The San Francisco call., 1913-07-31

the public. which training was not oo-
tainable on the main line. The railroad
company also declined TO establish
precedent for all electric extensions
that might be built in the future. con-
decided on it's own merits as IT came up.
The situation is regarded as one OF
the most serious the Southern PACING
company has ever been forced to deal
with.
STATEMENT BY SPROULE sr-ss
In an interview yesterday President
William sproule of the Southern Pacific
company said:
Our operating officers have been in
session with the board of adjustment
OF the Order of Railway Conductors
and the Brotherhood OF Railroad Train
men at intervals since the7 middle OF
March. dealing with largeNnumoer or
demands upon the company. All aues-
tions were disposed of except those
pertaining to the jurisdiction of the or
ganizations over our electric lines.
those Immediately. under controversy De-
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
organizations. and wniie we regret and
endeavor 10 avoid any crisis in rela-
tions with our employees, we believe
1T is impossible to meet the demands
made upon us with respect to these
electric properties and at the 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
will bring a strike of our trainmen
upon all lines west OF Ell Paso, Tex,
and ogden. Utah. and south OF Port
land. Ore we believe 1t TO be pubic
duty that we invoke the national gov
ernment in mediation of these qifn-
lands act which became law on the
18th of this month In thus invoking
the authority Of the nation we desire
TO avert the evil consequences uni
formlv experienced from strikes, to the
detriment OF the railroad properties or
the public in their pursuit and proper
ties and In distress to the men and
their families.
APPEAL TO COMMISSION
(Western Union Telegram.)
San Francisco, July 80. 1913.
The United States Board of Mediation
and Cancellation. Washington, u. C..
company, by William Sproule, its presi-
dent. hereunto duly authorized by reso-
luton CT the executive committee OF
said Southern Pacific company, GER
tilted copy OF which resolution will be
Furnished your board. hereby applies to
the United States board of mediation
and conciliation created by the act OF
congress. approved July 10, 1913, PUBIC
number g. entitled
"An act providing for mediation, con-
ciliation and arhitra tion in controver-
efA l4fx "a in l,rRl n q N
their employees. and invokeS the sery-
ices of said board for the purpose o.
bringing about an amicable adjustment
of a controversy between said southern
Pacific company and its employees who
are members of the order of Railway
Conductors and the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen. which said contro-
versy concerns wages. hours of labor
and conditions of employment Of some
or all OF the members of said organfza-
tfons who are 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 engaged in trans
portation Of passengers and property
wholly by railroad among states of the
union and enga ged 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-fTst q letter under date of June
%. 1913, signed by F.. z. 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 %, 1918
Mr.. T. a. Gregg. vice president
y. +. C. care of Argonaut hotel,
81 Francisco.
Mr. II Mcintyre vice president
2. of r. T.. care of Argonaut hotel,
Mr.. s Veatch. general chairman
Q. r. c.. 436 Pacific building. San
Francisco.
Mr.. E. A. Ler Rieu. general chair
man r. Of r. r, 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
ments separate from the Pacific
system lines of the Southern Pacific
company:
am willing to cause to be is
sued a separate schedule in the
case of each OF these two proper
ties. with your organizations. en-
bodyine therein the rates of paw
snd working conditions In the
present schedule of the Pacific sys-
tenn which apply to those lines
The method of handling any ques-
tion that may arise in connection
with such schedules to be as fol-
lows:
APPEAL 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. ii
may be appealed to this Office
through such general chairman as
your men on each property NAV
select such chairman to be an
employe OF the property upon
which the question arose. or of the
system. The natter of seniority as
10 rights on the lines of the P. f.
and E.. 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 OPP
Grafton those employed on the pur-
chased lines of the Corcallis and Al
sea railroad and those employed on
the newly constructed line from
Munroe to Eugene, will have rights
according to the date of their en-
ployment. it being understood that
in any event the men ti.at were in
Alsa at the time of its purchase
viii be retained in capacities
equaling those they occupied at
that time; it also being under
stood that no men on the lines OF
the Portland division, other than
electric operation, will, after the
change is made, have any rights
on the lines of the P. E. and f.
railway, nor viii men on the p. f.