Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-05-01
ROW THE RESULT
RAIL PAY AWARD
Neither Employees or Companies Salts.
fed With Findings of Arbi-
t,ntion Board.
SLIGHT WAGE ADVANCE GRANTED
Two Labor Members of Commission
File a Dissenting Opinicn-Neu-
trality Nagel Attacked.

Chicago. May 1.-Disapproval of the
arbitration award made to 81 900 10
connective engineers, nremen and host
lers on IS western railroads was ex-
pressed today by Grand Chief Engi-
neer Stone of the brotherhood. The
engineers gained practically nothing"
Stone said. There are 81 600 engines
in western territory and on not more
than 5000 have the engineers gained
1 an increase in wages. And that
amounts practically to nothing. We
had better rules before than the rules
granted by this award The two rail-
road members of the board declined to
sign the award and filed a dissenting
motion on behalf of the brotherhood.
branding the arbitration a failure. II
was declared that the demands OF the
men would be taken up anew at the
expiration OF the award II months
| hence.
The award in the arbitration pro-
ceedings between the IS western rail
roads and 5000 engineers, fremen and
hostlers asking for increased pay and
improved working conditions was
made last night in Chicago by the fed
eral board OF arbitration after six
months investigation.
The decision. which was signed by
only four of the six members of the
board. was accompanied by strong ex-
pressions of disapproval from Chair
man Pritechard and the representa-
tives of the brotherhoods and rail-
ways
Arbiters Timothy Shea and Fred
Burgess. who presented the employees
demands. refused 10 sign the award.
and Immediately filed a dissenting
opinion charging that an uneoualed
opportunity 10 bring about industrial
peace had been lost by the board in its
failure equitably to settle the ques-
/ tons involved.
Railroads Men Attack Award.
/ ". L. Park and H. f. Byram. the
/ railroads representatives on the board.
also attacked the decision. denying
that their signatures implied approval
OF the findings. either in principle or
in detail They asserted that as the
{ board was able to standardize upward
only, by increasing wages or improv-
/ ing the working conditions. that the
result was one sided and unsound.
According to the provisions of the
Newlands act. under which arbitration
/ proceedings were held. the award was
/ Immediately filed in the federal dis
/ trict court. TO become effective in 10
days provided there is no appeal by
either party.
Despite their protest on Charles Ma
i gel. one of the neutral arbiters. be-
cause OF his affiliations with the Busch
estate in ST Louis. Warren S. Stone.
president of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers. asserted that no ap-
/ peal would be made by the men.
Award Stands a Year.
1 The awards changing rates of pay.
time. initial delays. and overtime. pas
senger rates. and rules, will remain in
effect for one year from the date OF
/ the decision. All sides predicted that
the trouble will break out anew at
the end of that time.
President Wilson. who was appealed
Z TO by Stone and William s. Carter,
president of the brotherhood of fire.
men. TO call for the resignation of
Charles Nagel because OF his alleged
| friendliness toward corporations and
his railroad sympathies. refused TO
yield 10 the demands. notifying the la
Dor representatives that he did not be-
lieve their ground well taken. The
entire correspondence passing between
the brotherhoods and Washington was
given out last night after the award.
Strong Dissenting View.
THE board has disregarded testi-
mony for employees relative TO long
hours and heavy tonnage trains, Civ
ing little or no consideration to the
exhibits" read the dissenting state
ment given out by Shea and Burgess.
I'VE showed that despite larger en-
gines and longer trains the railroads
had given their men no increases in
pay. The revenue gains arising from
these were more than sufficient TO give
the men some advances without harm |
ing the stockholders or bondholders. |
Charges Assets Dissipated.
Immense financial resources. which |
should now be available. have been |
dissipated by improper financial man !
agement. More than s43.000.000 was
paid in dividends in 1914 on fictitious |
capital stock. No western railroad |
that has been properly managed is in |
an unfavorable financial condition at |
the present time.
"If the increases as asked for had |
been granted. the labor question would |
have been settled for several years. |
but IL such a reactionary policy is to |
prevail. we are glad TO file this dis
sent Labor's share should increase !
with the results obtained and where |
such rule is denied all organized la
Dor should work for the revocation of |
the law"
The statement fled by Chairman |
Pritchard stated that the freight rates |
and yards rates were too low. but ex-
planned that he signed the award to /
give the men the benefits OF the other
provisions.
Considers Award Il Defeat.
President Stone Of the engineers said
~ the award.