The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-19

Philadelphia, July 1S.-After the joint
committee of the conductors and train
mems unions on the Pennsylvania Lines
East Of Pittsburg had held conferences
to-day with General Manager Myers. Of
the railroad company, it was announced
by both sides that working basis Of
settlement had been agreed upon, many
misunderstanding cleared up. and the
probability OF a walk-out in all likelihood
averted.
Officers OF the railroad company de-
clared that the company had not yielded
an inch from the position which it has
right along maintained. The union lead
ers OF the conductors and trainmen like
wise claimed that they had been entirely
successful in getting the company to
adopt such working conditions as the
men have been contending for.
Terms of Settlement.
The following statement was issued by
the company after the conferences:
AT the conference this morning be-
tween General Manager Myers and the
committee representing tho trainmen and
conductors employed on the Lines OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad East Of Pittsburg
the general manager again reiterated the
companys position. explaining in detail
just what the company could do.
AT a later conference this Afternoon
the men accepted the general managers
proposition, which in effect was that the
company would put into eHecI working
conditions, including a minimum day as
detailed in the New York Central award
leaving the eompanys high rates stand
but not increasing them by making the
ten-hour day apply to the rates which
were made to 1T an eleven and twelve
hour day
THE crux OF the disputed - explained a
PENNSYLVANIA railroad official. was
whether the company would pay for ten
hour day what 1t now pays for an eleven
hour day. namely, S4O4 This the com
pany absolutely refused to do. but agreed
as il said all along it would agree to do
TO pay $3.50 for ten-hour day, allowing
all passenger rates for longer days t
stand as they are now. This has been th'
principal bone OF contention right alonl
and the company long ago signified il
entire willingness TO accept the S3-6S fol
a ten-hour day according to the new
award of the Eastern Federation o
Trainmen."
Trainmen Take Different View.
The trainmen explained to-day that the
f-Fe horr
ferred for the past two days concerned
this very provision. and they said it va!
because of the misunderstanding on thi
point that they requested the further con
fereRces to-day. They said that the rail
road company had misunderstood them
and that they had never fought TO bt
paid $4.04 for ten-hour day.
The union men coatended that all they
had sought was the consent of the com
pany TO make a ten-hOur day the mini
mum basis OF paying wages. thereb,
abolishing the present system of payinl
the men fraction OF a days wages fol
a fraction of a days service.
The union men also held that they haC
never asked the company to increase TIT
wages of such men as were already belnl
paid a higher rate OF wages than provide,
for by the award OF the Eastern Fedora
tion OF Trainmen. This also. they as
serted, had been misunderstood by tn
company's officials, including Presiden
McCrea.
Men Pleased with Outcome.
The men feel that they have won
substantial victory n getting the com
pany TO agree 10 make a ten-hOur da
the minimum basis of a days wages
They point out that many men in tn
conpany's service viii be vastly bene
fitted by this change. They also feel tina
in obtaining the company's word tina
10 wages as at present paid viii be re
duced they have gained ground. Tn
working conditions they have sought 10
they say they have won by their contest
On the other hand, the officials Of tn
company point out that the Pennsylvania
has been willing all along to grant thes
working conditions, but have baked onl,
on paying s4N for minimum ten-hou
day instead Of 1858 for ten~hour day
AS It stands now. according to tn
agreement, men who now get S4H 70
eleven hours work. $40 for twelv
hours work, $3.50 for thirteen hours
work. and so on. will not be in the slight
est affected by the change, although tn
company asserts that the union me-
have sought TO have these men paid o.
a ten-hour minimum basis and at S4t
for ten hours, with overtime to be count
ed after ten hours work.
This would have bosted the pay Of IN
high-prieed men on the lines as well a
those who now earn less than $3.50 for
minimum days work.
Minor Points Remain.
Both sides to the dispute said to-da
that there now remains but the settIin
OF many minor points and details and tn
readjustment of the runs TO the new ba
sis Of payment by the hour instead of b
the trip as is now done on the Pennsyl
vania.
A. B. Garretson. president OF the Orde
of Railway Conductors. left this after
noon for Iowa, and ". G. Lee. presiden
OF the Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmer
Continued on Page 2, Column 4.