The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-07-30

'Si 'iNeS "HlCh are part OF the leg
ular work of engineers and firemon.
| The actual negotiations began in Feb.
ruary, 1914. 1t was claimed by the
Employees Committee that the ador
ton of the proposals of the railways
would involve reduction in the corn.
pensation of the engineers and fire.
men. For reasons which were fully
presented, the Conference Commit.
tee OF Managers did not believe that
the railways would be justified in
making any increases in the wages
OF the employees, to say nothing of
the enormous increases requested.
But it was not intended to make any
reductions in wages. Therefore, the
Con Fence Committee of Managers,
advised the Employees Cor'miitee
that If the latter would accept such
revision of the rules as was sug-
gested by the Managers, the Mana
gers Committee would join with tho
vised rates of pay which would Sc.
cure to the employees as large COM
pensation as they had been receiv.
ing.
In the original proposal of the EN-
ployes there was not a word even
limiting that it was desired that the
basis for computing overtime in train
service which, except in some places
in passenger service, Is universally
ten hours, should be reduced. When,
however, the employees first propos-
al was definitely rejected, instead OF
modifying their request. the Employ,
es Committee came back with anoth.
er proposition which asked practical.
ly all of the concessions requested
originally, and, in addition, a reduc-
tion in the basis for computing over.
time of engineers and flremen from
ten to eight hours.
The employees know that 1t would
he impracticable to reduce the actual
day in train service to eight hours.
To do so it would be necessary to
shorten practically all railway divi-
sions, to relocate yards and shops
in fact, largely to reconstruct the
railways at a prohibitive cost. The
employees know the only effect of
changing the basis of a days wage
from ten to eight hours would be
enormously to increase the overtime
paid.
The Conference Committee of Man
ayers believed that the original re-
quests of the engineers and iiremen |
were unreasonable. Naturally it re.
garded the new requests Of the com
mittee as much more so. 1t believed
that, in view of present business con.
dltions, there could be no justi!ica
ton for the railways taking any step |
that would add greatly to their eX.
penses. 1t believed that the two COM
mittees were so far apart that anv
agreement on a revised schedule WAS
highly improbable. 1t, therefore,
suggested to the employees committee
on May %, 1914, that all proposals
of both sides be withdrawn and that
the schedules in effect on October ~,
1913, be restored and kept IN effect
not less than one year. This JuSges-
ton the employees committee rejected.
A repetition of the refusal OF the Mon
ayers Committee to grant the eXces'
sive request made was followed by
the suspension Of negotiations at the
instance of the employees committee
until July IA, pending the result OF
a strike vote of the engineers and
tiremen to be taken on the various |
railroads involved.
The Conference Committee Of Man |
ayers recognizes the fact that rail-
ways are engaged in public service
1t recognizes the fact that, therefore
the Managers of railways have no |
moral right to accede to unreason'
able requests of employees the grant
ing of which would unduly increase
the expenses of railway operation,
because, in the long run, the public
is the chief sufferer from whatever
lmpairs the adequate maintenance or
efficient and economical operation OF
railways. The committee also recog-
nizes the fact that should the ives
tern railways be tied up by a strike
the results would be calamitous, and
that here again the public would be
the chief sufferer. Finally, the COM
mittee recognizes the fact that in the
long run public opinion usually de-
termines the outcome Of controyers- |
les between railways and their en-
ployes. For this reason the commit
tee believes that i Is its duty TO tho |