Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-29
Federal Arbitrators Hear
ing Closing Argument
in Chicago.
VERDICT BY APRIL 20
Brotherhood Head Says In
crease in Cost OF Living
Should Be Considered.

Chicago. ui. MarcH 60 Briefs 90
ffe western railroad saEc ease we're
sird uirl tsr board of arbitration to-
DAY by james 80. ssfear. attorney tor
ttr Faiiroads and By William s.. Car
trF. president 0f tfr brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firrmeu and EuEiuomcu.
Oral arFumcrt vas begun and vas exc
rFetFf Co. last two and Pos IhiF three
days. Decision bV tle board uu frr
demands of che men fpF higher wages
and other cpucr IONS wiii be- made ON
or before April z1. and win affect s1-
600 rnE.uCcrs. drcmcu and hostiers
employed bv 3s western railroads op-
Grating tf1 600 miles % track
SIR sFreau brief assorted that the
men failed utterly 90 establish their
<ratrufi1n that tErir I1bors and re-
sp1nr Utilities ard their productive cf-
aeirucy have Increased since their
wages we're adjusted hF arbitration in
1910. nor. said che brief had thcy
made good their claim that their earn
lnEs. despite a higher rate. had been
decreased lu thiE period Their con i
teuFi1rs. Mr. shcen1 said. had not
been proven fy their nvn exhibits. I
and had been dirpr1vCt ly actual rec /
0-ts quoted in thc railroad exhibits. /
The increased productivity of the /
railroads vas said iu the briefs 20 !
have been due. not 90 any Increased cf- I
forts % the men. bat 20 stringent I
economies tn operation. and the exc
p~uditurr of F6s1.U0O.O0o in extensions. I
additions and Improvement 90 prop
arty. including heavier power and thC I
~.
This a1u SEQ 100000 was spent for
tho purpose 90 iucrcasiuE efficiency
aud safety. and f1 expedite train move
uFuts These Improvements. Mr..
shrrau faid. have actually enabled the Z.
srEinemru Co earn tlrir money in feU-
er hour than ur.o- to 1910 Fireu"u.
1T said actually shovel hve per- cent F.
Joss coal u1a than iu the previous per
.od He said that thc railroad exhibit 7.
sEaaiue that o. sraut tae ~ d@marda
sf tf- men would cost $4,000 600 a 4.
T~zr had not been coutrovcrted de
pointed % the decreased dividend pay
mcuts ot recent years and 20 the iu-
sreaslns use % iabuT-aaviuE device on I,
-nsinrs. lie referred % the hiEH earn
uEs attained by some enEinerfH and
.rFmru. and asserted that fh~ bulk 0f
.h~ ruEturrra averaged between $40
ans $50 q moutE. and frrmeu De-
.arer $40 ard Ftts.
Tho brief claimed flat these payroll
cures demonstrated that thr present
.ehedlirs provide fuu. fair and adc-
raafr pay. shether measured by com
5arisuu eift other trade. by c1mpar-
son eith other railroad employee Who
.avr like duties and respouGihiiities.
10 bF comparison with cuEiuc@ra and
Hrenlra of the east oF the south. and q
70 making this claim directed atteu-
son f1 the fact that these payroll nE- I
.rrs had not b~ru c1utradiCted by the I
.mpioyes whose names appeared
hrrFou. notwithstanding the fact that (
.urinE tho hearing. while the railroad Z
.xhibits Werc bCinE introduced. Mr.
,artrr stated 90 the boar of arhltra- {
ion. q have reached the conclusion
hat our case e. lost 70 wc treat the
xhibits OF the railroads too seriously" " 6
Points 20 Mental Strain.
The brief hicd BY Carter was divid-
q into eight chapters. as follows;
.tandardlza % rates % wages: the
8 propositions submitted TO arbitra- I
lon. earning possibilities under exist !
A. rates and rules economic effect OF
nereased cost Of living. requisite
of locomotive engineers
nd rrcfncu. Increased work and pro
uctivs efficiency Of engineers and
remcn: ability % roads 90 pay the
1crcascs requested. and the future
uflook. Carter asserted the arbitrat- u
~ should consider the fact that the =
oct of living had gone sky rocketiug" q
! recent years. He dwelt on tie long
ours cnEiucmsn work. the mental and y
hyEicai strain - which they were a
1biected. and the skill and care nee Il
ssg.ry 20 safely conduct his speed c
trains and heavy freiEhts. y
L. asserted the outlook for the com .
anies Was bright. increased passen- ,
rr and freight rates were on the way
nd the trend % the Industrial and :
nanciai situation of the country vas
pward. e