Evening star., 1916-08-05
Railway Companies Cite Rea-
sons for Differences Which
Precede Strike Order.
INCREASED COST PLACED
AT 100000, 900 A YEAR
Union Leaders Reject Two PROPOSE
tions Made by Employers Before
Ordering Referendum Vote.

NEW YORK, August 5.-The crisis in
the railroad strike situation was reached
in this city June is, when the conference
between the representatives Of 235 rail-
road systems in the United States and
400, 900 employees failed to arrive at an
adjustment of their differences. The con-
ference began June 1. following the pres
entation March 80 Of demands by the
men for an eight-hour day and time and
half overtime.
1t had been hoped that the conference
might make unnecessary the taking of
strike vote by referring the questions at
issue to arbitration. After hearing the
demands Of the unions, however, the rail-
roads declined to make a counter proposal
and dismissed the subject by offering to
further discuss what they termed ten
tative proposition" which granted the
mems eight-hour demand, but refused all
others.
The unions declined to consider the
tentative" offer, and the railroads then
suggested placing their differences be-
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion for decision. or If that body was
without authority, that both sides join
in petitioning Congress to grant the
necessary power. If this proved un-
satisfactory to the unions, the railroads
suggested arbitration under the New
lands act.
Propositions Rejected.
The men rejected the two PROPOSE
tions. Their spokesman. A B. Garrett
son. president Of the Order of Railway
Conductors. in an impassioned speech
said that the men would never consent
to arbitration, because Of the failure Of
the unions to obtain justice in prior
disputes through that method.
The leaders of the four unions, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen, the Brotherhood
Of Railroad Trainmen and the Order of
Railway Conductors, upon withdrawing
from the conference lost no time in
drafting the strike ballot, and in order
to expedite the vote caused their distri-
button throughout the country by the
600 union delegates that had also at
tended the conference.
1t was pointed out at that time by
the brotherhood's leaders that a vote
ordering a general strike did not nee
essarily mean the immediate institu-
tion of the strike. 1t was explained
sued until every effort looking toward
an amicable settlement had been ex-
hausted.
In statements issued by the railroad
heads. following the breakup of the
conference. it was held that the eight
hour day demanded by the men did not
actually mean shorter work day, but
rather an increase of rs per cent over
existing wages for the same amount of
| work. and an increase in many cases of
S71z per cent for overtime as COM
pared with present rates. The demands
pertain only to freight and not to pas
Senger service.
The railroads maintain that to allow
! the increase would add 100000, 600 a
year to the operating expenses of all
roads in the United States. for the
benefit Of men whose average pay per
day was increased from 80 to AZ per
cent from 1903 to 1914. while the wages
of the western engineers were further
increased in 1915"
What the Men Proposed.
The mems proposition submitted at
the conference provided that 100 miles
or less or eight hours or less should
on runs or less than 100 miles, and
| ming at the expiration of eight hours
or runs OF less than 100 miles, and
| as soon as 100 miles had been
| run on longer trips. overtime to be
computed at one and one-half times the
pro rata rate, no one to receive less
! than they previously received for a
minimum day. The men were to be
| guaranteed the right to retain any
rates of pay or schedules in effect jan
| uary !, 1915. which would be preferable
to the new schedule
| The roads contended that the men
made no allowance for the difference
| between railroads and industrial serv-
| ice. They pointed out that railroad en-
ginemen or trainmen are guaranteed
| payment for a full cay no matter how
| few hours they work. and receive pay
| for more than a full day IL they work
more than either the established miles
| or hours. In other lines of industry,
\ the railroads held, the employe does
not receive a days pay for less than
a days work. and ordinarily he can
| not earn more than a days pay for
| less than a days work without work
| ing more than the regular number Of