Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-28
GENERAL REMARKS.

Tie mileage OF the lines directly operated WAS
Increased u 0a miles, due chiefly +" tine
ton az various branch lines To ooiain auuiiihiii
trott and fine cha nges i.i~ri.e mileage owned ana
thai operated under lease or AZ agent nre uI !5
10 the absorption OF the Cambria ana eieaIhetu
The total revenues from rail operations exceed
those of any previous year In the history " .he
,erapnes in 1912. but a downward tendency &C.
cured in the last two months OF the year. +,.
While the revenues increased o.s ptow an in
crease OF 500 per cent compared WAN 'ne pfe-
vious year. -, - 1910 Ike
tbosa of 1912 were affected by legislation sacn
as the Extra Crew Laws and other expressly
measures, and by wage increases gran.ea as T Th
result Of arbitration under the Eron.an As.;
EXTRA Crew Laws alone involved an e1pendlturee
by tho Pennsylvania Eailroad system E G,e OF
pittsbnrxh and Erie of Ss50.oOo in rounu MGures'
nd this viii convey some conception Of the ex-
tent of the needless expenditures thai nave ossn
placed upon all Of the raiiroads IN TINS or
!mrins 1913 the conductors and tralnmen on
forty-Sne Of the railroads in Eastern ier.itoi:
comprising about 100000 men. submitted re-
wages in which your Company and others eoald
NOT acnuiesce The matter was finally soohntted
TO arbitration. being the frst wage CON now
as the Newlands Act, with the result mat VOTE.
Ing conditions were further restricted. and an an
ni raros n cencerned about per an
mum or per cent. This award was MADE no
vember 10th. 1913. effective ostooes hsr DaiJ
as further interpretations Of the award are now
hs,nr made and settlement will follow. The
e.penses for the year 1914 will be increased aI-
proxIma tely $3.50 COO as the result OF tnis a"aru
II is evident therefore that the ability 10 regu-
late wages and working conditions; ana other
heavy oneratinp expenses has as the result oi
Federal and State Legislation. largely passed from
the control of your Management, as has aiso tne
mower of your Company and other RAILROADS. 10
chs reasonable rates for the public transporta
fion service rendered The gravity Of the sltua-
tion is indicated In the following quotation 1pm
the recent award of the Board OF Arbitratlon ID
the matter Of conductors and trainmen s wages -;
..This Board has no authority to determine the
Messenger and freight rates to be paid In the
Eastern Territory: neither Is 1t in position to
determine whether such increase Is 1ustihed as
a matter of fact, by all of the circumstances.
This Roa mi however, believes that 1t must make
its finding as to what is a proper rate OF pay TO
ha awarded to the conductors and tralnmen as
result Of this arbitration. without any reference
to the dilemma In which the railroads are evil
IDENTITY placed by the laws which make IT impos-
sibe for them to Increase passenger and freight
rates without the authority OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission or OF the kaliroa1 Coh-
missions of the various states. 10 take any
other view of the question would be to decide
mat no increase Of pay, while the laws remain
as they are, ever be maze except Noiuhtsr-
ilv by the railroads Such decision would rem
der arbitrations like this. yalueless and 1t would
lie in eject TO hold that railroad service IN tue
Eastern Territory must continue 10 De rendered
at existing rates OF pay. even thongn rms Were
TO condemn the employees of the raliroad 70 VOTE
tor m ties Of pay which have been determined by
the most careful inquiry to be Inadequate. At
the present time q ton Of freight Is moved IN tne