The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-03
Southeastern Railroads and
 Emp|oyes Have Agreed
LONG DRAWN DISCUSSION
Mediators Were Engaged in This Case for Sixteen Days and Finally Win When Possibility of SettIe-
 ment Seemed Hopeless

I ment was made by the mediators to- night that an amicable adjustment of. the controversy between the railroads in the southeastern territory and their conduc. tors and trainmen had been reached The agreement signed provides for d substantial increase in the wages of the employees and improved conditions, and hours of labor.
 The adjustment also will avert threat ened strike of 10000 men, which would have involved approximately 10000 other persons. The settlement reached is re- garded as distinctive victory for the employees, although concessions were made l by both sides.
 While no statement was made concern ing the terms of settlement of the con- troversy it is known that the men have been granted an increase ranging from 10 to 40 per cent. It is impossible in the present condition of the arrangements made so far to state definitely what in- | creases are given to the several classes of laborers. The seeming confusion arises from the fact, 1t Is said, that several railway lines of the companies employ different methods of computing their wage scale. Some of the men receive a per diem wage others receive pay in accordance with the number of miles ] covered each day, and others are paid according to the distance travelled and speed maintained by their trains.
 Question of Wages
 Regarding the question of wages the mediators felt that they could say no more than that the increases in all ca- pacities of employment were by the terms of the adjustment very considerable.
 The conditions of railway labor through out the southeastern territory were among the mooted questions adjusted by the 1 mediators. In every instance and on ev- cry line of the 13 roads involved tho labor conditions of the men by the terms of agreement will be materially im- proved.
 When the controversy was submitted to the mediators Chairman Martin A. Knapp of the interstate commerce com mission and Dr. Charles P Neill, com- missioner of labor, IS days ago, 1s de- mands were made upon the railroads by the employees. Of these demands the rep resentatives of the employees have scored a victory on practically all Until within a day or two scarcely any lkeliht od ex- isted of a satisfactory settlement of tha controversy by the mediators.
 Twelve days were spent in almost fruitless endeavor to get the represent atives of the two parties to the contro- versy together on a reasonable basis of settlement Arbitration under the Erd- man act was proposed but the proposi- tion finally was abandoned. During the pendency of the mediation proceedings a strike vote was taken by the labor organizations involved in the contro- versy and by a large majority strike was ordered by the men unless the rail ways acceded to their demands.
 Hope Not Abandoned
 | Even when the fact became known the mediators did not abandon hope of eventually becoming able to adjust the differences. Finally the presidents of the five great railway systems in the south were called into conference with the media tors in an effort to settle the trouble without a strike.
 The members of the general man. ager's committee and the representa- tives of the labor organizations had wearied of the protracted struggle to reach an agreement and both sides were almost on the point of abandoning | any further effort to amicably adjust | the differences which existed. The al- formative was a strike involving ap- proximately 10000 conductors and train men and indirectly almost 10000 men, all employees of the railroads. Such a strike. it was realized, would be ca lamity to the south and would affect seriously all parts of the United States. l It was fully appreciated by the ft nancial heads of several of the railway systems that strike of the ma gnitude suggested at this time might spell bankruptcy for several of the lines The men said frankly to the mediators and representatives of their employees that they were not In such financial con dition as would warrant heavy in- crease in wages.
 No Increase in Rates
 | Of all the railways in the United States except those in the Pacific coast they pointed out the roads in the southeastern territory were the only lines which re- gently had not increased their freight rates. In view of this fact it Is stated they felt that some consideration ought to be granted them with regard to the matter of increasing wages. The repre- sentatives of the labor organizations in- sisted, however, that the wages in the southeast should be standardized and that in amount they should approximate the wages paid for similar employment in the western territory in it's final analysis. the agreement reached to come after a series of conferences between the media tors and representatives of both sides of the controversy Today's conference com menced at 10 a. m. and concluded at D. m. The wages and conditions of railway laborers in the southeastern territory, 1t Is stated, has been standardized on scale very slightly lower than in effect in other parts of the country. The men themselves, a majority of whom really did not desire to strike. are well satisfied with the terms of the agreement. 1t is declared, and the operating officials of the roads are pleased that strike has been averted.
 Details to Be Worked Out | Some details of the agreement yet re-, main to be worked out. but this work will be concluded probably by tomorrow night. At the final conference this evening both the railway officials and representatives of the employees cordially thanked the me- l diators for the unwearying efforts they had exerted in behalf of an atnicable ad- justmsnt of the controvsrsy. Al were