The Washington herald., 1910-07-03

The Southern railroads have
granted the demands of their en-
ployes.
A final settlement in the wage
controversy between thirteen roads
and their brakemen, fagmen, and
conductors was reached at 6 o'clock
yesterday afternoon through medi-
alton of the Erdman commission in
the chambers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
It is announced that concessions
have been made on both sides.
Just what all these concessions
are will not be known for several
months. One of them, on the part
of the employees, was drop of 10
per cent in their demands, which
left them an increase in wages OF
approximately 20 per cent.
KEPT FROM PUBLIC.
What concessions were made by the
railroads was not given out and Will not
be made public in the near future. ac-
cording to a statement made by Chairman
Knapp, OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
F. P. Curtiss, vice president OF the
order Of Railway Conductors, refused .
make any statement last night
Speaking of the matter last evening,
Chairman Knapp, one Of the mediators
said that it was the most difficult case
that has ever come before the Erdman
commission.
The controversy has been hanging fire
before the committee for the last sixteen
DAYS. and until late yesterday afternoon
practically all hope OF an amicable set
Element had been abandoned. At the last
moment, however, the three railway pres
idents-FinIey. of the Southern; Emerson,
of the Atlantic Coast Line, and Meldrum,
Of the Seaboard Air Line-decided TO grant
the demands. thus ave-ting a disastrous
strike.
Minor Meeting Tomorrow.
A meeting between the representatives
Of the railroads and the labor delegates
will be held tomorrow. Several minor
details VIII be settled.
The substantial increase Will not ac-
complish the original purpose. While it
viii give the flagmen. brakemen, and
conductors a considerable advance over
what they have been earning, II viii
not put their earnings up TO the stand
ard of the Eastern, Northern, and Mex
lean railways. To accomplish this stand
ardization was the object of the original
demands of the labor side of the con-
tentiOn.
BY granting the demands the Southern
roads have averted one of the largest
strikes in the history of the United
States. IF the strike had been ordered,
10000 miles of railroad would have been
tied I'D and nearly $4,000 men thrown
out Of work The entire commerce of
the South would have been put at a
standstill. and the effect would have
been worldwide.
LabOr Delegates Satisfied.
The large number of labor delegates
who have been gathering in Washington
for the last few DAYS in the expectation
of seeing a strike declared will leave to-
day for their homes. rejoicing in their
victory. The following statement was
given out by one of them;
4 am glad our demands have been
granted, and am going home and go 10
work and forget these nervous, strenu-
Gus times We have been experiencing up
here in Washington. We have not ac-
complished what we started out 10 ac-
compllsh. but We have done a great deal
in that direction. I am sincerely glad
there will be no strike"
The railroads concerned in the contro-
versy were the Seaboard Air Line, South
ern Railway, Atlantic Coast Line. Louis
vile and Nashville. Central of Georgia,
Florida Peninsular Nashville, Chatta-
nooga and St. Louis; Alabama Great
Southern, Atlantic and West Point, va
zoo Valley. Western Railway of Ala
oama, Mobile and Ohio. and the Appa-
laohicola Northern.