The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-19

MAKE MORE THAN GOVERNORS
Seven Executives Receive Less
Than LOcemotlve Engineers.
Other Items Of General Interest
in the Trel6c: World.

Chicago Jan. -1a-An exhibit of 3as
pages, two feet in length and nearly
that wide, ponderousiy inaugurated to-
day presentation of testimony for the
railroads in the western wage arbitra
ton. The last direct testimony for the
men was recorded Monday and Jas. II.
Sheean outlined the case for the rail-
roads. T0day's bulky volume, entitled
exhibit Twas placed in evidence
by the first witness. D. H. Bremerman
of the staff of the vice president of
the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy.
1t analysed from the railroad view
point. the sixteen demands made by the
g. 600 engineers and firemen of SO west
ern railroads. Bremerman had no COM
nlent to make on the right or wrong
of the demands, but showed where they
departed from precedent. He stated
that the engine men of the west by rea-
son of the increases granted by the con-
certed wage movement Of 1910 are bet
ter paid than their brethren of the
east and southeast. Passenger engi-
neers in the west he said consulting
his figures receive $3.50 a day for en-
gines weighing under $4,000 pounds to
800 or more on slarger engines against
q fiat rate of $4.25 for all classes OF
engines in the east. The western min
AiliOlH tuuS. ne SdlQ. ~ Higher tuAU l1lS
eastern flat rate. Despite this he said
the passenger engineers in the west
now demand rates ranging from $3.50
to $3.50 q day. In freight service he
said that western engineers also are
paid more than in the east but never
theless demand further increases. His
analysis showed. he said that the de-
mands call for minimum 20 cents
higher than is paid in the east and
maximum over the east of $1.35 to
$l.65 day.
Governors Of seven states of ths
union could make more money sitting
In the cab Of a locomotive on some OF
| now receive in the executive chairs OF
their respective states.
This statement was made here today
by James N. Sheean attorney for the
| western railroads. whose engineers,
firemen and hostlers, are demanding
higher wages and better hours, in out
| lining the railroad side Of the case to
the board of arbitration. Presentation
of evidence for the men began in No
vember 80. 1914, and was completed to-
day after which Sheean made his re-
marks. Sheean went on to say that
the annual salaries of these governors
| are smaller than the wages received by
western railroads. who ask wage in
creases which Sheean said would
amount to $l0.O00.0 600 a year..
'sOf the 5000 men whose wages for
the entire year to June 80, 1913, will
be shown" Sheean continued, there
il a maximum Of $3,726.20 for pas
senger engineers: $3,342.30 for freight
engineers: $1.752.20 for passenger
firemen and $1,89O.32 for freight fire.
men. Against these maximums the
governors of seven states receive
$4,000 q year or less. while those Of
sever. other states receive. $4,000, or
only slightly above the engineers
maximum earnings.
Actual earnings statements for en-
gineers and firemen for the month in
which these demands were presented
show that engineers in passenger SER
vice earned actually an average Of
t$185 for the month, with a maximum
actual earnings Of $341: in the freight
service the average was $40 with an
actual maximum of $358; the firemen
In passenger service that month
earned an average of Sis. with a
maximum of $40, while in freight
service their total earnings for the
month were on the average Of $40
with q maximum OF 1921. Other fire.
men in common freight and passen-
ger service earned even higher wages.
"A careful investigation of the cost
of living in the west shows that prices
have not advanced 30 fast az have
the wages of engineers and firemen
under the schedules awarded in 1910.