The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-05-20
.F|REMEA NOT TO
GET INCREASE.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY CANNOT
MAKE INCREASE JUST AT
THIS TIME.
Pt~sident Finley Issues a statement
in Which He Explains Very Plainly
Why the Request Ct the Firemen
Garnet Be era..cd.

The firemen Of the Southern rail-.
way will not get an increase in wages
right away, according to tie state
ment made in Washington by Presi-
dent w, w. Findley He says the in
crease asked would amount to $780,
900 annually and traffic conditions
do not warrant this, especially since
an increase was given last year, and
since that time the cost of living has
decreased His statement follows:
"a difference having arisen be-
tween the Southern Railway company
and the aremen employed by it. !
deem it proper as president Of the
company to make the following ex-
planation: The representatives Of
the firemen some time since took UP
with the vice president and general
manager of the company, Mr.. Coap-
man, the question OF their relations
with the company involving the ,ques.
tion 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 consiJ-
cred The demands of the men were
for an increase in wages approyi-
mating 27.S per cent over the wages
of last year. involving an increase
amounting to approximately 100000
per annum. The vice president and
general manager not feeling that con-
ditions were appropriate for consider
ing an increase, declined it, and there
upon, as is usual an appeal was taken
by the committee representing the
men to me as president of the COM
pany. When the appeal was present
ed to me by the question of the de-
mand for an increase in wages was
considered. no question as to the
rules being in any way then involved
or passed upon, it being stated by me
to the committee that question m, st
first be considered by the operating
Cficia's CT he~eompany, being con.
svinced in respect to the demand for
wages that there was nothing in gen.
eral business conditions f.r in respect
ltofst earnings cf the company or tho
irsIa diate outlook for trlnc t. justi-
| ~ III. i!iareaos in expenses | .-slklv
so stated to the committee, explain
ing in some detail the following cen
! ditions:
'sIs5asked them to consider what
reasonable basis there was for such
IN demand at this time and pointed
out the fact that they received from
us as much as 46 per, cent increase
in wages since 1900. including sub
stantial increase year, and based
| las year upon the contention that
there had been substantial increase
in the cost OF living, whereas since
tn an the cost of living has not in
| creased but has, on the contrary, de-
clined, that the scale of wages paid
By ue was fully up to ard over. in
excess of the scale OF wage, being
paid ty our principal competitors, and
in view of existing business condi-
tions and by the fact that the earn
ings OF the compa ~ were showing 4
l7tcndsss 10 decline, 'ss in view of
tie uBcefts irty as to e,:nin.s during
the summer months, could not now
| consent to any increase of wages. /
explained further that | did not de-
sire to assume any arbitrary stand
and would accordingly be willing to
take the question up with them again
in the autumn Ct this year, when
we would have further light in re-
spect to the earnings and business
conditions after the summer months,
and would then consider it with them
with an open mind and on the mer-
its of the situation as then existing.
If they were willing to accept this
suggestion offered as an alternative
tc 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.
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