Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-26
TO SETTLE WAGE QUESTION
PRESIDENT OF" SOUTHERN IN.
VoKES ERDMAN ACT.
Seeks to Prevent Interruption of
Railway Business - Interstate
Commission May Mediate.

Negotiations looking to an AMIGA ole set
Element of the wage question between the
Southern railway and its employees in all
branches of the service have failed. and
now only the probable mediation of the
interstate commerce commission and the
commissioner of labor remains to prevent a
serious clash between the two forces, with
a long and bitter strike as one of the pos
sible results. Steps to secure the kindly
offices of the members of the interstate
commerce commission and Commissioner
Of Labor Neill were taken yesterday by
President Finley of the Southern railway.
His action was based on the Erdman act,
which specifically seeks to prevent inter-
ruption in the business of common car
riers growing out of wage questions, by
providing that either party to contro-
verSy may refer the points at issue to the
officials named. whereupon it becomes
the duty of the latter to confer with the
other party, consider the arguments adj
vanced and give decision on what 1t
believes to be the equities involved.
For nearly a month the officials of the
Southern railway have been holding a
conference with representative commit
tees of the labor organizations in each
branch of its service. Several days were
devoted to reviewing the situation with
).
men. baggage handlers. oilers, yardmen,
brakemen, and upon each it was urged
that reduction in wages to the scale
which was in effect last year would be
necessary. The company based its claim
to the men that retrenchment is i'm
pera tive on the ground that existing bust
ness conditions and the consequent falling
off in revenue make it impossible 10 meet
the advanced scale. The statement has
been made that the reference of the mat
ter to the interstate commerce commits
sion and the commissioner of labor by
the Southern railway is only the begin
ming of a new plan of action by the rail-
way companies of the country, who,
rather than conclude negotiate with
their employees. will prefer to take chances
of securing their ends by seeking what
amounts to government mediation.
Confident of Peaceful Solution.
Confidence that peaceful solution will
yet be found for the difficulty was eX-
pressed by President Finley in formal
statement issued from the railway COM
pany's Offices
Our employees. working under contract,
having declined our proposition in regard
to a reduction of wages, we still feel con-
fident that there should be an amicable
adjustment, and do not propose to pro-
coed in any arbitrary way" he says. I'VE
have notified our employees of our regret
that they cannot, at the present time, see
their way clear to accept the suggestions
as to the wage scale which the manage
ment considers imperatively necessary I'M
der existing conditions. and have stated
to them that We will ask the mediation of
the chairman of the interstate commerce
commission and the commissioner of Ia
Dor, under section of the Erdman act.
which provides that in any controversy
concerning wages which threatens to in
terrupt the business of an Interstate car
rier either party may ask the intervention
of the chairman of the interstate COM
merce commission and the commissioner
of labor, and, in the event Of such re-
quest. requires the officials named to put
themselves into communication, with all
practicable expedition. with the parties to
the controversy, and use their best eff
forts, by mediation and Cancellation. to
bring about an amicable adjustment of
the questions at issue.
1--WE have accordingly requested the me-
diation of the officials named in the hope
of arriving at an adjustment OF all mat
tiers in controversy with our men. which
will be cordially accepted by both inter-
ests involved