The San Francisco call., 1904-04-07
Holland Rejects De-
mands and Gives
Reasons.

City. On November 3 decision was rendered
ident International Carmen's Union, and Straus
OF New York. The other arbiter. Mr.. Calhoun
OF New York, dissented from the award
The arbiters found that the carmen's wages
then being paid in San Francisco We're from
10 TO 10 per cent higher than those paid else
where IN America. except on few small lines
IN the State Of Montana; but In spite OF that
finding TO insure prolonged industrial peace.
the award gave TO the carmen the increase
herein mentioned. These wages are unusually
high. but the award said:
Il have been largely influenced by
the desire and purpose to establish a
permanent peace between the company and
confidence ETC.
The increase volunteered by the company
when It first purchased the properties was to
secure Industrial peace. The, increase three
weeks later to a fat rate of % cents. being
all your union demanded. was conceded to Sc
cure industrial peace. The increase granted
by the arbitrators which constitutes our pres
ent scale. was granted for the express pur-
p The aMnrd d ihe arteTs
but few months old. We entered
into solemn convention TO arbitrate
our w2Se differences and, though the result
of that arbitration was a great disappoint-
ment TO the company and imposed heavy
that time wages have been and are being re-
ouced throughout America, yet with the
award-so lately made-itself pleading for
Its continuance and for industrial peace. 1t
would be triiing with the publfc~to now seek
fresh adjustment of this scale because 1t
tsiied ti!t 10 comport with our own Ideas and
the public.
Three times this company has given evi
dence OF its desire for industrial peace and its
willingness to pay for it. We have passed
through the experience Of making a volun-
tary tender of increased wages WITHOUT any
demand having been made therefor. 1t failed.
We have passed through the period of yield
ing to the men every cent OF wage demand
through prolonged arbitration, In which an
increase was given to secure prolonged in
dustrial peace. 1t failed.
During the last few months conditions
throughout the country have greatly changed.
reductions in wages have been widespread
As testifying to this we extract the following
from John Mitchelfs recent advice that the
miners of bituminous coal accept a reduction
of 51a per cent rather than strike to maintain
the existing scale. Mr.. Mitchell said:
1t is conceded on all sides that the apex
of industrial activity has been reached and
We are slowly moving toward an Industrial
depression. The operators came into the joint
convention asking for reduction in wages
OF 10 per cent Their proposition was op-
posed by US with all the information and
skill at our command. AS ultimatum from
which they could not be moved they offered
US a reduction from present scale prices Of
5 .55 per cent We know how hard it is TO
be compelled to accept reduction in wages,
but IL is better to accept a slightly lower
rate and hold your organization intact ready
10 take advantage OF any Improvements which
the future Of the trade may show. than to be
forced to accept a greater reduction at the
end OF a disastrous strike that may leave our
organization weakened and demoraliZed that
iC would be unable to cope with the vast COM
binations of capital now engaged in the coal
trade"
The. maintenance of our present high scale
Of wages does nsa comport with these con-
pose of securing industrial peace. avoiding in
terruption of its service to the public. OF
securing steady employment to its men. Of
preserving its deserved reputation as a liberal
paymaster, is willing to continue the award
OF Messrs Mahen and Straus, and in most
liberal spirit, though resulting in some adj
diticnal burden on this company over the pres
ent scale. The company states explicitly
that the limit has been reached and that no
higher wages will be paid. That the condi-
tion of the offer is, that ii must be accepted
as a whole. and that it brings about the
OF these conditions viii relieve the company
OF any obligation to nay the wages under the
present award after April 30 next The award
Of Messrs. StTaus and Mahon gave no ad-
Vance to who entered the companys SER
vice on or after April 1. 1903 Under strict
Interpretation of the award the wages from
Arril 80, 1904 TO April 80, 1905, would be
as follows: No platform men entering the
company's employ on or after April l, 1905,
would receive more than 25 cents an hour.
Men employed between April l. 1901, and April
l. 1903 would receive 2614 cents, and men
employed prior to April l. 1901, would re-
1t might be said that the passage of another
year should. in fairness on a graded scale.
that view of the matter. platform men en-
ployed on and after April l. 1904 should
receive % cents an hour; platform men en-
ployed between April l. 1902, and April /.
| 1904 should receive 26 cents hour. and
platform men employed prior to April 1, 1902,
should receive p y cents an hour
A sliding scale based upon the date of en-
pioyment rather than the arbitrary date of
! MAY l would be decidedly to the interest OF
the men. The 25-cent men would thus grad
] ually pass to the 2614 cent grade. and in turn
This 1lls would result as Follows: All employees
to work at . cents an hour during the first
year OF their employment. Those employees
who have been In the service more than one
year and under three years TO receive 28A
| cents. and those who have been in the service
more than three years p y cents The COM
pany will stand upon the scale of wages
| fixed by the award, and give a still more
/ next put into effect the wage scale follows
All platform men in the employ of the COM
pany for a period of one year and under shall
| h. Maid 25 cents per hour.
All platform men in the employ OF the com
pany from one to two years shall be paid 261l
| All platform men in the employ of the COM
/ pany over two years shall be paid 2715 cents
| All those in other departments whose wages
were affected through length of service by
! the award to have their wages readjusted on
/ We have reached a place where we
! must respectfully refuse to consider any de-
| mands looking to an increase OF wages beyond
| this We ask our employees to consider wisely
| and well ell that has gone before, and we
| submit the case to them and to an unpreiu-
| diced n,,hlic with entire confidence that their
| verdict will be that we have acted fairly
/ and generously with our men, and believe
| thev will agree that we have reached point
| beyond which cannot go. We do not well
come a labor disturbance. We have already
| made heavy sacrifices to avoid II and to avoid
| the public inconvenience and the distinct harm
| that must follow.
| It is the desire OF this company not to bt
| misunderstood This offer of a continued high
| scale during an of wage reductions is made
| 10 secure Industrial peace and avoid public
| inconvenience. and, falling in that, the Offer
| falls Under this arrangement 255 platform
men now receiving 26A cents would fimme-
diately enter the % l5-cent class. Before clever
| months expired total Of 562 men would bt
| so promoted. Immediately this scale goes
| into effect sixteen men of the 25-cent class
] are promoted to the 2615-cent class. During
| the next six months 1876 more are promoted
| and during the next six months 221 more %
| cent men would secure similar promotion. This
| is matter every man may figure out foi
| himself and we invite them TO study well the
| effect of this proposed scale. The company
| Is convinced that this proposition should be
| accepted as a whole by its employees, and that
| this frank and full statement Will result In
| A continuation of the present award. broad
| ened in its scope, stated, and as shown by
the contract annexed.
The company further suggests that this pro-
| posed contract be submitted TO all OF the men,
! 10 be voted upon by them by secret ballot
| that a fair and full expression Of their opinion
| may be secured. The company feels sure that
4l.ra 1.A -