The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-27
CLASH IMMINENT
OVER REDUCTIONS
OF WAGE SCALES
Conference of Brother
hoods Will Be Held in
Chicago Saturday.

That a crisis is pending between the
railroads. particularly those operating
In the South. and their thousands or
employees. who now face a proposed re-
ductiOn in wages. IS evidenced by sey-
CraI developments today.
Following the inability OF the South
eFn railway and its employees 10 come
70 an agreement. and the appeal by the
company 10 Labor Commissioner Nell
and the Interstate Commerce COmHnis-
sion yesterday, q series OF conferences
closed at Wilmington last night between
the Atlantic Coast Line and its en-
ployes, which were equally unavaillng.
May Ask for Help.
The Coast Line may also ask the as
sistance OF the Labor Commissioner.
and in event the company does not, it
is said today by Vice President +. J.
Conlon. OF the International Association
OF Machinists. that the employees prob
ably viii themselves. Il is possible.
however. that the other roads who have
proposed wage cuts may await the re-
suit OF the mediation Of the Govern
ment officials, and take their action as
a precedent in their own cases.
For the purpose Of lining up more
solidly against the railroads and unity
ing the forces in the impending night
q conference of all the br0therhoods en-
pIuyed by the railway companies has
begn called 70 meet In Chicago Satur-
day. At that time the various unions
Of machinists, engineers, fremen. ana
shop men are expected to appoint d
general committee which shall repre-
sent the mechanical forces IN all
matters Of wage adjustment and legls-
latior. This committee viii probably
perform its first function in attending
the conference to be arranged between
Labor Commissioner Neil and the chair
man of the Interstate Commerce Com
80 date for the hearing OF the griev-
ences of the Southern and also Of its
EMPLOYEES has been announced by the
I "a b9r Commissioner. It is said that a
preliminary separate conference VII
first be held with both sides, after Whlcn
Mr. NeilI viii arrange for a general
conference and attempt 10 assist the
parties TO reach an agreement
In connection with the various agi-
tations afoot between railroads who
profess inability 10 meet current ex-
penses at the present wage scale, II is
significant that w. s. stone. president
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers. reached washington this morn
ing. fl is rumOTed. for another confer
euce with President Roosevelt Mr.. stone
was in conference with President ROOse-
welt last week, and the Presidents let
ter asking that the Interstate Commerce
Commission investigate conditions. par
ticularly those on the Louisville and
Nashville, 10 ascertain If a reduction
in wage was really justified. followed his
visit. This road, together with the
Southern and Coast Line. are Consid-
cred as being most insistent on an av-
erage 10 per cent wage reduction.
A final determined effort on the part
of the railroads TO delay enforcement OF
me rine-hour law which goes into ef-
feet NlTCh ], through fling of forty odd
petitions with the Interstate Commerce
Commi ssiOn. forced a hurried hearing
of The matter today.
Daniel willard. vice president of the
G. Is. < O. declared that employment
OF the necessary telegTaphe-s 10 com
ply with the law would mean an 8d-
ditionai expenditure OF s16000G yearly.
MIR. Willard frankly admitted that he
wanted an indefinite suspension Of the
'aW, and that By asking for temporary
relief he was merely temporizing
Whereupon Chairman Knapp sharply
reminded him that he must go 10 Con-
gross for any such revision, and Mr.
Willard admitted he was contemplating
such a step.
c. il. Ackert, general manager. of the
Southern railway, told with wOcful
manner the financial distress OF the
poor Southern"
lie became involved In a rather sharp
discussion with President parhsm, JT
the Order of Railway TelegrapneIs. as
20 the paw mis- operators received their
duties, ard time Of service.