The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-12-02

PAu4, IN winch the swilchmen In no
detail received from their demands.
which II conceded would have en-
tailed an additional expense upon the
railroads for switching service Of
nom forty to forty-nve per cent. The
managers committee offered the
switchmen and increase of twenty
cents per day. of ten hours. in the
rstes Of pay OF swttchmen e. -ployed
n the territory west Of Havre. Mon
.ana on the Great Northern Railway.
and west of Billings, Montana, on
the Northern Pacific railway, the diff
ferenial in that territory for switch
men having obtained for about two
years. Further concession was de-
clined for the reason that the rates
of pay of switcbmen were increased
over thirteen per cent in November,
1906, and because the rates at that
time established had not been re-
duced during the period of business
depression which followed. s:". #E
The attention of the switchmen
was called to the fact that In 1906
the swdtchmen were granted larger
percentage Of incease than any other
class of employees in train sevice. At
the present rates the wages OF the
switchmeu average over $4,000 per
month.
On November %, 1909 in submit
ting it's fnsl answer to The switch
men, the managers committee as
Stunning THAI the switohmen Joined In
the desire for an amicable adjust
ment OF the questions under the pro-
visions under the provisions OF the
Erdman Act. The switchmen declin-
ed to accept this suggestion and In
their final written answer to the
Managers committee made the state
ment "The Committee begs leave to
state that it will nos submit to arbi-
tration under any circumstances
On the same day, November %.
1909, after a discussion of the pro-
posal to artitrate under the terms OF
the Erdman Act, at the suggestion
of, President Hawley, a joint te!e-
gram was addressed, as follows:
est. Paul, Mimi, Nov. 23rd.
Martin A. Knapp, chairman inter-
sttae Commerce Commission.
Chas. P. Nelll. U. s. Commissioners
of Labor. Washington. D. G
The conference committee OF Cen
eral Managers of railways and the
Switchmen's Union of North Amer
lea, representing the railways Of. the
Northwest and the switchmen en-
ployed thereon having been IN session
at St Paul, Mimi, during the past
four days, and having failed to agree
ON certain questions at issue, Jointly
invite your good Offices as mediators
under the Erdman Act and request
your presence here on Saturday,
November twenty-seventh, to that
end. Please wire answer Immediate
~. a.. -, rs ,>a
| J>;&5 wv I. G.. Rawn,
Chairman Managers Committee.
" ''"'3 - F. T. Hawley,
President Switchmen's Union of
N. A. "' '.'"''- " '.T d"
As a result of this telegram, Mon
day, November 29th was selected as
the day for conference between
Messrs. Knapp and Neill. and the
representatives Of the railroads and
swbtchmen at St. Paul. On or about
November 22nd, before the confer
ences with Messrs. Knapp and Neill
had begun, despite the understand
ing reached in the conferences that
mediation unde the Erdman -. Act
should be invoked, and without the
knowledge of either che Managers
committee or the mediators, strike
order was issued by the Switchmen's
committee directing the switchmen of
the thirteen Northwestern railroads
to cease work at, six p. NJ, November
30th In the event that their full de
mands had not been conceded.
This violation of good faith SO en-
barrassed the negotiations that sue
cessful mediation became impossible
and led to the demand by Messrs.
Knapp and Neill, addressed to both
the Managers committee and the
switchmen, that the controversy be
submitted to arbitration under the
terms Of the Erdman Act To this
proposal THE Managers committee
gave its willing assent. but the
switchmen absolutely declined It.
The Managers committee believe
that the public interests should not
suffer because of disagreement
where a proper method ito settle the
differences. is offered through the
decision OF q disinterested third