Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-07-05

now receiving less than this, because
the prevalent Industrial depression
has deprived them Sof steady employ
raentSto the peint where they receive
but few days work. week, often.
with an average income ofsunder $1Q0
per month"; This is far less than the
dollar an hour standard compensation
paid skilled artisans in practically all
of the well organized trades. It is
actually less than the U. S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics claims that the aver
age American family must dshayes to
Rules for "Just and Reasonable Wage"
We believe that it: is, fair to ask the
question:: What are locomotive engi-
Eneers'. services worth to society The
Transportation Act lays down seven
rules by which "just and rea sonable
wage" shall be determined by the
United States Railroad Labor Board
In brief, they are: !, sz - -
/. Wages paid for similar work in
other industries.
2. Relation between wages and cost
of living. j y. -
8. Hazards of employment
4. Training and skill required.
| .. Degree of responsibility.
6. Character and regularity Of em-
ployment
Z. Inequalities of present wages +or
treatment, the result of previous wage
adjustments. e.
Eleven Years Length of Engineers
+. Life 49,.
Obviously, there is no similar. work
in other industries with which the
labor of locomotive engineer can be
compared; nor should any skilled
worker be held down to mere sub
sistence based on the bare cost of liv-
ing. What, then, are the hazards, the
skill, and the responsibility exacted Of
engineers? We doubt if the public
realizes the risks daily assumed by
every engineman in active service.
According to the mortality tables
based upon years of actuarial expert
ence by the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers Insurance Department.,
road engineer is but IL years and Z
days. No engineer knows when he
steps into the engine cab whether,
thru no fault OF his, his, life will. be
snuffed out before the end of the run.
The safety appliances which railroad
employees have secured only after pro-
klonged struggle can reduce, but they
cannot eliminate, the risks incurred
by engine service employees. ~
Severe Tests Eliminate All But Few
The training, skill and physical per,
lection required of an engineer is
such that the great majority of engine
wipers, hostlers and fremen who
spend years Of labor preparing for
the opportunity to grasp the throttle
fall by the wayside in the thorough
elimination of the less fit. Even after
rejecting all who cannot measure up
to the strictest tests for height, per-
feet vision, heart action, Blood pres:
sure, etc.. seventeen per cent of the
tlremen who aspire to become engi-
neers are rejected at the end of three
years because their eyesight become s
impaired by the fierce glare of a crate
of Goals throwing off $500 degrees OF
heat. An additional 1879 do not ex.
hibit the temperament and natural
ability required of an engineer, so
that only II out Of every 100 candi
dates ever win a place on the right
side of the cab. Even after this rigor
GUS process of the selection of the
most fit, only six out of every 100
/ ever get places in passenger service
In brief, the length of training and
the skill required to become success
full engineer is no less than that de-
manded Of a competent dentist CIR ar
able lawyer.
Engineers Responsibility Exceeds
Doctors =
It is an axiom of social justice that
the payment received for any service
should depend in part upon the re
sponsibility involved. The skilled sur
geon is certainly entitled to a greater