The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-23

creasing the operating expenses OF the
roads. and that should II continue IN
this manner the margin IN
| come and outgo is bound to disappear.
They are therefore In favor of going to
the mat on the eight hour day demand.
believing that coming on top of the re-
cent wage increases the struggle would
md public sentiment on their side and a
victory be achieved that would clear the
atmosphere In the railroad world.
To understand the present situation,
say those who are conversant with II. II
is necessary to go back some years and
trace the course which labor disputes on
the railroads rave taken. In the first
place, at least two OF the four unions
have until recently. railroad officials
point out. been at loggerheada These
were the engineers and the nremen.
This was largely due TO jealousy. the
reason being that the firemen's union
includes engineers in its membership.
Neither has been willing until recently
to do anything that would augment the
membership or increase the power Of the
other. In a strike several Years ago on
the southern Pacific the engineers held
aloof and did nothing to help the fire
men.
According TO those who have been
following the course Of vents self
preservation eventually brought these
two unions together. SO that last year
IN the Western wage controversy they
actually Joined forces and presented their
case before an arbitration tribunal. Fol
lowing that case II was decided by the
chiefs Of the four unions that the con-
certed action Of all would mean a force
brought to bear upon the railroads that
would be irresistible.
Another factor which has contributed
to the present situation liz the standard
ization principle. adopted several years
ago. which has been "A feature In the
recent controversies. though bitterly OPP
posed by the railroads. This In brief is
that the rates of pay and conditions OF
employment shall be the same on all
railroads.
Prior to 1910 1t had been the custom
Tor the unions to act individually with
Individual roads, IL one road In a dis
trict were paying higher wages than
another an attempt would be made "a
bring the wages OF the latter road up to
the level of the. other. The engineers
were the first to see the advantages that
would accrue through Standardization
They brought this principle forward
openly In January. 1912. when they made
4 demand upon all the roads in the
East for higher wages based on the
same scale for all. The bremen FOLLOWED
suit n few months later.
This dispute with the engineers was
the first TO be decided under the New
lands act by which the number Of ar
bitrators was increased. The Erdmar
act had provided for only three arbitra'
tors, the representatives Of the two side:
picking the third
The result of this arbitration was q
victory for the men, not alone In tht
fact that they obtained substantial In
creases but because the arbitration
board gave It's approval TO the
ization principle. The engineers in I'M
case got increases approximating FOL
the Eastern roads s7,2O0,oOO a year
They also obtained affirmation of tn
principle that no matter what he imam
c!ai conditions of the roads a REASONABLY
wage should be paid.
Hut although this arbitration ooarr
upheld these contentious Of the unions
made the suggestion that Federal o.
State wage commissions should be ap
pointed 10 handle the disputed poin''
which might In the future arise under
them.