The state herald., 1907-09-06

ltCtNihb al AhtiNob'
Of cent per hour, effective September
LIST, and accepting the proposition or
the managers OF the western railroads
for arbitration of the additional l cent
demanded by them, the representatives
Of the switchmen closed all possibility
Of n strike at this time.
The agreement was reached In tho
Brown Palace hotel after the joint COM
mittee had been In session since Aug
ust 2lst. The end came as n surprise
for many, as II seemed that deadlock
was certain.
The result Is almost n sweeping VIC
tory for tho switchmen. The only
point conceded by them was that OF
arbitration. Representatives OF the
railroad companies regard this conces.
sion as an important victory.
According TO Il. II. Ingram, chair
man OF the managers committee, II
establishes precedent In railroad dif-
ficultIes, this being the first time that
both sides hayo agreed to submit a
difference TO arbitration. Both sides
have agreed to abide by the decision
OF the arbitrator. a representative
from tho managers and switchmen VIII
nppoar before the arbitrator and argue
tho additional one cent per hour. He
will then decide and his decision VIII
be obeyed without cayil.
There Is no possibility OF further
trouble between the railroads ana
their employees. as the differences OF
the western switchmon were the only
ones unsettled by the Chicago confer
ences. Labor troubles on the railroads
now seem to be settled for at least u
term OF years.
The arbitrator OF the switchmen's
difference has already been selected.
He Is n man prominent nationally and
beth sides agreed upon him without
argument. Therefore any decision
made by him will bo doubly accept
able as both sides are perfectly salts
fed with him.
Pending the answer to the telegram
sent TO him, his name will not be re
yealed. II Is expected that he viii ac'
cept with hesitation. however Those
involved would not say whether or not
he Is a government Official.
The switchmen won great victory
in the agreement by receiving blan'
ket Increase OF one cent over the whole
western territory. one of the most
bitterly contested points was the claim
OF the managers that tho switchmen
working In large ccntors Of Industry,
like Denver, Salt Lake, San Francisco
and other municipalities. should not
receive an increase. They were Will
ing at all times 10 grant an Increase
In all desert districts. The switchmen
held out for blanket Increase from
tho iirst, and gave only one concession,
that of arbitration.
Increase In Wages 10 Result
The number Of men Involved by the
settlement In said by Mr. Ingram 10 be
1900 "rhia means very substantial
Increase In their wages" added hr. IN
gram. THE switchmcn demanded two
cents per hour Increase In yards In
Denver and points west thereof. ana
submitted evidence that was rccog
niy@d by our committee aH warrnnting
nn Increase Of pay In some OF the ter,
rI,ory, notably those In the desert and
mountainous regions OF New Mexico.
Arizona, Utah, Nevada. Colorado, Ida
no and Wyoming. We offered To
rake some increase In such yards. but
declined 10 admit that exceptional con
ditionn existed mt such points an Den
tcf. ~ Fhro. Hhlt isht', iSph Hhf'i'hf
Ban Francisco. Oakland. Sacramento.
Portland. Spokane. etc. which would
Justify the recognition OF dinerentinl
wnso scale"
Tho roads were finally forced 10
grant the blanket Increase. although
Mr., Ingram said they Htili believe that
the awitohmon wofo receiving m much
money aH their work In worth In every
section. Tho increase IN the desert
and mountain section he mentioned. ho
declared should be granted. because of
tho inaecoHaibill,y of the places. and
not because tho roads believed the liy'
Ing higher,
Tho mileage NJ the lincn represented
every company having n man at the
confsfence-iH approximately $4,000
miles.
According 10 Mr.. iusfam, the feeling
during tho conference was the best
and no temper was displayed. lie pays
q tribute 10 President Norfisssy Of tho
Brotherhood 81 Hallway Trsinmsn.
whom he says II an earnest and very
abis mat. and "as far ne his attitude ~
the representative Of tho stnployes
would permit. was at all times fair"