The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-26
BREAKS OFF NEGOTIATIONS Southern and Employes
 Fail to Agree. <, FINLEY GIVES OUT STATEy SNT He Will Garry Cases to tsrstate
 Commerce Commisy a. Espresso. Regret. That ss Empioyes of the Road Game See Their
 Way Clear to Accept wsss
 scale.
FINLEY GIVES OUT STATEg SNT

Washington, Feb. 25--Because of a failure to reach an agreement in re- spect of the matter of a reduction of wages of lthe employees of the south ern Rail4ay Company, the negotia- tions have been broken off and Presi- dent Finley announces that he will car ry the cases to the Interstate Commerce Commission and to Commissioner of Labor Neili. under the Erdmsnn act.
 President Finley today gave out a statement in which he expresses con- fldence that there yet will be an annie able adjustment of the controversy be- tween the Southern Railway and its men, and expresses regret that the lat ter cannot see their way clear to ac- cept the wage scale which the smsnage- nent has offered. The intended action of the Southern Railway in seeking the mediation of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Commissioner ue Labor. Is regarded as marking the he- ginning of n campaign upon the part of tho railroads when such controversies arise to seek adjustment In that man ner rather than to negotiate with their employees.
 The proposition of the management of the Southern Railway to reduce the wage scale was based. it Is stated, upon the ground that the existing business conditions and the falling off in revc- uue made 1t imperativeiy necessary. With that object in view, conferences have been going on for two weeks or more between officials af the Southern Railway and representatives of the em- ployes affected. which involved the To- comotive engineers and firemen and machinists and other shop men. It was proposed to restore the wage scale which was in effect a year ago. Pres ident Ftnley's statement is as fol. lows:
 ''our employees. working under con tract. having declined our proposition in regard to Q reduction of wages, we still feel confident that there should be an amics ble adjustment, and do not propose to proceed in any arbitrsry way We have notified our employees 1f our regret that they. capnot, at. the present tiples see their way claar te saceept the sNgResfiens aH 10 1lte II xa seealNs when tha mana cement considera 'impefatlvei& necessary under the Ax. istfne conditions, and have stated t6 them that we will ask the mediation Coninierce Commission and the Com missioner Of Labor. under Section of the Erdnan act, which provides that in any controversy concerning wages which threatens to interrupt the bus- mess of an interstate carrier, either party may ask the intervention of the Chairman of the Interstate Commerce. Commission ana the Commissioner of Labor. and In the event of such re- quest requires the officials named to put themselves Into eomniunication with all practicable expedition with the parties to the controversy. and to use their best efforts by mediation and con ciliation to bring about an amicable ad- Justment of the question at issue.
 We have accordingly requested the mediation of the officials named in the hope of arriving at an adjustment of all matters in controversy with our men which will be cordially accepted by both interests involved"