The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-30
RAILROADS FEAR
WAGE RIDDLES
Think New Demands Would
Come With Increase to
Trainmen.
PROBLEM TO GET CASH

yesterday that the granting OF wage in
J creases to engineers and trainmen would
soon bring another problem In demands
from other railroad employees for adj
vances. regardless Of the ability Of the
companies to pay.
Julius kruttschnitt. chairman OF the
executive committee Of the Southern
Pacific system. says: I'VE do not con-
template u general Increase In wages OF
any class Of employees and no negotia-
lions are pending other tina those with
train and engine service employees.
"The only increases In rates of com
pensation recently granted are those
during tho past three months to cer-
ain employees IN maintenance OF way
service. general office n station forces
on u Sunset-Central lines. On our
Pacific system lines, In conference OF
December. 1916. some OF our conductors
n brakemen were given an Increase.
on April l we also made "A slight in
crease in wages OF boiler makers and
some other shop employees on the Globe
division Of the Arizona Eastern Railroad,
In addition to these recent increases
there is a large increase to enginemen,
made under the Chicago award OF May
/, 1915. which has not yet become eff.
fective because the eng,nemen ave no,
advised us hat portion Of the award
they accept.
Fears Cause OF iasatisfacti0n.
II think 1t Is very likely that II
Increases In wages are granted To train
crews. by arbitration or otherwise, APP
plications for increases would be made
by other classes OF railway employees,
who would have more reason for the.f
requests than those In the train ser
vice because the latter are already re-
ceivinE higher wages than paid other
classes of employees.
Generally speaking. our rates OF pay
for railway employees are as high OF
higher han those paid by other rail-
roads or industries throughout the ter.
iitory served by our lines. The con-
slant Increases which hav been made
during the past years in the rates OF
wages Of train. engine and yard men
without corresponding Increases 10 EN-
ployees OF other departments who con
stitute about 50 per cent. Of our forces
has brought about a good deal of dis
satisfaction and has undoubtedly re.
suited In lesser efficiency. This does not
mean that the rates of pay to the un'
organized classes as "A general rule ar,
too low. as compared with wages In
other lines of employment, but the bette!
working conditions. higher rates for reg
ular time and overtime paid employees
IN the train and locomotive service natu'
rally create "A condition OF dissatisfac'
ton among employees In other clas SCI
OF railway service
u. +. Bush. receiver for the Missouri
Faciic-lron Mountain system. says
"Nego,iltions are now pending with our
t~elegraphers approximately 1850 ncn)
| We Alsn lO~nttInDlltn Increase in WAGE
OF section forces and yard clerks.
Thinks Others Would he stirred
General increases in wages OF train
and engine men have IN the past been
followed by requests for proportional
increases to other classes of employees
and We have no reason to believe that
this year vii! prove an exception. The
financial condition Of tho road and itt
ability to pay increased wages Is never
taken into consideration by the men
who seem to he impressed solely by the
demands made 10y train amt engine meI
who receive the highest wages OF any
class of organized railroad labor, and
the concessions which they might secur,
through arbitration or otherwise. and
base their claims for increased wages
accordingly"
". j. Iarahan. president of the Sea,
board Air Line. says We are -
negotiating with the telegraph operation
OF our system for increases and rule
changes.
w have increased the wages of shnI
crafts. in omIno with other lines IL
our territory. about 8 per cent. and tn,
section foremcn about "a per cent.
1T would seem that an !ucreas,
granted trainmcn. 10y arbitration VI
otherwise. would inevitably be followed
by requests for increases from othel
classes of employees"
r. u. Hamilton, general manager o.
the vandali, railroad. says: NO n.go'
~tiations OF any kind are now pendnls
relative TO wage Increases for employees
other than trainmen, nor are any fur
Their wage increases contemplated at thi.
time
1--WE have, siuce January | last, mad,
voluntary increases to various employee,
in the transportation. maintenance o
way and maintenance Of equipment de
p%artinents ~aggregating upproNimatei,
Sl65 600 per annun There was 10 gen,
eral increase AT IA fixeJ Ter cent. granted
the increases being more In She natur,
OF adjustments which affected PRACTICAL,
all employees IN the departments men
toned, with the exception Of employees
in the maintenance OF equipment de,
Uartment working on a piece work basis
An increase granted engine and trair
employees such az they have requested
no doubt would he followed by request.
from other classes of employees cominl
in contact with them, many Of WHOM
nre noW working on "A ten hour basis.
ryYn ~YNHD -