Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-08-24
Federal INQUIRY
/ IN WAGE DISPUTE
Railroad Managers Submit
Plans to Avoid Great Strike.
ARBITRATION IS OFFERED,

Agree to Rifer Demands Of Men For
More Pay o the Interstate Commerce
Commission or to Accept Settlement
Under Ne, dands Act.
New York The announcement that
the strike vote which has been In prog.
ress among the train service employees
of American railroads for the past sew
eral weeks has been completed, and
that the final demands by the union
leaders are soon to be presented to the
railroad managers here, indicates that
the public will soon know whether the
controversy between the railroad work
ers and their employers Is to be settled
peaceably, or whether a nation wide
strike is to be inflicted upon the coun-
try.
Thus far the leaders OF the four
unions-the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers, the Brotherhood Of Lo-
connective Firemen and Enginemen, the
Order Of Railway Conductors and the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen-
have refused to consider any proposal
for an arbitration OF the questions in
dispute, or for settlement Of the con-
troversy by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Would Cost s1oo,ooo,ooo.
The demands of the train service men |
for an increase in wages, which, It is
estimated, would cost the railroads OF |
the country S1oO,0OoOoo year, were
originally presented last March. At
that time the representatives OF the
unions asked for a conference with a
committee Of railroad managers repre-
senting the various railroad lines OF
the country.
This conference began here In New
York on June LIST, and continued for
two weeks. The railroads were repre-
sented by a committee OF nineteen
managers, and the brotherhoods by the
heads Of their various national and To-
cal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES eight hundred
men In all.
y Choice Of Methods Offered.
The conference failed TO reach deci.
sion owing to the refusal OF the union
leaders to consider any modification OF
their demands, or any proposal for ar
bitratlon. At the conclusion Of the
meetings the railroad managers sub
mitted proposal to refer the whole
question TO the Interstate Commerce
Commission, or TO arbitration under the
provision Of the federal statute cover.
ing this matter.
The alternative suggestions which
they advanced for adjusting the con.
rroversy We're as follows.
~. Preferably by submission 10 the
Interstate Commerce Commission, the
only tribunal which, by reason Of Il,
accumulated information bearina on
railway conditions and its control OF
the revenues Of the railways, is in a
position TO consider and protect the
rights and equities Of all tho interests
affected, aud to provide additional rev.
enue necessary 10 meet the added cost
OF operation in case your proposals are
found By the Commission to be Just and !
reasonable; or, in the event the Inter. !
state Commerce Commission cannot.
under existing laws. act IN the prem.
ises, that we Jointly request Congress
fo'take such action as may be neces.
sary 10 enable the Commission 10 con.
slider and promptly dispose Of the
questions involved: or
80. by arbitration innccordance with
the provisions Of the Federal law, emit.
tied. AN Act Providing for Mediation.
Cancellation and Arbitration In Contro.
sersics between Certain Employers md
their Employees" approved July Is.
1918. and commonly .nown as the
Newlands Act"
Unions Refuse Offer.
The union leaders declined to con.
slider the suggestion Of the railroad
managers. and announced that they
would seek vote OF the members OF
the unions asking that they be given
authority TO declare a strike on all tho
railroad lines Of the country. This
strike vote has been In progress for the
past six weeks, and. according 10 re.
ports which have been received here
from time to time, will result IN giving
the four union leaders the authority
which they asked for TO halt every
railroad train from one end OF the
country 10 the other.
Meanwhile a resolution has been I'm.
troduced into Congress at the reques,
OF the Chamber Of Commerce Of tho
United States directing the Interstate
Commerce Commission 10 investigate
the whole question OF railway wages
and their relation 20 railway earnings
The commercial interests. the newspa.
pers, and public men OF the nation
haNa Unna a., r..aarN a.. a |