The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-06-24

Iyear, all OF which must eventually be
borne by the public.
I'VE are confident that you and the
men you represent appreciate the re-
sponsibilities of this committee to
three substantial interests, viz:
"1.-(a) To the employees here in
volved whose efficient service is ach-
Inowledged and with whom the rail-
ways have no differences which cannot
be considered fairly and decided justly
by some impartial body.
"(bl To all other employees OF the
should not suffer because of the prefer
Iment of any particular group of fellow
workers.
"2.-To the owners of the railways,
who have right to participate in the
Iearnings of their business on a fair
and equitable basis.
"3.-To the public who are vitality
interested in the maintenance of an
uninterrupted and efficient transporta-
tion service. and whose ultimate con-
troll of the situation we all recognize
as fundamental.
"We reiterate the statement given
by the railways to their men and re-
Ipeated to you by this committee, that
the railways have no desire to change
either the existing rates of pay or
working rules, not to reduce the earn
der their existing schedules; but your
proposals, in connection with the in
Iterpretations given during our confer
ences, are so inherently and funda-
mentally opposed to the views of this
committee, that we feel constrained to
decline and do hereby decline them.
| Our conferences have demonstrated
| that we cannot harmonize our differ
ences of opinion and that eventually
the matters in controversy must be
passed upon by other and disinterested
agencies. Therefore, we propose that
your proposals Consisting of Articles
1 to 4. inclusive, referred to during our
conferences as Form 35) and the prop
osition Of the railways viz:
That in connection with and as a
part of the consideration and disposi-
tion those provisions in the schedules
| or practices Hereunder governing
compensation in the classes of service
affected by your proposals or those in
conflict with the following principles
as they apply to such classes:
(a) No double compensation for the
same time or service. -
(b) The same classification for the
piled to all members of train and en-
gine crew.
(c) Two or more differently paid
classes of service performed in the
same day or trip to be paid proper
tionate rates according to class Of
service with not less than minimum
day for the combined service.
"1.-Preferably by submission to the
interstate commerce commission, the
only tribunal which. by reason of it's
Accumulated information bearing on
railway conditions and it's control of
the revenue of the railways, is in a po-
sition to consider and protect the
rights and equities of all the interests
affected, and to provide additional
revenue necessary to meet the added
cost of operation in case your pro-
posals are found by the commission to
be just and reasonable; or, in the
event the interstate commerce COM
mission cannot, under existing laws,
act in the premises, that we jointly
request congress to take such action
as may be necessary to enable the
commission to consider and promptly
dispose of the questions involved; or
"2.-By arbitration in accordance
with the provisions of the federal law,
entitled, An act Providing for Media
ton, Cancellation and Arbitration in
Controversies between Certain EN-
ployers and their Employees approved
July Is, 1913. and commonly known as
the Eewlands Act.
"This committee urges the most
careful consideration of the proposal
herein made for submission of the con-
troversy to a federal tribunal to the
end that a peaceable and equitable ad-
iustment may be brought about"
In their reply to this communica-
ton your representatives stated that
1t would be necessary to submit the
matter to the individual members.
Doubtless. you will be called upon in
the near future to express your desire
as to further action to be taken by cur
."-
Because of the impersonal character
of these negotiations, the Northern
Pacific management feels it duty to |
address you directly in the premises |
in order that you may be fully advised |
of its position.
While this company feels very
that the existing schedules |
yield adequate compensation and pro- |
vide favorable working conditions, it
recognizes that where opinions differ |
neither party should reserve to itself |
the exclusive right to settle them. |
Therefore, the offer of the railways to |
refer the pending questions TO the in |
terstate commerce commission or to |
arbitration under the federal law is
eninently reasonable.
I trust that after careful considera- |
ton your Judgment will decide in favor !
of a peaceable solution based upon the |
equities of your request and that you |
will take no action which will involve [
a, possibility of the interruption OF
traffic on the Northern Pacific.
GEORGE T. SLADE,
Vfpa President. |