease the present wage
rates nor impose less favorable sery-
ice conditions on the employees.
After describing the hardships Of
the men in the cab and noting that
traffic each year is becoming more
congested, that eacn year the pubic
demands faster time and better serv-
ice, that each year larger locomotives
are built and heavier tonnage hauied,
the chief engineer said;
"And It must not be overlooked that
all Of these increased burdens fall on
the same men, their number not hay
ing been increased for the purpose Of
dividing this work and responsibility"
Summing up Mr.. Stone said:
eve shall endeayor to show that
during the past "A years the western
railroads have made remarkable gains
III productive efficiency by the install
Ilation Of locomotives Of greater trac-
tive power by the elimination Of
curves and reduction Of grades, re-
markable increases in train loads
have been made The burden Of all
these economies IN the interest Of
railroad Investment is borne by the
men.
"The effect on engineers and fire
men has been three-fold Their la
bors and responsibilities nave been
increased. Their productive efficiency
has increased greatly, but their earn
ing capacity, even at the slightly in
creased rates of payment they have
received. has declined.
we hope to show that these rail-
roads, not satisfied with the present
hard conditions which reached the
limit Of human endurance. are intend
ing to add further to existing train
lcads. thereby Increasing the labors
and responsibilities Of the engineers
and firemen."
I Quoting atatment Of the railroad
managers last June IN which it was
pointed cut that increased expenses