The Dickinson press., 1909-12-04
consequently would not suffer much from
the strike.

To the Public:
The railroads of the northwest, recos-
nizine that the public is an interested,
but unrepresented. third party in the
controversy with their s%witchmen. |
through the committee which has been
conducting their negotiations. desire
to place at the disposal of the public
the following facts in connection with
the negotiations: The switchmen in
the northwest territory made simultane-
u demands on thirteen railroad COM
panies. centering in the Twin Cities.
for an increase of wages and certain
changes in service conditions. At the
suggestion of F. T. Hawley, president
of the Switchmen's Union of North
America, of whose organization the
switchmen in the northwest are men,
bers, arrangements were made to con
duct the Negotiations in one conference.
In the conference the railroads were
represented by q committee of ten
managers and the switchmen by F. T.
aawley and other officials of the Switch
mems Union of North America.
The demands of the switchmen were
for double pay for Sundays, holidays
and overtime; an advance of sixty
cents per day of ten hours. in the wages
of the s%witchmen, switch tenders, tower
men, engine herders and assistant yard
masters. A modification of the rule
providing for the payment of penalty
in case of failures to permit the switch
men to secure their meals in the middle
of their shift at a stated period, which
c~ontemplates double pay in cases where
ii became necessary to work a portion
of the meal hour and the elimination
of the physical examination, and the
age limit placed upon switchmen
entering the service.
Five conferences were held at St. Paul
in which, the switchmen in nc. detail
receded from their demands. which. if
conceded, would have entailed ad-
ditional expense upon the railroad for
switching service of from 40 to As per
cent. The managers committee offered
the switchmen an increase of twenty
cents per day of ten hours, in the rates
of pay of switchmen employed in the
territory west of Havre. Mont. on the
Great Northern Railway; and west of
Billings, Mont. on the Northern Paciic
railway. the d%iferential in that territory
for switchmen having been obtained for
about two years. Further concession
was declined for the reason that the
rates of pay of switchmen were increased
over IS per cent in November. 1906,
and because the rates at that time
established had not been reduced, during
the period of business depression which
followed. The attention of the switch
men was called to the fact that in 1906
the switchmen were granted a larger per-
centage of increase than any other class
of employees in the train service. AT
the present rates the wages of switch
men average over one hundred dollars
per month.
On November 23rd. 1909, in submit
ting its final answer to the switchment,
the managers committee assuming tina,
the wsitchmen Joined in the desire fol
an amicable adjustment of the question.
under consideration, suggested that thu
demands be submitted to arbitration.
under the provisions of the Erdman Act.
The switchmen declined to accept thu
suggestion and in their final writ.
answer to the managers committe.
made the statement that THE com
mittee begs leave to state that it viii
not submit to arbitration under any cir
cumstances."
On the same day, November 23rd.
1909, after a discussion of the propose
to arbitrate under the terms of the Erd
man Act, at the suggestion of Presiden
Hawley. a joint telegram was addressed
as follows: 'rSt. Paul, November 23rt
1909.
To Martin A. Knapp. Chairman Inter
state Commerce Commission: To Charles