The San Francisco call., 1907-03-02
Measure Before Legislature
Provides for Eight
Hour Day
DEFEAT IS ALLEGED
MullaIly Claims That the
Findings Are Against
Corporation

There is great and open discomfort
on the part of the platform men of the
United Railroads over the decision of
the board of arbitration issued Thurs
day. There is buzz of discussion
among the carmen over the decision,
which was published in full in The
Call. this being the only paper to give
il in its entirety. Labor all over the
city is reading and dissecting the re-
port.
There will be no disruption between
the Carmens Union and the street rail-
way corporation until May l. at least.
on which date new agreement must
be put in force between the employees
and the employer. What may happen
then cannot be predicted; the officers
OF the union refuse to advance even a
conjecture on the future situation. but
there is a feeling of revolt among the
men which is grounded on their failure
to get the eight hour working day. and
II. is conceivable that they will not en-
ter into another agreement with the
company unless the shorter day Is
awarded them. The United Railroads
has ever contended 'laat an eight-hour
day. is an fmpossibility. and In the light
of the opinion OF Chief Justice Beatty
ana Major Mclaughlin the majority OF
the arbitration board. it is not con-
ceivable that the company viii retreat
from its stand on a hour day. Lack
of agreement naturally suggests a
strike as the only alternative.
MULLALLY CLAIMS DEFEAT
With an their feeling against the
substance of the award the carmen
refuse to even discuss the rumor that
they might. strike. now. They insist
that they have integrity and are. sol
emnIy bound to respect the terms Of the
arbitration decision during the life OF
the contract entered into between the
rarnien's Union and the United Rail-
roads on May /. 1905, to hold until May
/ OF this year The disseuting opinion
of Rev. Peter c. -Torke of the arbitra-
tion board was received by the men
with the highest appreciation
On the part of the United Rail-
roads. there is strong sugges-
ton Of defeat contained in the
statement issued yesterday by Thorn
we'll Munally assistant to Presi-
dent Patrick Calhoun. The United Rail-
roads considers the decision as q
sweeping award in favor of the en-
ployes." says Mullally There IS no
Of anticipated rupture Of the
relations with the men in May. The
future is ignored by the United Rail-
roads. Mutually discusses the additional
financial burden put on the company
by the decision and ends by promising
San Francisco ~as speedily as possible
as good a street-car service as there is
IN the world"
VOICES Discomfort
In the matter OF the eight-hour day
the unions have a bit Of an anchor
out in the form of bill which has
passed both houses of the State Isgis-
Iature and which is before Governor
Ginett This bill was drawn up by
Attorney Albert NJ. johnson. who pre-
sented the case OF the carmen during
the arbitration proceedings It is en-
titled can act to protect the health Of
employees of street and interurban rail-
roads" and provides that the eight-hour
day must be established on all street
car lines. This bill is drawn on the lines
of the underground miners act in Utah
and the act relating to employment IN
mines and smelters in Montana The
street railway corporations OF the state
made no effort to defeat the bill while
it was before the Legislature. but viii
undoubtedly night it in the courts il it
should be signed by Governor Gflett
Richard Cornelius gave the following
statement on the situation last even
ing
In the light Of the tact that ne nen ars
sonssns.ea on PAGE 3. Column