The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-03-04
RAILROAD WAGE REDUCTION.
SOUTHERN Will ASK CONINllS-
SION'S MEDIATION ON THE
QUESTION.

SION'S MEDIATION ON THE
QUESTION.
Conference Is Broken Off-RailrOad
and Its Employees Can Come to No
Understanding as to Reduction ni
Pay.
Washington, Feb. 25.-Because Of a
failure to reach an agreement in re-
spcct to the matter of reduction of
wages OF the employees of the South
ern Railway company, the negotia-
tions have been broken off and Presi-
dent Finley announces that he will
carry the cases to the interstate COM
merce commission and to Labor Com
missioner Neill under the Erdman act.
President Finley today gave out a
statement in which he expresses con-
1dence that there yet will be an AMIGA
BILE adjustment Of the controversy be-
tween tho Southern railway and its
men and expresses regret that the
latter cannot see their way clear to
accept the wage scale which the man.
agemept has offered. The intended
action of the Southern railway in
seeking the mediation Of the inter-
state commerce commission and the
commissioner OF labor is regarded as
marking the beginning of 4 campaign
upon the part Of the railoads when
such controversial arise to seek aG-
justment In that manner rather than
to negotiate with their employts.
The proposition of the management
OF the Southern railway to reduce tho
wagc scale was based, 1t is stated, up
on the ground that he existing bus
iness conditions and the falling off in
revenue made 1t imperatively neces-
'sary.
With that object in view confer
cnccs have been going on for two
weeks or more between officials Of
the Southern railway and representa-
tives OF the employees affected. the
locomotive engineers and fremen and
machinists and other shopmen. It
was proposed to restore the wage scale
which was in effect year ago.
President Finley's statement is "a
follows:
"Our employees, working under con-
tract having declined our proposition
IA regard to reduction OF wages, we
still feel confident that there should
be an amicablc adjustment. and d.
not propose to proceed in any arbi-
trary way. We have notified our en-
ployes Of our regret that they cannot,
at the present time. see their way
sisar to accept the suggestions as to
Ne wage scale which the manage
meat considers inlperatively necessary
SnseN existing conditions. and have
stated to them that we win ask the
mediation of the chairman OF the M
terstate commerce commission and
We commisdoner Of labor, under sec
tcs Of the Erdman act. which rro-
vsdes that In Sny controversy con-
eerning wages which threatens to in
tsrupt the business OF an inte nstate
sassier either party may aslt the later
veatson OF the chairman Of the inter-
ssate comemrce commission ana tho
commissioned OF labor. and in the
eyAs Of such request. requires the
sAeais named to put themselves into
ssnmunieetion. with all practicable
sgseditioA. with the parties to the
ssokroversv. and use their beet efforts
- mediation end oonciliation to brtag
sesat IN amicabls sdtustment Sf the
0sstiona
Vs have AoosrdinSly yeoaasted
0e mediation Of the onlciaas uamed
= As hope OF arriving ct an adaust.
3Ast OF al suaatterS I'm controversv
ve0 our men. which will be cordially
ssoeUtsd bv both iaterests Involved"