Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-30
COUNTER PROPOSITION
MADE BYP. WOULD
CUT SOME MEMS WAGES
Trainmen Are Told That the
Company Believes Present
Rates Adequate and Lib
eral to Employees
WILL CONSIDER DEMANDS

A counter-proposlt which would ma
terially reduce the pay of certain classes
of railroad employees was made today by
S. c. Long, general manager Of the Penn
sylvLnia Railroad, to representatives of
the four brotherhoods of railroad em-
ployes who, In conjunction with repre-
sentatives of 100000 trainmen In all parts
of this country and Canada, demanded a
readjustment OF the wage schedule, Civ
ing them an eight-hour day and time and
half for overtime
The same reply was either handed or
mailed to similar committees in other cit
les by representatives of the 45S rail-
roads involved, who are working in con-
junction. No definite statement was made
agreeing to arbitration, but IL was said,
unofIlcially, that the matter would be ar
bitrated. The railroads, in agreeing to
make a reply "as soon as possible" ac-
cepted the trainmen's suggestion that the
railroads join In concerted movement
to settle the matter
April 90 was fixed as Ia date by the
trainmen by which an answer in writing
would be expected A general strike, II
was rumored, would follow an unfRvorable
decision.
No information was given out at the Of.
fees of J. C. Turk. general manager of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway, where
a committee today presented copy of the
demands.
The counter.proposals made by the
Pennsylvania Railroad, simultaneously
with the other railroads, are:
First. There shall be no double COM
pensation for the same time or service.
Second. The same classification for the
purpose of compensation 20 be applied to
all members of a train and engine crew.
Third. Two or more differently paid
classes of service performed In the same
hay m trim n a maid DrnnOFtiOpata rates
according to the class of service with not
less than a minimum day for combined
service
The reply read, In part, as follows
your communication of March 30, CIV
ing notice of your desire to revise present
wage schedules and agreements. according
TO certain proposals made part Of that
notice, has this day been received.
Your request that this company join In
concerted movement with other roads
will be given consideration and you will be
advised of the decision as soon as prac-
ticable
1.-THE present standards of rates and
working conditions have been very largely
fixed by mediation and arbitration. and
this company feels that they are adequate
and even liberal to the employees. This
company has no desire to change either
the existing rates OF pay or the working
rules. nor to reduce the earning possibili-
ties of the employees under their existing
rules, but inasmuch as your proposals con-
template fundamental changes In operat-
ing methods and practices on which the
schedules have been built up. this COM
pany hereby gives notice In conformity
with the schedules now In effect that in
connection with and as n part of the con-
sideration and disposition of your propo-
sails there shall be open for consideration
and disposition those provisions In the
schedules or practices Hereunder govern
ing compensation in the classes Of service
affected by your proposals."
Mr.. Long asked the committee Of em-
ployes what proportion of the members OF
the four brotherhoods voted to make the
demands on the railroads. This informa-
tion was withheld. but Mr.. Long was told
that the committee had been duly elected
and was official.