The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-07-22
THREATENED STRIKE
ON PENNSYLVANIA
is SETTLED At LAST
BASIS OF AGREEMENT WITH THE
MEN IS FINALLY
REACHED.
ALL THE DETAILS ARE FIXED UP
statements From the Road and the
employees Show That Both Are Cat
ised With Result, and the Latter
Seem to Have Gained.


PHILADELPHIA, July 1s.-General
Manager w. H Myers, of the Penn
sylyania Railroad, and the commit
tas representing the $4,000 traipmen
and conductors employed on the lines
of the road east of Pittsburg, today
agreed on the basis of settlement OF
the wage controversy. Each side
claims to have gained all that 1t had
been contsnding for in the negotia-
tions, which have been in progress
for the past six months and which
eliminated last, week in the strike
vote by the employees.
The proposition offered today by the
railroad officials and accepted by the
men includes minimum day Of ten
hours. as detailed in the New York
Central award In certain runs where
the company's present rate is higher
the rate will not be disturbed.
The classification of these special
runs and the question of overtime
were left to be decided at conferences
between the various members Of the
committees and the division superin-
tendents of the lines which they rep
resent
It was further agreed that the men
would he guaranteed twenty-six days
work a month. While the men regard
this is a concession the railroad ON
GERS say that during the recent hard
times the men were benefited by be-
ing worked on short time rather than
being laid OF altogether,
Until today's conference the rail-
road ofhcers, 1t was declared, were un-
der the impression that the men were
really demanding ten hour day with
eleven hours pay. But the company
states that it had all along agreed to
grant the standard rate and was salts
fied nj 10 reduce the pay Of aoS OF
its men IL none was increased BY the
Nav York Central award above that
Of the standard rate. An ofacsT OF
the company stated that BY readjust'
ing the runs they can pay the new
rate without greatly increasing the ex-
penses Of the company. The oficial
statement given out by the railroad
officers tonight Is as follows:
AT the conference this morning
between General Manager Myers and
the committees representing the
trainmen and conductors employed on
the lines OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road east Of Pittsburg, the general
manager again reiterated the compa-
ny,s position, explaining in detail just
what the company could do.
aAt a later conference this alter
noon the men accepted the general
managers proposition, which, in ell
feet, was that the company would put
into effect working conditions inciud-
ing a minimum day as detailed in the
New York Central's award, leaving
the company's high rates stand, Dut
not increasing them by making the
ten hour day apply to the rates which
were made to fit an eleven and twelve
hour day"
A. B. Garrettson, president OF the
order Of Railway Conductors. shortly
after the conference took train for
Chicago and from there will go to
Cedar Rapids, Ia, to attend meeting
OF the Board of Directors OF his or
ganization. Before leaving Mr.. Gar
rettson said:
..The company has granted the prin-
ciple for which we have been contend
ing all along, maintaining its present
high rates and giving a minimum day
standard rates."
w. @. Lee, President of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, will re-
main in this city with the members
OF the general committee until the n
nal details of the agreement have
been worked out. he SAID:
I'VE think we have gotten what we
have asked for from the beginning.
When President McCrea's statement
was made public. we saw at once that
the company had misconstrued our
attitude. We also learned fron an
other source that the company had
misunderstood our demands. We
therefore arranged today's confer
ence, at which Mr.. Myers offered the
standard conditions Of a ten-hour day
with none of the present high rates
reduced. A subcommittee will worl
out the details.
while today's conference does mo-
mean that all possibility Of q strike
is over" said Mr.. Lee. 1T does meal
that we have arrived at a basis for
settlement, and feel that the detail
win be worked cut satisfactorily.