The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-04
Southeastern Railways
and Employees Reach
Agreement.
OBVIATES DANGER
OF GREAT STRIKE
New Scale Will Affect Approx
mately 1900 Men and Will
Cost Roads About $I,3oo,ooo
a Year-Norfolk Settlement
Taken as Basis by
Mediators.

Washington, October "a settie
ment of the protracted wage ana
working conditions controversy be-
tween the southeastern railways ana
their employees was reached late to-
day. The men by the agreement
signed, will receive an average ad-
vance in wages OF approximately 10
per cent.
The rules and working conditions on
each Of the roads remain Substantial
~ unchanged. Approximately $4,000
employees, Including 1000 negroes are
affected They are conductors,
brakemen bagsagemen. nagmen.
and yardmen. Trackmen and shop
men are not involved. The agree
ment means to the roads an In
crease in fixed charges for operating
expenses of approximately $l.3O0.o00
a year. AS an Offset to this. assurance
is given that there will he no strike
of the men and that the working con-
ditions now agreed upon are fairly sat
isfactorily to the operatives and to the
railroads.
After several weeks of futile effort.
It was decided that the controversy
should be referred to the mediators
designated by the Erdman act-Pre-
siding Judge Martin A. Knapp. OF the
Commerce Court. and DR.. Charles z.
Nell Commissioner Of Labor. For ten
days the mediators have conferred
daily with both sides, wrestling with
one of the most obstinate controversies
in the history of such negotiations. For
more than a week 1t appeared impos-
sible for the mediators to bring the
opposing sides to anything approx
mating an agreement
Ultinaran Isaned.
Finally, day or two ago. what
substantially amounted to an ultima
tum was made. looking to a settlement
OF the controversy on the basis reached
by the ollciais Of the Chesapeake and
kohtas Novlolk ana yEeelsxn and, -Yir-
gilman Railways with their men ut
Norfolk. This ray of light was follow
ed and the agreement signed to-day
provides practically. that all the en-
ployes Of the roads involved shall re-
ceive the same increase as were pro-
vided for in the Norfolk settlement.
except in those cases where the pres
ent wages equal or exceed the Norfolk
basis.
For the operatives the agreement
was signed by President Garyetson. OF
the railway conductors. and vice-Pres-
ident Fitzpatrick. Of the railway train
men; for the railroads, by Horace
Baker, general manager Of the Cincin-
natl, New Orleans and Texas Pacific
Railway, chairman Of the general man
ayers committee. The railroads were
represented in the conference by the
general manager Of each line and the
men by Mr.. Garretson and Mr.. Fftz-
patrick, and a joint committe OF near
ly 200 others.
The roads involved in the contro-
versy were the Atlantic Coast Line,
Alabama Great Southern, Alabama and
vicksburg. Central OF Georgia, Gin
cinnatt New Orleans and Texas Pa
ciic, Georgia Southern and Florida,
Mobile and Ohio. Northern Alabama.
New Orleans and Northeastern, New
Orleans, Mobile and Chicago. Seaboard
Air Lane, Southern Railway. southern
Railway in Mississippi. Tennessee Cen
trail. vicksburs. Shreveport and vir-
ginia and Southewestern-