The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-18
NO INCREASE IN
PAY OF F|REMEM
PRESIDENT FINLEY, OF SOUTH
ERN ROAD, GIVES OUT A
I
STATEMENT.

tSpeciaf TO The Richmond Nirxiaian.)
WASHINGTON, y. c., May Ia
Mr.. Finley. president OF the South
ern Railway Company, to-day gave
put the following statement
A difference having arisen between
the Southern Railway Company ana
the firemcn employed by 1t. ! deem II
proper as president OF the company
10 make the following explanation;
The representatives of the firemen
sometime since took up with the vice
president and general manager OF the
company, Mr.. Coapman, the question
OF their relations with the company,
Involving the question OF wages. and
the question of rules under which
they should work. As most usual in
such cases. before any consideration
was given to the question Of rules,
the question of wages was first taken
UP and considered. The demands of
the men were for an increase In
wages approximatng twenty seven
and eight tenths f27.s} per cent. over
the wages OF last year, involving an
increase amounting TO approximately
100000 per annum. The vice. presi-
cent and general manager not feeling
that conditions we're appropriate for
considering an increase declined il,
and thereupon, as IN usual. an appeal
was taken by the committee repre-
senting the men to me, as president
of the company. When the appeal
was presented to me only the question
OF the demand for an increase III
wages was considered, no question as
to the rules then in any way Involved
or passed upon, 1t being stated by me
TO the committee that the question
must first be considered by the OPP
Grating officers Of tn. company, being
convinced, in respect to the demand
for increased wages. that there was
nothing in general business conditions
or in respect to the earnings of the
company, or the immediate outlook
Tor traffic. to justify an increase in
expenses. l frankly go stated to the
committee. explaining In some detail
the surroundings conditions / asked
them to consider what reasonable ba-
sis there was for such demand at
this time. and pointed out the fact
that they had received from us AS
much as forty-six 46) per cent. in
crease in wages since nineteen hun
dred $4,000, including a substantial
increase a year ago. based last year
upon the contention that there had
been a substantial increase in the cost
Of living. whereas since then the cost
of living has not Increased. bat has.
nia the contrary, deCtineds that thS
scale of wages paid by Us Was fully
up to, and even in excess OF, the scale
OF wages being paid by our principal
competitors and. in view of existing
business conditions and of the fact
that the earnings of the company
were showing a tendency to decline.
and in view the uncertainty aS to
earnings during the summer months
/ could not now consent to any in
crease OF wages. I explained to them
that I did not desire to assume any
arbitrary stand and would according
~ be willing to take the question UP
with them again IN the autumn OF this
year. when we would have further
light in respect to earnings and bus
mess conditions after the summer
months, and would then consider II
with them with an open mind and on
the merits OF the situation as then
existing.
If they are unwilling to accept this
suggestion ] offered as an alternative
10 mediate or arbitrate the question
with them.
trust very sincerely that our men
will see the justice and equity of the
position OF the company, VIII realize
that the management is controlled ny
the purpose OF being entirely lair &c
them and that the way Is afWaSs
open to them and TO their represen-
tatives for full and just considera'
ton in conference of all questions OF
difference that may arise.