The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-26
CRISIS Ig!.RAILROAD
FIGHT MAI - s:ss:srE
BEFORE NIGHT
Railroad Presidents and Brother
hood no Nearer Agreement
BOTH LOCKED ON ARBITRATION
Employees Refuse to Accept and Rail
roads Managers Insist Upon
.. Its Retention. 1

Washington, Aug. 26.-After the
heads of the four great railroad broth
erhoods threatening nationwide
strike had gone to the White House
yesterday, with warning that their
men would not wait longer than to-
night for reply from the railroad ex-
ecutives to President Wilson's sugges
tion that an eight-hour day be grant
ed. the executives last night agreed
upon counter proposal to be sub
mitted to the president today. This
plan holding to the demand for arbi-
tration which the employees have de-
clared they unalterably oppose, pro-
poses:--
That an eight-hour day is not direct
ly connected with the matter at issue
and that there is difference between
an actual eight-hour day and an eight
hour day as basis for pay.
That questions of increases OF wag-
es are indisputably questions which
should be settled by arbitration.
That the present demands Of the
trainmen be submitted to arbitration
by the interstate commerce commits
sion or some board to be created by
the president.
That If the arbitration finds wage
increases should be granted, their
finding will be retroactive and the in
crease will take effect from the time
the arbitration begins.
That fund shall be created by the
railroads to provide for this contin-
gency, the interstate commerce com
mission to keep the accounts that will
be necessary, and the arrangement to
continue in force for time not yet
determined upon, the men agreeing
that during the period of arbitration
there shall be no further demands nor
any attempt to strike
A draft of this report was submitted
last night by the committee of eight
presidents who have been constantly
at work upon its various phases for q
week. There was some discussion bu
only one vote was taken and by it the
60 presidents and the managers ap
proved the draft. Some slight addi
tons to the phraseology are to b,
made and the final draft presented
at another meeting this morning
From that meeting the report is ex
pected to be taken to President vii
son. 1t was said last nigit this will
be the final report of the executives
The railroad heads insist, as the.
have from the beginning OF negotia
tions, that 1t is increased pay and no
q shorter work day that the employe
really desire. To grant them tn
shorter basic day at the present pay
II is contended, would mean an add
tional annual expenditure of $52 900
600.
Representatives of the men indica
ed last night that such reply woul
be unsatisfactory. 1t has been we
known since the railroad president
went to Washington that many {
them would welcome strike. Som
OF them have pointed out that in the
opinion submission In the preser
crisis would weaken discipline O
their lines, and that 1t would only |
a short time before the trainmen's d
mands are followed by similar one
from other employees. Many of the
feel that a strike could last only fe
days at the longest and the more Il
portant systems would have litt
trouble handling the mails and mi
trains and supplying the larger citi,
with foodstuffs.
nnECA MnIArAl..