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Show STONE REVIEWS WAGE DISPUTE Lays Stress on Hardships Suffered Suf-fered by Men, Long Hours, Hazards and Responsibilities. Re-sponsibilities. SUMS UP SITUATION Labors of Employes Increase, Earning Capacity Decrease Rights of Public. Chicago, Nov. 30. In his opening statement to the arbitration board, Warren S. Stone, gTand chief engineer engi-neer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Locomo-tive Engineers, reviewed the conferences confer-ences which have preceded the present pres-ent arbitration of the wage and service differences between the railroads and their employes. He laid great stress on the hardships hard-ships suffered by the men, their lon hours of services, and their hazards and their responsibility. He said that they were entitled to better service serv-ice conditions and higher wages than the railroad managers were Inclined to accord them. Reviews Wage Movement. He said the wage movement of the employes was begun two years ago and that later it was decided the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen should work with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in the presentation of the requests to the railroads He told of counter propositions submitted by the railroad managers and of the joint conferences last wdnter which culminated in the agreement to arbitrate. Mr. Stone insisted that any award of the board of arbitration should not decrease the present wage rates nor lvnnoi lfiuu fo vi rn hle carvlftd cimili- tlons on the employes. After describing the hardships of I the men in the cab and noting that traffic each year is becoming more congested, that each year the public demands faster time and better service, serv-ice, that each year larger locomotives ;;re built and heavier tonnage hauled, the chief engineer said, and it must not be overlooked that all of these increased in-creased burdens fall on the same men. their number not having been increased for the purpose of dividing this work and responsibility Chief Stone Sums Up Situation. Summing up Mr Stone said: ' We shall endeavor to show that during the past -'4 years the western ; 'railroads have made remarkahN gaine In productive efficiency by the installation of locomotives of greater tractive power. B the elimination of curves and reduction of grades, remarkable re-markable increases in train loads have been made. The burden of all tllf.se economies in the interests of railroad investments is borne by the men In the transportation service. "The etfeel on engineers and firemen fire-men have been three fold Their labors and responsibilities have been increased, their productive efficiency has been increased greatly, but their earning capacity, even ar the slightly increased rates of payment they have received, has declined. Railroads Pile Up Burdens. "We hope to show that these rail roads, not satisfied with the present hard conditions, which have reached the limit of human endurance are intending to add further to existing train loads, thereby increasing the labors and responsibilities of the engineers en-gineers and firemen " Quoting a ntateraent of the railroad managers last June in which it was pointed out that increased in the expense ex-pense of railroad operation through compliance with the employes requests re-quests would In the long run make the public the sufferer. Mr Stone said: "It is refreshing to see this change in sentiment, but it is only when some question of increase of wages of employes is concerned that they become so solicitous for the long suffering suf-fering oublic. A little group of financial fi-nancial pirates will exploit some railroad rail-road and place a burden on the public pub-lic which generations yet unborn will have to bear and you hear not even a whisper of the rights or suffering of the public." Attorney James M. Sheehan retained retain-ed by the railroads, said that he would reserve his opening statement until the presentation of evidence lor the employes Infoimed him what line of would be required. He added- We will contend. of course, that the present rate of pay-is pay-is full fair and adequate. We have no quarrel with Mr. Stone as to the high class of men required to mo locomotives, nor do we question their responsibilities and the arduous nature na-ture of their duties." Ho said wages were adjusted in 1910 by mediation and arbitration and while in his view the present arbltra tion should have to do. only with changes chan-ges In the last four y ears. Mr. Stone s opening remarks concerned the increased in-creased responsibilities and hardships Thich have developed In the last 2o yeari and most of which the railroads assumed were duly considered in 1910. |
