Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-15
Southern Pacific Willing
To Confer on Strike.
Would Mediate or Arbitraie
By Act Of Congress.
Says Employees Have Never Asked
Railroad to Discuss Situation.

New YORK, NOV. 14.-JulluS Mutt
schntt, chairman of the executive
committee of the Southern Pacific
Co, announced, this afternoon, that
the railroad company was willing to
discuss with representative COM
mittee of the four labor organizations
now on strike the question of inau-
gurating a system of dealing with
controversies through a joint COM
mittee representing all four organ
izations.
",rhe railroad company is willing to
discuss with a representative commit
tee from the four organizations con-
ceraed the question of inaugurating
the system of dealing with contro-
versies through a joint committee
representing all four organizations,
reads MIR. Kruttschnitts statement,
and if no agreement can be arrived
at, TO have the controversy adjusted
in the manner provided by the recent
act of Congress"
1T is further willing to have the
controversy over its refusal to grant
the demand actually made adjusted
by the Board of Mediation and Con-
Citation or by arbitration as provid-
ed in the act of Congress. More than
this cannot reasonably be required OF
it.
THE demand that the railroad COM
pany refused was that the company
meet such a joint or cooperative
committee for the purpose of consid-
ering, discussing and settling certain
specified cases of grievances, 81 in
number, some already settled some in
course of settlement and some pre-
scented for the first time, but all COW
cred by the existing contracts with
each organiza ton.
1T is one thing to consent to take
up and discuss with representatives
of the train and enginemen, wheth-
er or not existing agreed methods for
dealing with grievances shall be
changed and new methods substituted
which will involve the recognition of.
joint committee representing the
four organizations. It is another and
quite a different thing to consent to
treat as abrogated the provision of
existing agreement relating to-settle-
ment of grievances, to recognize q CO.
operative committee from all four
organization as appropriation for dis
cussion and settlement and to con-
sent, moreover to reopen and take
up with such committee a batch of
grievances of the character above de-
scribed.
THE company has never been ask
ed to take up and discuss with it's
employees the question of meeting a
cooperative committee representing
the four organizations and discuss
ing with it the question of making
changes in existing agreements or
making a new agreement involving
giving such a committee jurisdiction
over cases of grievances or other
matters. While the company has been
opposed to that method of settling
grievances and has so expressed itself,
It has not refused to discuss with its
employees the adoption of this CO.
operative method.
ut is willing to meet and discuss
with any committee of its employees,
the pros and cons of the question and
it is willing, if unable to come to any
agreement on the subject to invoke
the aid of the Board of Mediation and
Cancellation and to submit the matter
to arbitration.
''The position of the officers of the
company in respect to the pending de-
mands of its employees has been in
performance of their duties as they
are defined III the report of the In
terstate Commerce Commission. II
the eompany's employees have the
same regard for the commerce report
and recognize the duties which rail
way employees as Well as railway Off
Gals owe to the public. they will not
persist in their demands. Certain ii
is that il the travelling public had a
conclusive voice in the determination
of the controversy due regard for
its rights would lead TO it's approval
of The stand taken by the officers OF
the railroads. The question in nut
shell is: Shall the company buy its
peace with employees at the price OF
the safety of the publie?'
THE answer must be given by the
public. The company stands ready K
submit its ease to the tribunal ap-
pointed by the people as its represen
tative for the settlement of such con.
roversies."