Salt Lake Tribune | 1913-10-07 | Page 4 | Will Add Millions to Operation Cost

WILL ADD MILLIONS TO OPERATION COST Railway Managers Testify Concerning Demand of Employees Em-ployees for Increase. IsT3W YORK, Oct. R. Tfc will cost the eastern railroads nearly $18,000,000 more a year to operate if they are compelled com-pelled to grant wage demands of their 30,000 trainmen and conductors, it was testified on behalf of tho roads today beforo the federal arbitration board. The increases asked for ropreseut an increase of 21 per cent over the total wages now paid, according to John G. Walber, a vice president's assistant of the Baltimore & .Ohio. "Talcing into consideration all the agencies working in favor of the trainmen train-men in these requosts, should they be granted, tho increases would cost the railroads approximately $17,S95,68S more a year than at present," said tho witness. Doublo-heading, which means drawing draw-ing a train with two locomotives, a practice which tho man in presenting their case held to be an important factor fac-tor in increasing the hazards of railroading, rail-roading, was discussed by counsel for the roads today. "The trainmen want to penalize the railroads for railroad risks and speed,' ' commented A. H. Smith, senior vice president of tho jcw York Central lines. Seth Low, chairman of the board, asked A. B. Garrotson, representing the trainmen, whether the men would rather rath-er have double-heading abolished or have salary-increases. The men would prefer having double-heading eliminated, elimi-nated, Mr. Garretson replied." Lucius Sheppard, one of the arbitrators selected select-ed by tho roads, said; "All disputes between trainmen and the railroads heretofore have found double-hoading a matter of contention. The railroads let it bo known that tho trainmen's objection to double-heading wa3 in a measure dictating the operating op-erating methods of tho railroads. For this reason this time the trainmen aro making first a plea for moro mono', giving tho continuance of the practice of double-heading a reason for demanding demand-ing more mouoy. J