New Britain herald., 1916-08-09
RAILROADS REJECT
 NEWS WAGE SCALE
(COntinued From First Page)

Wilson was advised today by Secretary
 Wilson of developments in the threat
 ened railroad strike. Secretary Will
 son, it was said at the White House,
 will remain for the present in New
 York So far he has not advised the
 president to take any formal step in l. the situation. He is keeping in close
 touch with the members of the board
 of mediation and cancellation who are
 in New York today
 Crisis Reached June 15.
 The crisis in the railroad situation was reached in this city on June 15, last, when the conference between the representatives of 235 railroad systems in the United States and 4OO,- 900 employees failed to arrive at an adjustment of their differences. The conference began June 1 following the presentation on March 30 of demands by the men for an eight hour day and time and a half overtime.
 It had been hoped that the con- ference might make unnecessary the taking of a strike vote by referring the questions at issue to arbitration. After hearing the demands of the unions, however, the railroads de- clined to make a counter proposal md dismissed the subject by offering to discuss what they termed a ''tenta- tive 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 differ ences before the Interstate Con- merce Commission for decision, or f that body was without authority, th2t both sides join in petitiOning congress to grant the necessary power. II this proved unsatisfactory to the unions the railroads suggested arbitra- tion under the Newlands Act.
 The men rejetced the two proposi- tions. Their spokesman, A. B. Gar retson president of the Order of Rail- way Conductors, in an impassiOned speech said that the men would never consent to arbitration because of the failure of the unions to obtain jus tice in prior disputes through that method.
 The leaders of the four unions, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin- eers, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen, the Brother llOOu OI INdlIIOdU IIdlIlIllCIl, eiIlNt lI1S Order of Railway Conductors upon with drawing from the conference lost no time in drafting the strike ballot and in order to expedite the vote caused their distribution throughout the country by the 600 union Iele- gates that had also attended the con- ference.
 Will Try to Avoid Strike.
 It was pointed out at that time by the BrOtherhOOds' leaders that a vote ordering general strike did pot nec- essarily mean the immediate institu- ton of the strike. It was explained that the strike order would not Oe is sued until every effort looking toward an amicaDle settlement had been cN- 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 a shorter Workday but rather an increase of 25 per cent over existing wages for the same am ount of work, and an increase in many cases of STE per cent. for over time as compared With present rates. The demands pertain only to freight and not to passenger service.
 The railroads maintained that to al- low the increase would add $1OO, 0O0,- 900 a year to the operating expenses of all roads in the United States, flor the benefit of men whose average pay per day was increased from 30 to 42 per cent. from 1903 to 1914, while the wages of the western engineers were further increased in 1915"
 ,orn,onSjtin11 Sl1hI0oittAH the conference provided that 100 miles or less, or eight hours or less should a day, with overtime be- at the expiration of eight hours on runs of less than 100 miles l and as soon as 100 miles had been run on longer trips overtime to be | at one and one half times | the pro-rata rate, no one to receive | les than they previously received for l l minimum day The men were to l oe guaranteed the right to retain any 1 rates of pay or schedules in effect l January 1, 1916 which would be pre- l 'era ble to the new schedule.
 The roads contended that the men | made no allowance for the difference 1 railroad and industrial serv- | ce. They pointed out that railroad | enginemen or trainmen are guaran- | eed payment for a full day if they | york more than either the estab- | ished miles or hours. Tn other lines 1 of industry, the railroads held, the 1 employe does not receive days pay l Or less than a days work and ordin- | arily he cannot earn more than a days 1 pay for less than days work without | more than the regular num- | per of hours.