The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1916-09-01
RAILROAD CRISIS IS
UP TO CONGRESS
Strike Seems Certain Unless Fed
eral Commission Acts.
IT REPRESENTS THE PUBLIC.

One Of Which Provides For inter.
state ComnsF5s Commission ss Ar
bltrator - Also Oppose Arbitration
Provided ~ Law They Helped -
Enact.
Washington Whether the wage con.
troversy between the railways and
their engineers. conductors, nnemen
and brAkemen Is 10 be settled peace
ably or by q strike now seems to lie
pend largely on what action congress
will take on the proposal 70 refer the
question TO the interstate commarcs
commission.
The national conference committee
Of the railways A. the recent confer
encs In New York With the train Eerv.
Ice bFotherhoods proposed settlement
either by submission 10 the interstate
commerce commission or BY arbitFa
don under the provisions Of tho New
lands law
The brotherhood laadeFs pnoup<iy
rejected both proposals.. not only OBJ
JectinR TO the interstate commerce
commission ~ an arbitrator bat on
pressing their determined oppoaition 70
the plan OF arbitration provided by the
law whtrh they had helped TO Est en-
acted
To meet the objection that the inter.
state commerce commission now has
no Jurisdiction over railway wages the
committee representing the railways
proposed that we Jointly request con
grcas 10 take such action a. may he
! necessary to enable the commission 10
consider aud promptly dispose Of the
| questions involved
| Upon the failure OF tho companies
| and the labor organizations 20 reach sn
/ agreement the question Was put up TO
| congress IN another form In q Fesolu-
! tiOn which was introduced by Senator
| Newlands on June 22 providing for an
| investiga ton BY the commission Of the
whole subject OF railway wages and
| their relation 10 railway earnings.
This resolution was proposed by the
chamber Of commerce ~ the United
STATED after having been approved by
practically unanimous referendum
vote Of nearly 1000 commercial organ.
i1ationA throughout the country. The
Hewlands resolution differs from the
proposal OF the railways The latter
refers only TO tho questions presented
by the demands ~ the 10 per cent OF
railway employees engaged In train
service and asks the commission 10 set
tie tho controv ersy by O decision. The
NewlAndn resolution Ia muCh breeder
aud. without contemplating . anal set
Element by the commission, directs Il
to investiRR 10 and report on the mini
mum maXimum and average wage
paid, with hours OF service. TO each
class OF railroad employees Ia the Unit.
ed states" not merely the big four
brotherhoods OF train employees. Ths
commission would also he directed to
report ON the hours and wages in 9th
er industries. tho relation Of wages
90 railroad revenues, the question OF
whether railroad revenues based on
existing rates for transportation will
admit Of equally favorable terms 10 all
CLASSES Of railway employees and any
other matter IN this connection thai
the commission may deem relevant
The hrotherhoods object strenuously
10 any idea ot federal tribunal nxinG
wages and declare that an inveatiga
tion by the commission would ONLY
serve TO delay matters The only pro
posal they have made Il that their de
mands he granted In full. with tn,
alternative ~ nation vida strike
They insist that the railroads win b,
more inclined TO yield to THAR do
mands when confronted With . strak,
vote
In their reply TO the hrothsrhoods tn
railways advanced a. their reasons 70
proposing Ia refer the question to th
interptAts commerce commission tina
II V the only tribunal which by res
sOn Of IT, accumulated nformN tioi
4 bearing on railway conditions and Il
eOntEol 81 the revenue OF the railway
n In q position 10 consider aud PR
tsct the rights aud equities Of al th
interests affected ana 10 provide Sddi
added cost ~ operatiop In cass you
. proposals are found By the commits
sion 10 he iust and rSasOnAb BILE
whereas = board Of aFbitratfOa COZ
stituted under the NsWlandn act coal
pass only on the questions presente
to n IN an arbitration agreement aigr
81 By both parties aud would IN n
. way represent the interests OS the put
" IN the controversy, the iuterstat
T. commerce commission would not be .
q restricted and could consider the rsl'
&. ton OF the wages af the tFain and 81
CINE men to those Of the other en-
ployee~ a. well a. the necessary e
fsct " an increase In wages % th
b rates 20 be paid by the public.
without the support Of public Opir