The sun., 1916-12-22
8 HOUR LAW
FROM THREE SIDES
Sines for BrOtherhOOds Says
Adams0n Act Is Not
Admirable.
COLBY'S PLEA FOR PUBLIC
Neither Side Should Block
Tells Roads Burdens.

Strife between the railroads and the
Big Four" brotherhoods. which had a
temporary adjustment through the
Adamson act. was discussed last night
before the Mems League In Pilgrim
Hall of the Broadway Tabernacle by
militant proponents Of the two factions.
q. II. Sines OF the Brotherhood Of Train
men and Frank Trumbull. chairman OF
the railway executive committee. The
representative Of the public's sid in the
controversy was Bainbridge Colby.
Neither Sines nor Trumbull in his argu-
ments got far beyond the enactment or
the eight hour law. No mention was
made Of the present negotiations that
aim toward the repeal Of the measure. 1t
remained for Colby TO ommen on the
law in that aspect. without reference
to the activities against II. he gave an
opinion that 1t holds defects.
Sincs proclaimed the intention OF the
br~otherhoods to adhere to the eight
hour principle.
We are not going to give It up until
the public forces US to-" he said. land we
feel confident the public will not compel
us to relinQuish our position"
lie spoke of the hardships Of the work
Of railroad employees, the mental and
physical strain they suffer. He told OF
the strict observance by the big Four
Of all their agreements with the man
ayers for twenty years. The organixa-
lions are opposed to strikes. he told the
league. and have resort to 1t only when
every other honorable Q fails. Nor
IL there opposition in tho big Four" to
arbitration. The eight hour question, he
said. IL not arbltrable.
Wilson with Men.
when we saw the President las;
August he said. 'he told US he did not
believe the eight hour day arbitrable.'
The brotherhoods have been the vic
Tins OF unfortunate selection In arbi-
traitors, said Sines In giving another
reason why the Big Four resisted all
efforts in that direction last summer.
we have struggled for nine years for
the eight hour principle. We OF the
organizations want only Justice. VIZ
will have nothing less he asserted In
conclusion.
Trumbul! prefaced his argument by
telling OF The limitations that the Gov
fNos VIZ bN ,p't w
railroads. lie rave the history Of the
years negotiations toward the eight hour
day. Simply in the public veal. because
the roads had no authority to iNcrease
rates 10 meet an added operation budget
the railroads opposed the short day. The
roads. he said. offered to leave the whole
matter In the hands OF "a commission Il
be appointed by the President.
Il can say for the railroads that II
they can't agree with their employees
they are willing To leave the mooted
questions TO arbitration or a commission
and the time will come when the EN-.
ployces shall come TO the same conclu
sion.
Question Of Ownership.
There Is n bigger question at stalk,
In this controversy than the pay o
900 900 men. Are you TO havc you
transportation under private ownership
They can't do II without credit and the
cant have credit IL "a body of men cal
go to Washington and take $50. 900. 90
out OF their pockets"
The roads this year have earne,
$500 600 200 more thar In 1915. he said
but this total gain gives a return o
less than 6 per cent. on all railroad In
vestments.
Colby while holding TO the opinion tina
the country Is not yet ready for Govern
ment ownership. said II may com
through the evolution the end Of the wa
will bring, He held that neither side II
the railroad controversy had the right (,
take an arbitrary position that nigh
block the public's transportation facili
ties.
The Board of Arbitration which hs
been considering the demands Of III
Switchmer's Union will file its decision
this morning. Yesterday II called int
it's meeting representatives. Of the switch
men and the railroad The i'm
preston was gained that the board |
striving to arrive ~ n unanimou
award.