Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1906-10-18

Spencer, n. c., Special.-The first
statement from the oflisials of the
Southern Railway Company concern
ing the recent strike on its system
was received here Thursday. Tho
statements is signed by Mr.. II. B.
Spencer, general manager, and is in
part as follows:
To Southern Railway Machinists:
Your action, declining TO accept the
proposition offered by the company
respecting rates of pay and rules and
regulations, has been brought to the
attention OF the operating officers.
Because of the difficulty of ac-
qualnting large body Of men, by
means of personal interviews, with
the attitude of this company on these
questions, it is deemed expcdient to
present the situation in the form Of
this letter.
1t Is the desire and effort of this
company to pay its employees rate
OF wages fairly commensurate with
the character of service rendered and
the conditions surrounding the en-
ployment. That this policy is habi-
tuaily observed is shown by the fact
that the basis of wages paid bv the
company Is always kept substantially
standard. You will also recall that
while the rules and regulations now
In effect stipulate that the rates a4-
reed upon will remain in effect one
year, the company has from time to
time, without waiting for the expria-
ton of this period, Voluntarily ad-
vanced the rates to meet the changed
conditions. The cordial attitude of
the company towards its employees has
been further shown by the fact that
1t has from time to time and whenev
er desired, received representatives
OIL the respective trades and occupa-
tons, for the purpose of discussing
adjustments OF rates Of pay and con
dltlons pertaining to such questions
have been III all eases amicably ad-
justed.
Hol tnc past TWO
months the operations of the lines of
this company effected by the increase
demanded showed the following re-
suit:
increase IA gross earnings. 1919
per cent. Increase in operating ex-
penses and taxes 1902 per cent.
Showing n decrease in net earnings
for the last two months of $l49.-
976.O4.
As aie aggregate increases in rates
OF pay requested amounted to large
sum, thereby adding largely To the al
ready heavy operating expenses,
general increase is not considered rea-
sonable. and therefore could not be
granted.
In af .tion IS this, the company is
confronted by serious agitation be-
fore various State commissions in fa-
vor OF decreased rates of freight and
passenger charges, which, if put into
effect, will mean large additional de-
creases In the net revenues of the
company.
Under these circumstances 1t will he
appreciated that the time is not pro-
pltious to consider general increase
III wages to employees, and the com
pany feels that its employees should
III fairness realize the situation and
not insist on the general increase in
wages demanded.
In this connection, it must be re-
membered that the company has not
been unmindful of the just interests
of the machinists in its employment.
This Is shown by the increases of the
rates of their pay within the last five
years, which, as you are aware from
your own experience, have been most
substantial
A fair consideration of the above
facts will, / hope, convince YOU that
there was no reasonable cause for
your action in leaving the employ
ment of this company.
The gravity of the situation de-
hands the most careful consideration
on the part of each and every en-
ploye of this company, and I trust
that, afte.' such consideration, you
will SEQ that your attitude towards
this company has not been entirely
just and that you will feel that you
ought not only in justice to this
company, but in justice to yourselves,
reconsider yOnr action.