Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-11
SuperintendentS, in Some
Cases, Get Less Remunera-
ton Than Men Under Their
Supervision,
ONE ADVANCE CALLS
QUICKLY FOR ANOTHER
Official Declares System Isl
Artificial and Unjust to
Other Employees of Railroad
System,

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEAsto wlRr1
Chicago, Feb 10.-"Distorted con-
ditions.' brought about by steady
wage increases to unionized employees
while minor officials of the railroad
were advancing by personal merit
alone, were described as dangerous
by j. w. Higgins, general manager Of
the Missouri Pacific system when he
testified today before the federal
board of arbitration here.
I'VE have some superintendents Of
divisions and many foremen and sim
liar minor officials who draw less
money than the engineers over whom
they have supervision" Mr.. Higgins
said This distorted condition Is
detrimental TO the service and it has
grown considerably within the last
few Years
Big Wage Increase.
The witness said that between Feb
ruary. 1907, and December, 1910, the
engineers of the Missouri Pacific re-
celved wage increases amounting to
$305,145 a year, and the firemen
$206, 200, the total for the two classes
represented in the present hearing of
,$5l1,345 These increases, he testi-
fled were reflected by demands and
grants to other classes of employees,
with the result thai unionized men
altogether received increases of S2.-
O75, 900 a year and unorganized work
crs $934,721 grand additional ex-
pense OF $S,0li,42i yearly to that
road alone.
Under questioning by members of
the board. Mr. Higgins said that these
general increases were the result Of
relative conipfnsations. but that the
firemen had been gaining faster and
were nearer the wage standard of the
engineers than thirty years ago. He
laid what he called the "inequitable"
result to the special rules by which
engine crew pay is determined.
Another Movement for Advance.
you heard President Carter, Of
the fjremens brotherhood, say this
morning that the next wage move
ment would be broader, showing that
ia new movement is contemplated be-
fore this one is completed. Has that
been your experience" asked II. e.
Byram, vice president of the Burl-
ington system and a member of the
board
"Over my years of experience this
has invariably been So" replied the
witness, "and each increase in this
class brings in its wake increases to
all classes. organized or unorganized. -
The witness denied that there ever
had been any extended conspiracy to
keep men off the pay rolls. He said
that rigid Investigation of every ap-
plicant was demanded by considera
tiuns for public safety and also be-
cause many letters brought by appli-
cants were found to he forged.
There are many places where APP
plicants for work can get letters OF
recommendation for So or less" he
added.
ISrancI, Line Road Question.
Toward the close of the testimony
an attempt was made to get from the
witness a definition of a branch line
as applied to wage rates. Mr.. Hlg-
gins replied that local conditions had
SO much to do with the question. that
its determination was best left to the
mems local committees and the indi-
viduai roads.
"Well. il we attempt TO settle all
the disputes raised here il would
seem that we shall merely raise adj
ditional questions for future arbitra-
ton remarked Charles Naeel one
of the arbitrators.
$50 far as that is concerned" in
terposed Warren S. stone grand chief