The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-12-01
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Chicago, Nov. Standardization Of
! differences over wages and hours Of
employment of ninety-eight Western
railroads and their $1,000 enginemen
began here today before a board of
| arbitrators appointed under the pro-
visions of the NewIands act 1t is
regarded as the most important case
thus far to come under the law.
In a general way it is stated that
the wage increases sought by the men
is about 10 per cent. They were rep
resented in court by Warren S.
Stone, grand chief engineer of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
and William S. Carter, president of
-. the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
man and Enginemen.
The railroads were represented by
the twelve committeeman of the
Managers Association, assisted by the
National council. Evidence, it was
predicted, would be largely statistical
although it is probable that about
forty witnesses, divided equally be-
tween the two sides will be heard
The arbitrators are w. L. Park and
II Fl. Bryan representing tho rail-
roads; f. A. Bruges and Timothy
Shea for the employees, and Judge
Jeter G. Prichards, and Charles Ma
gal, appointed by the government.
The board of arbitration selected
Judge, Jeter G. Pritchard as chairman
and H. S. Milstead of Washington,
secretary. In an opening statement
w. S. Stone, grand chief engineer of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, presented the case of the en-
ployes.
The representative of the men laid
stress on the hardships suffered by
the men, their long hours of service,
the hazards which they encounter and
weight of responsibility thrown on the
man at the throttle and the fireman
at the stokehcld
NO DECREASE IN WAGES.
Mr.. Stone insisted that any award
of the board of arbitration should not
decrease the present wage rates nor
impose less favorable service condi-
tions on the employees and in this con-
nection quoted. from a statement of
the railroad managers that sit was not
intended to make any reduction in
wages
There never was a time in the his
tory of the railroad world he said,
when as much was being taken oUSt Of
men in the cab as now-requirements
that are beyond the limit of human
endurance
Quoting a statement of the railroad
managers last June in which it was
pointed out that increase in the ex-
pense of railroad operation through
compliance with the employees re-
quests would in the long run make the
public the sufferer, Mr.. Stone said:
"a little group of financial pirates
will exploit some railroad and will
place a burden on the public which
generations yet unborn will have to
bear. and you hear not even a whisper
of the rights or sufferings of the pub
lic''
Attorney James NJ. Sheean, retained
by the railroads said that he would
reserve his opening statement until
the presentation of evidence for EN-
ployers informed him what line of de-
fense would be required. He added:
I'VE will contend, of course, that the
present rate of pay is full, fair and
adequate. We have no quarrel with
Mr.. stone as to the high class of men
required to run locomotives, nor do we
question their responsibilities and the
arduous nature of their duties
The board will sit from 10 to 1880
a. m. and from to p. m. daily ex-
cept Saturday and Sunday, Chairman
Pritchard announced.