La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1916-06-24
Agree TO Disagree.

Settlement OF the railway wage
controversy either by arbitration, or
preferably by submission to Inter
state Commerce Commission. was
proposed by the railways on June
! 18th. at the conclusion of their con
ference in New York with officers OF
the Brotherhoods OF Train Employees.
who are demanding an eight hour
basic day and time and one-half for
overtime.
The Brotherhood leaders declined
both proposals and announced their
intention OF taking strike vote.
The Brotherhood leaders on the
preceding day had precipitated a
break in the negotiations, which had
continued two weeks without any
approach to agreement. by refusing
TO consider any modification of their
demands in accordance with the prin-
ciples proposed by the railways. the
chief OF which is that no double
compensation be paid for same time
or service"
Such double compensation is pro-
yided in many instances in present
wage contracts by special allowance
under which employe frequently re-
ceive as much as two days pay for
one days work.
The Brotherhoods have made IL
part OF their demand that the men
shall have the right 10 retain any Of
their present privileges which they
consider more favorable to them
selves than the terms of their de-
mands. and which the railways say
would aEgravate the effect OF the
higher basis.
Elisha Lee, chairman of the Rail-
way Conference Committee. in an
nouncing its decision to decline the
demands. pointed out that the pres
ent rates and rules are largely the
result OF recent arbitration awards.
that in the Judgment OF the commit
tee they provide liberal compensa-
ton and favorable working condi-
tons and that the best obtainable es-
innate indicates that to accept the
proposals would increase the cost OF
railway operation by approximately
500, zoe, 0O0 a year. all OF which
must eventually be borne by the pub
lie.
Your proposals. the railroads
statement said. ARE so inherently
and fundamentally opposed to the
views II this committee that we feel
constrained to decline and do hereby
decline them. Our conferences have
demonstrated that We cannot har-
monte our differences OF opinion and
that eventually the matters in con-
troyersy must be passed upon by
other and disinterested agencies.
Therefore. we propose that your pro-
posal and the proposition OF the rail
ways be disposed OF by one or the
ersbly by submission to the Interstate
Commerce Commission the only tri-
bunal which by reason OF its accumu-
lated information bearing on railway
conditions and its control of revenue
OF the railways, is in position to con-
slider and protect the rights and
equities OF all interests affected. and
to provide the additional revenue nee
essary to meet the added cost OF OPP
Grafton in case your proposals are
found by the commission to be Jus,
and reasonable. or. In the event that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
cannot under existing laws act In the
premises. that We jointly reques,
congress to take such action as may
be necessary to enable the commits,
sion to consider and promptly dispose
OF the questions involved or by arbi
tration In accordance with the pro.
| visions of the federal law"