Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-20
RAILROADS
HEADS End
TIEUP Peril
Offer to Turn Over All
Properties to President in
Event of Critical Wage
Dispute; English Plan
Cited.

WILSON WILL MEET
TRAINMEN THURSDAY
Washington, D. c, Nov. a.
! Counsel for the eastern railroads
! informed the interstate commerce
commission today that in addi-
| ton to the increases sought in the
pending fifteen per cent advance
rate case the roads soon would
apply for further increases Of fif-
| teen per cent In class and COM
modify rates and probably for ten
| cents ton increase on coal and
coke.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 19-Formal
announcement was made today that
| the railroads of the United States
have decided that if any crisis shall
arise they will place their interests
| in the hands. of President Wilson for
protection and such disposition as he
may deem necessary to prevent inter
ruption of transportation during the
war.
The four railroad brotherhoods,
which have made demands for in
creased wages, have agreed to media
ton of the dispute but have refused
an unconditional submission of the
questions to board of arbitra-
ton Today's announcement by
the railroad war board is regarded
by officials as eliminating the posi-.
bility of strike by giving the presi-
dent a free hand SO far as the rail-
s~2ads are concerned, when he meets
the brotherhood leaders In AenseFencsyy,
here next Thursday. ", r. II 3 3
LETTER TELLS PLAN.
Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the
executive committee of the American
Railway association, commonly known
as the war board, wrote this letter to
Judge William l.. Chambers, chair.
man of the United States board Of
mediation and conciliation, who con-
ferred with various railroad execu.
tives in New York Saturday and with
the war board today:
"We confirm what we said to you
this morning in reply to your inquiry
dS W WudI Will uC SilC cS$SAIuOO Va SAO
railroads with respect to the manner
creases in pay or chayss in working
conditions which dur'1g the war may
be made upon them by employees.
SPEAKS FOR ALL ROADS.
Speaking for all the railroads to-
day we reiterate our belief in, and
general acceptance of the principle
of arbitration. In the midst of war
we are. however, prepared to go fur
ther. AS no interruption of continu-
Gus railroad operation can be tolerated
under war conditions we are ready,
should any crisis now arise unresev-
edly to place our interests in the
hands of the president for protection
and for disposition as he may deter
mine is necessary in the public inter-
'ests."
The entire war board was present
at the conference with Judge Cham.
bers, including Mr.. Harrison, who is
president of the, Southern Railroad
and Presidents Howard Elliott, Of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford;
Hale G. Holden, Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy; julius Kruttschnitt,
Southern Pacific, and Samuel Res,
Pennsylvania lines.
WAGE CONFERENCE THURSDAY.
Representatives Of the brother
hoods will confer Thursday with the
president regarding the points at
issue and means Of settlement. It Is
expected that the railroad war board
will meet Immediately after this con.
ference to learn the attitude of their
employees.
Suggestions are being given consid-
Grafton by officials. based on the e1.
perience of foreign countries, that IN.
stead of adjustment of this single dis
pute, a new agency should be created
or the board Of mediation or inter
state commerce commission be en-
powered to consider railroad wage
questions continuously throughout the
war, making adjustments at statea
periods, possibly three months. which
would prevent economic unsettlement
and loss of operating personnel
through attraction to other trades
paying higher wages. England has
put such plan into effect. the board
of trade having power to adjust wages
and also rates, to compensate the
roads for the increased cost Of labor.
WAR CLAIMS WORKERS.
One argument of the brotherhoods
for increased wages at this time has
been the necessity of retaining men
at their posts who are dissatisfied
with their pay in comparison with the
soaring cost of living. Recruits of
railroad regiments to build war roads
in France has taken about $4,000 high
ly trained men from American lines.
Many railroad men have enlisted and
others have been drafted for the
army Greater than any of thean