New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-16

The four railway brotherhoods. ready
10 begin a nationwide strike, issued
statement last night suggesting that
some Of the responsibility for the pres
ent crisis be placed upon the shoulders
Of the employers. These. they said, can
very easily end all talk of stoppage Of
trains by recognizing that their en-
ployes must either Clover their stand
ard of living or work longer than ten
hours out Of each twenty-four TO main
tain American standards of living
Railway employers IN similar an
nouncement said that they offered 10
leave to the Goethals eight-hour com
mission, recently appointed by the Pres
ident. any questions that may remain
unsettled by the Supreme Courts action
on the Adsmson Law.
Owe regret" the statement reads
chat the leaders Of the organizations
have refused 20 accept this offer anc
that they have notified us that they
have ordered a series Of strikes on the
railroads of the country, beginning Sat
urday night at 6 o'clock
Brotherhoods' Statement
The brotherhoods' side of the rail-
road controversy was made public IN
statement signed by the four brother
mood chiefs-W. G. Lee, for the Tram
mon: w. 5. Carter, for the Firemen;
/ + Sbanpard. for the Conductors, and
w. $. Stone. for the Engineers. Inc
statement follows:
1--WE presented proposition to place
the Adamson eight-hour law into ehect
long the lines suggested by President
Wilson last August, which was that IN
all road service, except passenger,
where schedules now read 100 miles or
less. Q or 10 hours or less. overtime at
20 or IL miles per hour insert y hours
or less for basic day and l2t2 miles
per hour for speed basis for the pur-
pose of computing overtime; overtime
10 be paid for at not less than one
eighth Of the daily rate per hour. In
all yard, switching and hosting service,
where schedules now read 10, IL or X
hours or less shall constitute days
work insert g hours or less shall con-
stitute a days work; overtime 70 be
the daily rate per hour. In passenger
service the present mileage basis will
be maintained. provided that the basic
passenger day will not be in excess of
eight consecutive hours; overtime 10
be paid for at not less than one-eighth
of the daily rate per hour.
Railroads Reject Proposal
"The conference committee of the
railways took our proposition under
consideration and at the afternoon
meeting notified us that they could not
accept II, and submitted in lieu there
Of the following:
"If the Supreme Court holds the
law TO be constitutional and the two
sides cannot agree upon the application
Of any Of the points we still agree that
the Eight-Ilour Commission shall deter
mine how the law shall be applied.
"1n case the law is declared uncon-
stitutional. we offer TO join in asking
the Eight-Hour Commission 20 deter
mine the whole controversy. Any settle
ment arrived at 10 Re effective from
January !, 1917
at will be noted that, in any
eventuality. the managers committee
have declined 10 negotiate any settle
ment Of the eight-hour day; that, II
the law is held constitutional. they
will not agree to our Interpretation
Of the law. and desire to submit the
application Of the law to arbltra-
ton, the members Of the Eight-Hour
Commission being the arbitration
board.
"On the other hand. if the law IS
declared unconstitutional, they de-
cline 10 make any settlement Of the
matters in controversy with us, and
again offer to submit the matter to
arbitration. the members Of the Eight
Hour Commission being the arbitra-
tors.
Railroads Called Unfair
"If the railroads are willing to sub
nit either of these propositions to
arbitration, it is evident that they are
willing to give their employees an
eight-hour day if the Arbitration
Board so decides, but the roads them
selves will never grant the request
directly.
eve submit that this is an unfair
attitude for the conference committee
of the railways TO assume. for If they
20 tho piRht-nOuT