The San Francisco call., 1907-03-02
Carmen Muttering Over
Arbitration Award

there was nothing short OF a holdup By men
VINO 1t seems cannot be expected TO consider
streets might be closed up and paved promptly.
out of consideration for the public. and this
wage can in no way be taken as determining
The carmen OF the United Railroads are now
the best paid in the world Except In Butte.
Montana. where certain abnormal local cOndi-
tions prevai1. Oakland has recently sought TO
equal this award comparison OF the rates
viii show that they have not done$ So The
carmen of the United Railroads get higher
average wage than the carmen of the oakland
Traction Company. In March. 1902. the wages
wages of all the carmen employed by the
United Railroads higher than those on any SINH
lar system In the world. Within one month
thereafter the carmen's wages were again
raised Tie following year the earmen's wages
were again raised In January, 1905. a con-
tract was made with the carmen. running By its
terms to May l. 1907 providing for wages
hours and arbitra ton. On August 26, 1906, the
carmen struck On September s. 1906. the com
pany entered into an agreement for arbitratio
with the Carmen's Union and certain other
unions. On September 6. 1906, the carmen re
bitrators 10 date from that day. The Carmen's
Union Immediately began asking and receiving
from this company remedies and benefits pro
vided for In the contract, thus acknowledging
the same to be in force.
APPLAUDS ARBITRATORS
In choosing the arbitra tors. the company re-
hY the company and the union should be dis
interested and impartial. This was hatly re-
fused by representatives of the union The
arbitrators were chosen and selected a third,
Judge William H. Beatty. Chief Justice OF the
Supreme Court of the State of California Ev-
erybody knows that it would be impossible. to
mud anywhere of greater integrity, Of
>nlgner character or more just. After the ques-
Mons involved had been gone into with great
thor0ughness, the board OF arbitration rendered
Its decision. The award effects an increase Of so
per cent in the Garments wages within the past
nFe years. We believe thar the public will
consider II more than fair 70 the employees Of
the company; we believe the fair minded en-
ployes OF the company win consider 1t as being
more In their favor than in favor of the com
thaf tremendous additional financial burden Is
lald upon Il. but IL bows 60 the decision and
mas already taken steps 10 carry 1t out In good
Iaith. II believes the abnormal raise to have
oeen giSen for the purpose Of preventing indus
trial strife and purchasing peace between the
OF the public. BY uding the over by what
the board deemed temporarily abnormal condi-
tions. II feels IN honor bound to live up to the
board decision regardless of consequences and
viii do
Earnest consideration OF these facts is asked
OF the people of San Francisco. who are inter
ested In transportation and whose interests the
company and its employees alike should consider
The wages awarded are high, the additional
expense 70 the company will be great The
by the recent disaster and the difficulties with
which the company has had 10 contend have
been greater than many realize; but the United
RAILROADS has the courage TO meet these condi-
uons, and we have full faith in its ability to
overcome the many difficulties with which they
will continue its efforts to give San Francisco
as speedily possible as good streetcar serv-
ice as there Is in the world.
San Francisco. March 1. 1907.