Evening star., 1928-10-30
RAIL PAY INCREASE
RECOMMENDED BY
EMERGENCY BOARD
Six and Half to Seven and
Half Per Cent Alter.
natives Urged.
COOLIDGE GROUP ACTS
ON RULES elimination
Header Engines and Ton
nage-Haul System Called
Undesirable.
BY the Associated Press.

wage dispute on Western railroads has
recommended 6l12 per cent increase ir
wages without change of rules, or, al
Tentatively, a 7l2 per cent increase IL
certain rules are eliminated.
Further, the arbitration board pro-
posed that whichever alternative the
railroads and train service unions &C.
cepted should be put into effect retro
actively, and the terms made to apply
as of May /, 1928, the date on which
the controversy developed.
The solution of the controversy sug-
gested dealt with the discussion of COM
plicated rules governing the applica-
ton of wage scales hitherto agreed
upon between the brotherhoods and the
railroads. These have long blocked a
settlement of the controversy. A num-
Der of these rules, upheld by the broth
hoods, have been viewed by railroad ex-
ecutives as unnecessarily hampering the
efficiency of railroad service.
In consequence, the arbitration board
suggested that the conductors and train
men take either the 612 per cent in
crease in wages, keeping the present
form of contract and rules, or that they
obtain 7la per cent increase, conced-
ing certain alteration in the standard
rules. Specifically, the board mentioned
the elimination of the present rule af-
fecting the operation of trains with
double header engines and the elimina-
tion of the present rule limiting the ton
mage of freight on single train. Ad-
ditional recommendation were made
as to modification of other rules, af-
fecting the operation of trains where
additional locomotives are attached to
boost" trains over short stretches, and
80 Days Consideration.
Under the Railroad Labor Board pro-
cedure, the arbitration report made to
President Coolidge must be considered
by both the carriers .and shroth otherhaodS
during q period Of 80 days Neither
side may legally produce a situation re-
suiting in suspension of operations dur
ing that period. In case they accept
the findings, differences viii be COM
pletely settled.
After lengthy discussion of the ORR
gin Of the dispute and efforts for a
solution, the report said that consider
ing the increases granted to other train
service employees in the Eastern, South
western and Western districts, and de-
spite the award of June, 1927 the car
riers would not have been justified in
refusing an increase similar to that
granted the engineers and firemen Of
the Western district"
The report added that the carriers
"were justified in offering an increase
Of 61a per cent to the standard rates,
containing, in addition to the rates so
increased, the existing differentials for
mountain and other special service"
Considering the purpose and intent
of the railway labor act and the evi-
dence presented" the report continued,
"the question of the wage increase de-
manded and the differences arising
thereon during the negotiations are
proper questions for arbitration, If the
spirit of the law is to guide the action
Of carriers and employees.
PourparIers Cited.
However, 1t is difficult to see why
the controversy should have arrived at
a state where it could not be settled
by mutual negotiations. At one stage
or another of this long protracted dis
pute the carriers have offered 6h per
cent increase with no change of rules,
and at one stage or another the employ
es have expressed a willingness to ac-
cept 7la per cent increase, with no
change of rules. The difference between
these offers, expressed in cents per
basic day, amounts to from 5 to cents
per day. The board regards this differ
ence as too small to justify an inter-
ruption or transportation in the terri
tory affected.
Apparently the obstacle to success
full settlement has been the introduc-
ton, first by one side and then by the
other, of certain controversies in re-
gard to rules; and the effort of each
party to change rules, as a basis of
settlement, has somewhat befogged the
wage issue.
I'm view of the fact that the con-
ductors and trainmen have at least
once, II not twice, during the negotia-
tions agreed to accept fiat percentage
increase of wages, irrespective of any
vital change in rules, and that the en-
gineers and firemen in this same
Western district received an increase
OF but 612 per cent CinStead OF 712
per cent as in the East and 61a and I
per cent, respectively as in the South
east), we have not given serious atten-
ton to the specific demands of the
conductors and trainmen for increases
amounting to from Is to ~ per cent.
IF conductors and trainmen are tc
receive wages which are to place then
on nearer level to engineers and fire.
men, such change should be divorced
from the present controversy and con.
sidered on its own merits, entirely
apart from the present dispute"
This report was delivered to the
President in person yesterday by Chair.
man Garfield. The board was ap.
pointed by the President September 2s
last, pursuant to the provisions Of thu
railway labor act, to investigate anC
report its findings upon the dispute ir
question. The other members of thu
board are George r. Baker, Davis r
Dewey, Chester II. Rowell and w. p
Stacy. This board was appointed by
President Coolidge to be remunerateC
at the rate of 500 day apiece and
expenses The report was made public
at the White House today without com.
ment from President Coolidge.