The sun., 1916-12-27
Big R. R. EARNINGS A
BROTHERHOOD CLUB
Trainmens' Union Leaders to
Use 81, O98, 900, 900 Figures
in Gaining Demands.
FIGHT ON ADAMSON LAW
Men Hope to Win Managers
Aid I'm Repeating It and
Defeating Wilson Plan.

Report Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission on the unprecedented earn
ings OF railroads In the country has given
the big Four brotherhoods possession
| OF a weapon which they expect to use to
| compel the national conference commit
tee Of anagcr I unite with them this
week for the repeal Of the Adamson law
and the defeat Of President Wilson's pro-
posed compulsory investigation bill.
Until yesterday the managers plainly
|, held the upper hand. This superiority
was given them by the award In the ar
| bitration Of the ~switchmen's demands.
a. construed by the managers-and pri-
I yateiy admitted by brotherhood chiefs
the decision did not uphold the ten hour
pay for an eight hour day and II de-
feated utterly the punitive overtime de-
mand similar to that made last summer
by the brotherhood.
UPsets Railroad ContenUos.
However. the report OF the annual
81 .O9S. 900. 900 net income Of the roads
has reshaped the course Of the brother
hooda They believe the billion dollar in
como upsets every contention that has
been offered by the railroads against
their eight hour day and time and a half
for overtime. Furthermore. they will u
tho switchmen's award against the roads
unless tho managers agree to meet them
half way. That In the attitude they take
now. and which they probably will carry
into the conference room.
Railroad statisticians showed that the
cost OF putting the Adamson law IN
operation would be SEQ. 200. 900 for the
whole coun ry. Taking the !. c. C.'s re-
turns for their foundation they point out
that the present rate OF earnings would
give the railroads a billion plus ever
after paying tho wages ordered under
the eight hour Law.
The surplus Of the railroads. the
unions believe. serves to emphasize the
essential Justice Of the demands they
made last year. Therefore they believe
the roads will agree with them on the
principle OF the eight hour law without
the mandatory order OF the law and
consent TO tho repeal Of the Adamson
act.
Arbitration Nest Resort.
However. should the roads refuse to
join with them 10 have the law stricken
from the books they will threaten to
have wholesale resort To the weapon
employed by the switchmen-arbitra-
ton. With the demonstrated earnings,
coupled with the fact that tho revenues
show an increase three times tho excess
In expenses they believe they will win
their punitive overtime from any board
Of arbitration.
From what can be learned yesterday
the nan gers. while proud Of the earn
ings Of the roads. are somewhat cha
grined that the figures should be made
public on the eve Of negotiations with
the Big Four chiefs. They arc hopeless
Of the br~otherhoods' ability to gain y re-
peal of the Law and believe the only
outcome will be that gained through
the opinion Of the United States Su-
preme Court. 1t Is probable that II the
negotiations do not end In utter failure
in tho first hour there may be evolved
some programmes for coordinate opera
ton. The meetings wffl be held on
Thursday or Friday.