Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-30
Representatives of 100000
Trainmen Make Offer
to 458 Roads.
8-H0UR DAY WANTED
Employees Also Ask for Over
time Increase-Give the
Companies 80 Days.

Chicago, March 0.-Representatives
of 100000 railroad employees are to
present to the management OF the
countrys ass railroads at noon today,
demands for an eight hour day and
time and a half for overtime for all
train service, employees other than the
crews of passenger trains. The lat
ter are excepted because the last arbi-
tration Of railroad wage disputes pro-
vided terms which made the workday
for that class Of employees substantially
hours and 40 minutes.
Four big organizations-the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers, the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen and the Order of
Railway ConduCtors-aCted in concert
in formulating and presenting the de-
mands. The roads are given 80 days
in which to reply and it was generally
understood that most of them would
take advantage of the full time.
May Propose Arbitration.
1t is thought probable that the en-
ployers then will propose afBfrat1on
of the demands. The roads have al
ready indicated this course in public
statements which claim that to grant
the demands would merely mean a fiat
increase in wages rather than the
changed working conditions which the
men insist is the object of their nego-
tiations.
A committee representing each Of
the four organizations of employees
will call on the officials of each rail-
road and formally present their de-
mands
One hundred and eighty railway sys-
tens with 248,000 miles of right of
way exclusive of terminals and yards
are involved. In the western territory
there are 100 railroads with $4,000
mileage, In the eastern territory SO
railroads with $4,000 mileage and in
the southeastern territory 20 railroads
with $4,000 mileage
Roads Have Tentative Answer.
New York, March 30.-It is under
stood that the railroads have made
ready tentative answer to the mems
demands which amounts to a condi-
tional refusal that leaves the way open
for further negotiations. The demands
OF the men went to the Wheeling and
Lake Eide railroad yesterday and the
eight hour day proposal was refused.
A statement by the executive COM
mittee of the mems adjustment boards
says:
In making the demand for the eight
hour day, the unions feel themselves
justified, believing that trains can be
so managed that the 100 miles re-
Quired of a railroad man per day can
be put inside Of eight hours, as the
train service is now, single crew en-
gines in the switching service, on
which only one crew works In the "a,
are often compelled to work from 10
to IS hours a day. II is injustice such
as this that the railway unions want
ended.
Not Strike Tactics.
I've will submit our demands all
over the United States. Then we will
attend to our regular routine work I'M
til the end of 80 days given the rail-
roads TO consider our demands, when
We will return to receive the reply Of
the railroad companies. We will ask
the general managers TO discuss the
demands through their general man
ayers committees. Our desire is to
open negotiations with the railroads
in our demands, and we have no in
tention of talking strike to the rail-
roads or submitting an ultimatum."
Eastern railroad managers replied
today to the demands of their en-
ployes for an eight-hour day and high
er rates for overtime work by sub
hitting propositions Of their own for
discussion. The demands OF the en-
ployes are not refused, neither is d
demand made by the railroad man
ayers for the acceptance OF their pro-
posaIs. These are submitted for con-
sideration in the negotiations ex-
pected to follow.
What the railroads ask for Is an
open door" their reply states.
The reply was sent today to the off,
cials OF the four brotherhoods immed-
lately after receipt Of the employees
demands.