The Washington times., 1908-02-26
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
WAGE ARBITRATION
WILL BEGIN SOON
Labor Commissioned Re-
ceiveS Request to Help
Settle Dispute.
President O'ConnellSayS
MachinistS Will Comply
With Road S Place.

With Roads Place.
Following the announcement made by
President Finley. of the Southern rail-
way that the company and its en-
ployes. in conference here for some days.
had been unable 10 agree on the pro-
posed wage reduction scale, Commits
sioner OF Labor Nell this moUnIng re-
celved q request from President Finley
10 use his efforts 10 bring about an ami
cable agreement. A similar request
from the president oe the Southern went
10 the Interstate Commerce Commission.
under the provisions Of the Erdman
commerce act
Commissioner NELL said today that
the request had Just been received, but
had not yet been acted upon. Il is
planned, however, TO arrange confer
ences within the next few days bctwe IN
the representatives OF the machinists
and others employed on the Southern,
the officials OF the road AIR, Neil, and
members OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Men Will Arbitrate.
President James O'Connell. OF the IN
ternatiOnaI Association of Machinists,
who headed the delegation Of machin-
lists from all the Southern SHOPS IN the
conference with the railroad officials,
said this morning:
We are expecting a communication
from the Labor Commissioner arrang-
ing for a conference, and the machinisJs.
of course. viii comply IL may be pos
sfble that. with the assistance and med
fatfon OF the Labor COMMISSIONS and
the Interstate Commission, an agree
rrent can be reached. although II has
been found impossible so Tar. II an
agreement is not reached neither size
h hound By the conference and Tie
matter would become night between
the road and the employees. ~ Is pro
,-ided however, that during the
pend+ncv of the efforts BY tho Govern
ment labor officials nelther sue
win take any summary action. Whlcn
prevents an immediate decrease OF
wages .U. q strike OF the meu-
practically ali roads have renounced
their original intention OF Ie9 YEN, :
wages except the Louisville ana NaSh-
vile and the Southern and its SUBSIDIARY
roads"
Negotiations for Fortnight.
During the last two weeks the ma
chfrists. engineers, car men, hreIHeH'
railway telegraphers, and other en-
Moves have had representatives IN
Washington endeavorlng 10 compromise
on the wage reduction. The road pro-
posed a return 10 the old scale of Octo-
her 1906. meaning about 10 per cent re-
5ucron. made necessary. it was averredr
NV the financial stringency and poor
business. The men would not agree
10 this. some OF them proposing loan
10 the road Of this amount from their
salaries, without interest. for time, bun
not a complete REIMBURSEMENT OF the
present scale.
There has been no agreement and the
delegates have returned home one by
one TO submit the roads proposition 10
The empolyes as a body. President FIN
lev. seeing the futility Of further con-
ference with the men themselves, has
issued a statement proposing appeal to
the chairman Of the Interstate Com
mission and Labor Commissioner.
II is understood that the Southern s
contracts with the various unions re-
Quires that the road shall hrst submit
any proposition looking toward reduC-
ton in wages TO the men themselves be-
fore taking arbitrary action. This ac-
counts for the conference OF the last
two weeks. whereby both the road and
the men have endeavOred TO arrive al
some common meeting ground
Finley Explains Last Step.
President Finley makes the follow
ing explanation regarding the next step
which affects the interests not only Of
the road. but over 1000 employees;
''Our employees, working under con
81.
IN regard 70 reduction to wages. we still
feel confident that there should be ar
amicable adjustment. and do not propose
10 proceed in any arbitrary way. We
have notified our employees OF our regret
that they can not, at the present time
see their way clear 10 accept the sug,
gestions as to the wage scale which tbs
management considers imperatively nee,
essary under existing conditions, ant
have stated TO them that we win ash
the mediation OF the chairman Of thu
Interstate Commerce Commission anj
the Commissioner OF Labor. under. sec
ton Of the Erdmann act. which pro.
vides that IN any controversy concernfns
wages which threatens to interrupt IA,
business Of an interstate carrier. eitbel
party may ask the Intervention OF IN,
chairman OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission and the Commissioner. O
labor, and, IN the event OF such request
requires the officials named to put them
selves In communication, with all rractI
cal expedition, with the parties 10 "a
controversy. and use their best efforts
by mediation and cancellation, ia brinl
about an amiCable adjustment OF tn
questions a. -ssHe
We have accordingly requested tn
mediation of the officials named in IN
hope Of arriving at an adjustment n
all matters in controversy with oIIr nsT
which Will be cordially accepted by nod
interests involved -