Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-25
House Bills in First Reading.

state that in response to the joint
order OF this Legislature, addressed to
, the Bangor g. Aroostook Railroad Co
and the engineers and firemen of that
road, communications have been re-
1 ceiVed from the railroad and from the
engineers and fremen which will be
read at this time by the secretary and
placed ON file.
| The secretary read the several COM
munications, as follows:
| January 20, 1918.
To the Honorable Senate and House of
| Representatives,,
In Legislature Assembled,
Augusta, Maine. 81
Gentlemen:
! | beg to acknowledge receipt from
the secretary of the Senate and the
clerk of the House of the resolution
introduced in the latter body by the
Hon. George Irving of Caribou and
! concurred in by both Houses on the
| end inst
| enclose printed statement outlin-
F.; ing the reasons why the Board of Di-
! rectors of this company unanimously
decided that it was impossible to sub
init the matter in dispute between the
I locomotive engineers and firemen for
j merly employed by the Bangor d
Aroostook Railroad and the company,
to arbitration.
/ think the enclosure clearly sets
forth the companys position in this
matter
would like to add, however, for
the information of both Houses, the
following information
The combined demands of the engi
neers and firemen for standard
wages" if granted, would increase the
Paytolls of the company for that class
alone, annually, by $4,000
Pending demands from other classes
OF labor, added to the above would
bring the grand total considerably in
excess annually, of 100000
The net earnings after paying fixed
charges for the year ending, June so,
1912. were only $4,000.
For the six months ending Deem
Der 81, 1912, there were no net earn
inSs at all after paying fixed charges
At the last conference with the en-
gineers' and firemen's committees and
York City and Buffalo, held on Thurs
day, the 10th instant Chairman Chase
of our engineers committee asked
permission of the labor leaders to say
something to the officials of the rail-
road, which permission was given.
Mr.. Chase then stated, that while
the management had shown the COM
mittees the sworn statements to the
United States government containing
the figures above quoted, that engine
men We're not expert accountants and
did not feel competent to check those
accounts and know that the figures
were accurate and therefore he would
make a proposition that if the COM
pany would submit these accounts to
Judge Martin A. Knapp of the Inter-
state Commerce court and Mr.. Charles
2. Neill, commissioner of labor for the
United States government (who are
mediators under the Federal Erdman
.Act) and those two gentlemen would
certify that the figures were correct,
| that the enginemen would withdraw all
demands for any increase in pay.
This statement was made to for
| mer President Holland. myself and
General Manager Stewart
| In order that there might be no
| misunderstanding, the officials had
/ Mr.. Chase repeat his statement three
| times and then went into the next
| room ard dictated telegram address,
ed to Messrs. Knapp and Neill and
| brought it in for Mir. Chase and the
| chairman of the iiremen's committee
| e,s,- -
insisting that that was not what he
| had stated.
Following is copy of the Telegram
| in question:
Bangor, Me-, Jan. 16. 1912.
Hon. Martin A. Knapp,
Hon. Chas. P. NELL.
| Manhattan Hotel,
New York City, y. Y.
Referring TIC our request for me
diation, we have, today, agreed witt
mana cement, Bangor & Aroostool
Railroad Co.., that if within week yo,
lwill advise Us that TIE statements u:
10 the earnings of the Bangor 6
ArooStook CO, quotedsb by the official:
Of that comp;tny 10 US, and which fig
Urcs they will submit to you aftel
showing to us, are correct, we vii
withdraw any request for mediation o.
| increased compensation tal
We infer but do not know it, tina
during the absence of the officials from
1.-THE room, his proposition was object
ed to by the Labor Union leaders.
Since the strike Mr.. Chase has. a
Augusta. repeated his proposition t
two gentlemen, who had no previous
knowledge of it, in the exact words il
which he originally presented it t
the officials of the company but salt
nothing about declining to sign TIL
telegram.
One of those gentlemen telephone,
for me, last night, making inquiry Of
this point, on account of Mr.. Chase
statement to him regarding it,
In conclusion let me say that w
have, today, telegraphed to employ n
more new firemen as we have NOR
than we need. We have every pas
senger train running substantially OIL
time except the East Millinocke
branch, nine miles where the passen
ger travel is always nominal and w