Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-03-24
important are these:

important are these:
Does the proposition by implication
mean that wages SO fixed would have
to be accepted by the employees with
out question? Is it the idea that wages
and conditions once decided by board
of the character suggested would mean
that the employees would have to &C
cept them and remain in service!
eff neither of the suggestions APP
plies to the proposition, and railroad
employees are to be left perfectly free
to accept or reject wages and condi-
lions fixed by such board, and would
not consent to work under them, it
would leave the situation exactly as it
is. There does not appear much to be
gained by the creation of such board
unless involuntary servitude il ex-
| pected to be a part Of its application.
Understanding the, question as it has
| in this way been answered, the rail-
road organizations are opposed to it.
| "The following question has been
asked: Whether there should be gov
eminent ownership of railroads re-
ducing the employees to classifications
under the civil service? The question
of government ownership has nothing
! Whatever
shorter workday movement, and there
fore is not matter for discussion re-
lating to it.
No Wage Cuts Necessary.
cit is true that in the past two years
the railroad companies have attempted
to show that the increased pay secured
by the employees who were organized
prevented them from increasing the
pay of employees who were not or
ganized. The purpose of this conten-
ton has been merely to becloud the
main issue. The fact stands in evil
dence that no wage increases were
given to the organized employees until
!. they exerted every pressure at their
, command.
another question has been asked:
Whether they should reduce interest
! and dividend payments% So far al
, railway employees are concerned, tha'
is g matter with which they nave
, nothing to do.
) THE next question asked is 'Wheth'
er they should cut down expenditures
+ for so-called nonproductive improve
: ments? That is a matter entirel.
within the judgment of the railroad
. companies themselves, governed large
ly, however, by the demands OF com
munities for buildings and terminal
: that will meet the requirements estab
. lished by civic pride and business de
e mand.
q Public Should Stare Cost.
"If a railway company in complying
= with public demand spends twent
:. millions for a passenger station tina
will not increase it's revenues, it ca
n hardly be expected that the employe
- alone should assume the cost OF tn
- unproductive investment. 1t bears tn
n same relation to their wages as s
70 much watered stock.
~ "We are asked, Whether they, tn
% railroads, should seek another increas
in rates? This is asked on the a.
sumption that wages are to be II
= creased. The men are not asking Il
81 more money. They are asking for
e shorter workday. If the railways II
., sist On a longer day, then it will mea
at increased pay. If the railways nee
. revenues to meet their increased cos
Il of operation, yes. !,
=. "There is no other business In u
~ United States that is not at perfe
az liberty to adjust its revenues TO me
a It's cost of operation. The fact IN
i &