The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-17

Or III miles per hour insert eight
hours or less. for basic day and
IL LIZ miles per hour for speed basis
Tor the purpose Of computing over
time. overtime to be paid for not less
than cne-eighth of the daily rate per
nour. In all yard. switching and
nostling service where schedules now
read 1c. IL or 12 hours or less shall
constitute days work insert eight
hours or less shall constitute a days
work. Overtime to be paid for at
not less than one eighth of 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 to
be paid for at not less than one
eighth Of the daily rate per hour.
THE conference committee of the
railways took our proposition under
consideration at the afternoon meet
ing. notified us that they could not
accept 1t and submitted in lieu
thereof the following:
IF the supreme court holds the
law to be constitutional and the two
sides can not agree on the applica-
tion Of any of the points, We will
agree that the eight hour commits
scion shall determine how the law
shall be applied.
In case the law is declared un-
constitutional we offer to join you
In asking the eight hour commission
to determine the whole controversy
Any settlement arrived at to be ef-
fective from January 1, 1917
1T will be. noted that in eventuality
the managers committee have declin
ed to negotiate any settlement of the
eight hour day. that IL 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 arbitration. the members
OF the eight hour commission being
the arbitration board.
"On the other hand, IL the law is
declared unconstitutional they de.
cline to 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.
III the railroads are willing to sub.
NIT either of these propositions to
arbitration 1t Is evident they are will
ing to give their employees an eight
hour day IL the arbitration board so
decides. but the roads themselves will
never grant the request directly.
I'VE submit that this Is an unfair
attitude for the conference commit
tee OF the railways to assume, for If
they are willing to grant the eight
hour day through any method they
should be willing to grant it directly
to their empoyes and not prolong
the controversy.
The public should remember that
after having failed to reach an
agreement with the conference COM
mittee of the railways last August
president Wilson intervened and at
tempted to mediate our differences
ana. after hearing both sides of the
discussion and considering the matter
Tor several days. proposed a settle
ment which settlement is practically
the same as we have just proposed
TO the railroads. The railroads re-
FUSED to accept the presidents prop
ositio1, when the president recon-
mendcd to congress the enactment OF
law similar to his proposition. This
congress did when the railroads
again refused to accept the decision
OF congress and have not yet observed
the law in u single instance.
1T is apparent to us that tho pur-
pose OK the railroads is to avoid any
settlement OF the matter until such
time IA the country becomes involved
IN war. when they expect to escape
any sctt OF whatever charac-
Ter. Even though the supreme court
iecide that the law was constitu-
iionil. we have noticed that they will
not accept our Interpretation thereof,
which Is practically the same as tho
president proposed when nc recon
mended the enactment of the law.
therefore decision OF the supreme
court upholding the constitutionality
Or the law would not even Indirectly