Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-12-29
Conference Between Mara
gers and Brotherhood
Chiefs Ends Abruptly,
AWAIT DECISION
OF SUPREME COURT
Award IN Switchmen's Case. Railroad
Executives Say, Makes II Folly fer
Jhtm to IA, on Ten-llour Basis
for Eight Hours.

New York, Dec. 2S.- Conferences be-
tween representatives OF the railroads
ana the four brotherhoods of railway
o,nployes, at which we're discussed The
nnssibiliIies of settlement Of the eight
! hour day controversy, were diseonit1=
lued abruptly today when II became APP
rarent An agreement could hot hP
reached
II WIS announced by both sides 1hat
there will be no more meetings nhtll
after the United states supreme court
hands down It's decision as to The con-
stitutonallty Of the Adamson act.
The break came, ii was learned,
when the railroad representatives re-
fused to concedc the demands of the
brotherhood chiefs for an agreement
lookine toward enforcement Of the
new wage schedule fixed by the ad-
Iamson law, which goes into effect jan
nary 1. The brotherhood chiefs heie,
II was stated, that their men had Inc
right to begin drawing wages accord
ing to the scale provided by the Ad-
amson law Immediately after the law
became effective, irrespective OF the
euifs brought by the railroads to test
its validity.
Railroads Gain Confidence.
A statement, issued by Ellsha d'ee,
! chairman Of the conference committee
Of the railway managers covered the
position assumed by the railroads OH
tlis point The statement SAID.
eThe railroads will await the deel-
sion of the supreme court In the Al
amson law test case. BY agreement
1. with the department Of justice al
, lrWasbineton the railroads will keep
= record from January I Of the wages OF
aJl employees affected by the Adamson
. law. in order that if the law Is Upheld
!. nv fhe court the employees will receive
(. The extra back pay due them. ne
: rights of the employees in the intefYal
z will thus be amply protected. a
: wrbe statement has been maze III
g The press that the conference has been
4 aiding in preparing bill, to be sup
4 ported by the railroads and the en-
IS nloyes alike. and TO be offered as
IS Substitute for legislation proposed hS
r the president to hold strikes IN apey
;. ance until after investigation by
g public body. The national conference
/ has not been party to such pro
gram
The railroad managers said 1t woui
be folly for them, in view OF the AVA
r made last week by the beard OF az
traitors in the case Of the SWitcbmen
union to pay 10000 switchmen, wh
] are members Of the brotherhood, 9
'e the rate Of ten hours pay for an elgn'
Of hour day when the award grants onl
81 nine hours pay for eight hours wofl
Other than to say they expected
n return to their homes within % hour
Il the brotherhood leaders refused 10
a. quoted after the meeting. 40 !,
- 1t was understood that during IN
* conference today the brotherhood
suggested the creation OF federi
:. commission representing both sidt
- which would consider and settle arp
IS trarily all future disputes, regardlea
% of whether the Adamson act was q
cIared unconstitutional or constlt'
y tional. The proposition was not 81
en- consideration, however, 1t wi
stated, in view of the failure OF u
conferees to agree on how the a
= ought to be worked out.