New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-01

The railroads VIII struggle on 70 hSeN
the additional expense imposed on US,
knowing that ultimately II VIII De
passed on 20 the public
Managers Quote Unions.
Elisha Lee. chairman Of the confer
ence committee Of managers, pointed
out explicitly By his own arguments as
well as by reading from an article by
one of the trainmen's vice-presidents
that the demand of the men for an
eight-hour day was not for maximum
day of that length, but demand simply
for increased wages. In reply 70 ques-
tions by Senator Brandegee as TO the
effect Of the proposed eight-hour bill,
Mr. Lee said its only effect would be 10
increase wages.
I'VE appointed committee said MI
Lee. ITO study how the operation If the
roads could be changed to meet these
conditions if imposed upon US; that IS
20 say, by increasing the speed OF loco
motives, cutting down trains, increasing
facilities, etc, and we came 20 the con-
clusion that the most economical thlng
for US TO do would be 10 operate as we
do to-day and pay whatever the Dill
was. 1t would cost us more TO get down
TO an eight-hCur schedule OF runs
j. VI. Sheehan, counsel to the CONFER
ence committee, talked in the same
strain.
Alfred p. Thorn. general counsel for
the railway executives advisory com
mittee, closed the argument for the
roads:
THE wage fund" said Mr.. rhom,
beginning his speech, must not Dc
absorbed by airy special part OF the
employees. 1t is one OF the duties o.
the railroads 20 see that the trans
portation facilities Of the country are
adequate furnished to the people on
reasonable basis
What II All Means.
Discussing the demand for an eight
hour day, with pay for ten hours, ne
said:
at simply comes to this: The yard
stick which measures the work shall
not he the standard, but shall be re-
duced in size, so that there snail be
more yards to be paid for what is
the alternative TO this peaceful meth
Cd suggested? Our friends on the
other side have replied force and
have put out strike order. When
asked if they had any other sugges-
ton they stood mute.
"The question before the United
States is whether that contention
shall be concurred in. Congress Is
denied the right for time to delIber-
ate on the merits of the question. lou
and we are told, You must surrender
before next Monday your constitution
al right of deliberatiOn and consider
alton for equal laws or the country
will be thrust into the calamity OF
starvation and ruin IN order that the
demands OF a few may triumph |
hope my friends will not persist in
any such threat Is that right? is
that order? Is that government or
anarchy, reign of reason or of force
"Do you advocate the passage Of all
these measures proposed?' asked SEN
ator Cummins.
81 don't like some Of them" re-
piled Mr.. Thorn, but think that, in
the present emergency, all ought to
be passed. / don't think some of them
ought to be passed without the
others"
More than half a dozen representa-
tives of various shipping interests, mer-
chants and manufacturers then pre-
scented objections 10 any legislation
without an impartial and thorough
hearing Of the facts IF the case. Elliott
/ H. Goodwin, representing the United
States Chamber of Commerce, urged
the committee to do two things, first,
provide for prompt, thorough investi-
cation Of all the facts, and, second,
that Congress and the railroads and
the brotherhoods suspend any precipi-
tate action until after the investigation
| has been made.
Chicago Shippers Protest.
Henry c. Barivw, representing Chi
cago shippers, urged that the Inter
state Commerce Commission be not
embarrassed by any law which would
practically force it TO give increased
freight rates to the roads. William E.
Lamb urged legislation to prevent in
the future predicaments like the pres
ent.
"The bill as I read it," said Luther
NJ. Walter, representing the National
Industrial Traffic League. includes ali
employees under the eight-hOur law. If
such a measure is passed what is TO
prevent other employees in some other
industries from presenting demands
that we must accede to. Are these men
of greater sanctity than the public {?
Why can't these men WORK for six
months while an Investigation is be-
ing made? They will not lose any
thing"
Thomas Creigh, also speaking in the
interest of Chicago shippers, startled
the assemblage by saying:
"My conclusion after talking with
merchants and manufacturers and ship
pers is that if it was a choice between
two evils, strike or the carriers giving
in TO the demands Of the unions under
duress, the manufacturers Of the Mid
die West will take a strike"
+. d. Underwood, president of the
Erie Railroad, who has come up from
the ranks of the railroad employees him
self, sat through the hearing to the end
and wrote out few remarks on the
statements of the brotherhood leaders
This is what he wrote:
81 was both brakeman and con-
Guctor on the trip basis, and | have
been on duty as long as ! could stand
up this in reference to Garretson and
some of the other statements about
working conditions sometimes il was
seventy-two hours, but always it was
the unwritten law that a man got rest
when he asked and overtime after six
teen hours in those days.
THE whole plan is TO get more money
.han they get now and TO make more
Jobs for more men, and in order that
ghe unions may be kept up TO full
strength"