New-York tribune., 1919-08-18
Fnenen Ask
U. S. to Spend
200 Millions
Automatic Stokers, Coal
Passers and Door Open.
ers Demanded in Addi-
ton to Increased Wages

CLEVELAND, Aug. ia 95 to 65
per cent increase in wages is demanded
for 1l7,000 tiremen and hostlers on
railroads in the United States and
Canada in wage scale adopted before
adjournment to-day by 800 general
chairmen of the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen.
Another demand to be presented to
the Director General of Railroads is
that all coal-burning locomotives in
road service weighing 100000 pounds
and more shall be equipped with me-
chanical stokers and that two firemen
shall be employed on all such locomo-
tlves until they are so equipped.
About half of the $4,000 engines in
the United States will come under this
proposal, only about 5000 Of which are
equipped with mechanical stokers at
present.
In addition demand is made that all
coal burning locomotives of less than
that weight shall be equipped with me-
chanlcal coal passerS and that all coal
burning locomotives shall be equipped
with power CRATE shakers and auto
matte fire door openers.
Cost of Change S2O0,O0O,OO0
1t is estimated it would cost $780,
100000 to equip locomotives in the
United States with the devices de-
manded
The more important sections of the
report of the wage committee as adopt
ed follow:
Rates of pay for fremen and help
ers in passenger service, $3.50 a day
of 100 miles or less, except when
Mallet engines are used Wher S7.2O
shall be paid.
Overtime in passenger service viii
be computed on the present basis,
at speed of twenty miles an hour.
Firemen in freight service on en-
gines weighing less than 100000
weighing over 100000 pounds, $3.50
a day of 100 miles or less; overtime
to be computed on basis Of speed of
twelve and half miles an hour.
Extra for Way Service
Firemen and helpers employed in
local or way freight service, mixed
trains, mine runs and other service,
minimum pay of so cents for each
100 miles or less, in addition to the
through freight rates.
Firemen employed on helper, push
er, transfer work, wreck. construc-
ton, snow plough, circus milk and all
other trains in unclassified service
to be paid through freight rates, ac-
cording to class of engine used.
Firemen employed on Mallet en-
vice, $7.20 day for 100 miles or less.
Firemen and helpers employed in
yard service, $3.50 a day Of eight
hours or less, except when Mallet
engines are used, when rate Of $3.50
shall be paid.
Sundays To Be Overtime
Time and one-half for overtime in
all classes of service, which will ap-
ply when men are used on Sundays
or holidays.
Inside hostlcrs. $3.50 day; out
side bostlers, $720 a day, and host
lers' helpers, $3.50 day, eight
hours or less TO constitute days
work. Time and onc-haf for all
time work in excess of eight hours.
Another working condition demanded
required to clean locomotives they
shall be relieved of such work. and
that fremen shall be relieved of re-
moving tools or supplies, loading coal,
filling lubricators, etc.
"The fremen on locomotives handling
the preponderance of traffic will re-
ceive under our proposition a wage in
crease Of about so per cent" said Tim
othy Shea, acting president of the
brotherhood.
Shea Defends Demands
'1f our full demands are granted it
will hardly restore pre-war conditions,
considering the present purchasing
power of the dollar. Since 1913
the wages of firemen have been
increased approximately so per
cent, and it is a matter of record
that the cost OF living during that
time has increased 100 per cent. The
wage increases to fremen since 1913
have been entirely wiped out by the
increased cost Of living.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17-Demands
of American railroad firemen and hos
tiers for increased wages and changed
working conditions, as outlined in
wage scale adopted to-day at Cleve-
land by the general chairmen of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen probably will be consid-
cred along with the demands of other
railroad workers, railroad administra-
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