The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-08-30
Wherefore, They Say, They Are
Not in Controversy Dealing
With Question Relating to
Eight. hour Idea in Industry.
INCREASE WOULD MEAN
HUNDRED MILLION A YEAR
Feel That as Trustees of Vast In.
terests They Cannot Surrender
Principle Involved or Assume
Cost Without Hearing.

Washington Aug 80 Following is
the statement given out by the rail-
roads regarding their position ~ m"
cpntrovcr-y with the employee
unions.
We are uuahi. after the most rsr-
nest consideration to 1sTcc with the
proposal # the president uf the Unit
cd states. which IA that We accept
without arbitration the substitution
Of an eight hour day 'or the present
tru-hour day IN an OF the existing
practices ana agreements. This Is
the main point IN controversy and we
can not surrender u without an op-
portun.ty to- ne heard ia som" form
Of far arbitration.
We do not assent to the statement
that the eight-hour day nov un-
duubtedly has the sanction Of M"
Judgment of society m it's favor We
believe that society has not yet rec
orded Us judgment upon this subject
We are not IN this controversy
however dealing with the conditions
relating TO the eight hour day IN the
industrial world Tn, dincrcnc" be-
tN.o,u the .ish, hour day IN business
and manufacturing interests and ln
the railroad train service cay has
been fnlly explained The railroad
day IS 70 basis FOR computing pay ana
overtime the length Of daily service
hciua controlled by variable Condi-
tous.
Nftcr Nor,' Money
Tho demands luN olNcd 10 this COM
troNrrsy have not been presented n
uur Judgment. or the purpose of hNing
e. definite duils period uf labor. nor l
reduction In tho existing hours ot h-
uur cor change in methods 90 opera
tlon bat for tho real purpose "f t'-
tanning an Increase Of wages approx
mating one hundred million dollars
per aunum, or 30 per cent for the
men in railroad freight train ana yard
service r.prcs~ntod bN ia" labor OF
garIgntious IN this matter.
After careful rNnuin nation ~ In"
fur.s and patient ana cont nuous con
sultatlou with tho conieronc" com
m4ttoo and managers and among our
solves. We have reached a clear under
standing Of the masnitud" Of the
questions and Of the serious Conso
qucuccs to the railroads aud I" IA"
public involved In a decision Of them
"hs trustees for IA" publ" SERVED
by our lines and for the great mass
ot IA. lcsa powerful employees Uoi
less than so per cent uf the whole
numb,rl Interested IN the railroad
wage fund--as trustees also for the
millions of people that hay. invested
their savings and capital IN the bonds
and stocks OF these properties ana
who through tn. saving banks. trust
c1mpnuios. and Insurance companies
ar. vitality Interested to the extent "'
millions of dollars iu the Integrity and
snlyaucy ~ the railroads of the c"un-
try w. can not In conscience surren-
der without hoarirg. ON the prin-
clple involved nor undcrtl axe 20 trans
fer The enormous cost that will re-
ruu 10 the transportation oi the com'
mcrcc of the country.
Big Wage lmra-c.
9TH. eight -hour daN without puni'
tive overtime involves an ANNUAL IN
crcasc approNimating in IN" aggre'
sat. sixty millions Of dollars ana az
increase Of more than % per cent ~
the pay Of men, already the m"s'
hiphly paid IN the transportation ser
vice The ultimate cost to the rail
roada of an admission in tins manner
tf the lfintlile uHb'f f'i''h'''N WV
NOT NOW be estimated the oucc' upni
the efficiency OF the trnusporini ,on :"
tho country now already under scNor'
test under tho tide of business nov
moving aud a. "A time when NOR" IN
stead ~ less EFFORT Is required ht pun
lie welfare. would be- harmful be
voud calculation.
'Th" widespread effect upon ih'
Industries Of the country ne q wh"l'
ia beyond measure or appralsemeni y
this time and we aerce with IN" ~
listen, and widespread public c"ncer
over the gravity uf the situation ah'
IN. consequences Of a surrender u
IN. railroads in this emergency,
~c,,-4 of Responsibility
In like manner we are deeply I'M
rrcs4a1 with the sense of our rcspun
s,hnfv 80 maintain ana Keep opel
,n. arteries % transportation, whlci
carry the life blood of the commerce
,r tho country ana of the cuns'
olienc.s that viii dow from even
TEMPORARY interruption of ser'i'
over ia. railroads. but the ISSUES pr"
acuiod have been raised ah"v" an
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