The Dermott news., 1916-08-10
RAILROAD CRISIS IS
 UP TO CONGRESS
Strike Seems Certain Unless Fed.
 eral Commission Acts.
IT REPRESENTS THE PUBLIC.


 s<ats Commerce Commission as Ar
 bitrator Alec opposs Arbitration
 Provided sv Law They hsIpsd to
 Eraot.
 Washington. Whether the wage con trovcrsy between the railways and their engineers, conductors, firemen aud brskemen is to be settled peace ably or by a strike now seems to de pend largely on what action congress will take on the proposal to refer the question to the interstate commere commission
 The national conference committee of the railways at the recent confer ence in New York with the train serv ice brotherhoods proposed scttlemant either by submission to the interstate commerce commission or by arhitra tion under the provisions of the New lands law
 The brotherhood leaders promptly rejected both proposals. not oRly ob jecting to the interStHte commerce commission as an arbitrator. but ex pressing their determined opposition tu the plan of arbitration provided by the law which they had helped to get cn 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. Cress tn take such action as may he necessary tn enable the commission to consider and promptly dispose of the questions involved
 Upon the failure of the companies and the labor organizati ions to reach an agreement the question wns put up tn congress In another form, in resou- ton which was introduced by Senator Newlands on June 22 providing for an inveStiga ton bv the commission of the whole subject of railway wages and their relation to railway earnings.
 This resolution was proposed bv the chamber #ef eommeree of the United States after having been approved ny q practically unauimnuS referendum vote of nearly I Im0 commercial organ izatianS throughout the country The NcWlauds resolution differs from the proposal of the railways The latter refers only to the questions presented by the demands of the K per cent of railway employees engaged in train service aud asks the commission r. set tie the controversy by a decision The Ncwlanls resolution k much broader and. without contemplating final sci tlement bv the cnmmiSsion directs il to investigate and report on the mini mum, aNimum and average wage paid. with hours of service. to each class ot railroad employees iu the Tuitz cd States. not merely the 'big four hrothcrhoodS If train employees The commission would also be directed to report on thr hours and wages in oth or industries. the relation of wages to railroad revenues. the question of whether railroad revenues based on existing rates for transportation will admit of equally favorable terms to all classes Of railway employees and any other matter In thts eouncrtion that the commission may deem relevant"
 The brathcrhood> object strcunousN to any Idea If federal tribunal hNins wages and declare that au inveetica ton by the commission would only servo tn delay matters The only pro poSal they have made k that their de mand, be granted in full. with the alternative of nation wide strike h.. Vn- T, more inclined tD weld 10 their dc mauds when confronted with a strike vote.
 In their reply to the hrotherhoaaS the railways advanced a~ their reasons fat proposing to refer the question to the interstate commerce commission that it k the only tribunal which by req son of it's accumulated Information bearing on railway conditions and its control of tho revenue ot the railways is in position to consider and pro tcct the rights and equities If ali the interests affected and to provide addi tionHl revenues necessary to meet the added cost of operation in case your proposals are found by the commis sion to be just and reasonable "
 Whereas board at arhitra ton con stituted under the Sewlands act could pass only on the questions presented tn 1t in an arbitration agreement stgn cd by both parties and would in no way represeht the interests of the pub liC in the controversy, the Interstate commerce commission would not be so restricted aud could consider the rela ton of the wages of the train and en, zine men to those of the other em ployees, as well as the necessary ef feet of an increase in wages on the rates to be paid by the public.
 Without the support of public opin fnn tho raIlvnY hrnInnrhnndS Nnull not