The San Francisco call., 1913-07-31

trainmen in regard TO seniority anu
working conditions.
The railroad has replied that at this
time it was unable TO grant the de-
mands on the grounds that the sub
urban service has not in the past been
onerated under those conditions and
that electric train service required spe-
cial and peculiar training to safeguard
the public which training was not OBJ
tainable on the main line. The railroad
company also declined TO establlsh q
precedent for all electric extensions
that might be built in the future, con-
tending that each situation should De
decided en- its own merits as II came up.
The situation is regarded as one OF
the most serious the Southern Paclhc
company has ever been forced to deal
with
STATEMENT By sPReILE
In an interview yesterday President
William Sproule OF the southern iciiiN
company said.
our operating officers have been in
session with. the board of adlustneal
of the Order, OF Railway ConttQe tors
md the brotherhood OF Railroad Ifain-
men at intervals since the middle OF
March dealing with 5arge numoe. 81
demands upon the company. All -q4es-
ti0ns were disposed of except those
}
eaniZations over our electric lines.
those immediately under controversy pc
ing the Oakland. Alameda and Berkeley
lines and the electric lines IN oregon
known as the Portland. Eugene and
Eastern railway. These electric lines
are maintained as separate operating
organiza tions, and while We regret ana
endeaVor to avoid any crisis IN feta-
tions with. our employees, we DeheNe
il is impossible To meet the demands
made upon us with respect TO these
electric properties and atsthe same time
operate them efficiently and safely in
the public interest as satisfactory
public utility.
As we have been Officially notified
that failure to meet these demands
viii bring a strike of our tr2fnmen
upon all lines west of FL Paso, Tex,
= nd Ogden. Utah. and south OF Pert
land Ore we believe il to be a public
duty that we invoke the national gov
eminent in mediation of these dim
cul1ies in accordance with the New
lands act which became law on the
] 9Th of this month. In thus invoking
the authority of the nation We desire
to avert the evil consequences uni
formly experienced from strikes. TO the
detriment of the railroad properties OF
the public in their pursuit and proper
ties and in distress TO the men anc
their families.
APPEAL TO COMMISSION
(Western Union Telegram.)
San Francisco, July 80, 1915
and Cancellation, Washington, ID. G.
The undersigned Southern racine
company, by William Sproule, its preSl-
dent. hereunto duly authorized by reso-
luton of the executive committee OF
said Southern Pacific company, GER
tifed copy of which resolution Will be
furnished your board, hereby applies TO
the United States board OF mediation
and Cancellation created by the act Of
congress, approved July 10, 1913, public
number 6, entitled
AN act providing for mediation, con-
ciliation and arbitration in controver-
sizes between certain employers and
their employees and inYokeS the serv-
ices of said board for the purpose of
bringing about an amicable adjustment
of a controversy between said Southern
Pacific company and its employees VINO
are members of the order of Railway
Conductors and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen which said contro-
VerSy concerns wages. hours of Ia Dor
and conditions of employment of some
or all of the members of said organiza-
tions who a re employed by said South
ern Pacific company in railroad train
operation and railroad train service.
Said controversy threatens TO interrupt
the business of said Southern Pacific
company to the serious detriment of
the public interest. Said Southern Pa
cific company is a common carrier rail-
road corporation and engag ged in trans
pOrtation of passengers and property
wholly by railroad among states of the
union and engaged in operating steam
railroad trains IN and among the states
of Oregon. California. Nevada, Utah,
Arizona and New Mexico and electric
trains in the states of California and
Oregon. The existing controversy more
fully appears from the following let
ters-frst a letter under date of June
IS. 1913, signed by f. E. Calvin, vice
president. in charge Of maintenance and
operation of said Southern Pacific COM
pany. Pacific system. addressed and in
the words and figures as follows:
June 2S, 1913.
o. r. c.. care of Argonaut hotel,
San Francisco.
Mr.. r. Mcintyre. vice president
3. of r. T.. care of Argonaut hotel.
Mr. s. Teatch. general chairman
Q. r. c.. 436 Pacific building, San
Francisco.
Mr., E. a: Ier Rieu. general chair
man B. of r. T., 436 Pacific building.
San Francisco.
Gentlemen: Confirming my state
ment to YOU yesterday as to pro-
posed arrangement for operation
of our Alameda county electric
lines; also for operation of the
lines of the Portland Eugene and
Eastern railway, under manage
ments separate from the Pacific
system lines of the Southern Pacific
company:
I am willing TO eause to be is
sued a separate schedule in the
case of each of these two proper
ties, with your organiza tions. en-
bodying therein the rates of pay
and working conditions in the
present schedule of the Pacific sys-
tenn which apply to those lines
The method of handling any ques-
uon that may arise in connection
with such schedules to be as fol-
lows:
tPPEAL PROVIDED
Such question TO be taken up
through the usual channels with
the officers of these properties
respectively. to the ranking officer
thereof. Failing in adjustment it
may be appealed to this office
through such general chairman as
YOUR men on each property may
select. such chairman to be an
empIoye of the property upon
which the question arose, or of the
Southern Pacific companys Pacific
system. The matter of seniority as
TO rights on the lines of the p f.
and f.. other than in streetcar serv-
ice, TO be. All men employed at the
time of transfer TO the new man
agement on the steam lines that
are being converted to electric op-
Grafton. those employed on the pur-
chased lines of the CorcalIs and AL
sea railroad and those employed on
the newly constructed line from
Munroe to Eugene. viii have rights
according TO the date of their en-
plOyment. it being understood that
IN any event the men that were in
the employ of the Corvallis and
Asa at the time of its purchase
3 equaIing those they occupied at
ole laafr Il