Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-16

the patriotism OK the men themselves
He was asked what effect this would
have.
why do you ask me that" he de-
mandcd. I'VE have heard nothing from
the President of the United States
When We do hear. VIC will take up that
question"
Warren S. stone declared that IL the
President made an appeal to the men
"it would be considered" lie added,
however that there was mo bluff"
about the strike.
TELLS OF SERVICE
NEW YORK CAN EXPECT
While the statements were being
prepared. Joseph IIartigan. u New York
City ohicial. announced that he had
received 81 communication from Elisha
Lee In respect to what service New
York City could expect if a strike
should occur. He said that Elisha r.cc
advised him that he had been informed
that strike on some railroads OF
the United States" was to be called on
Saturday afternoon.
y. J.. Smith, president Of the New
FORK central Railroad. informed that
there had been Il final disagreement
issued Il statement. directed to his men,
ing TO abide by any award which might
DC made by the Cocktails commission
as government mediation hoard
should the Adamson law be declared
unconstitutional Mr.. Smiths plea was
based on the Critical situation" con-
fronting tho country.
BROTIIt:RIoODs. sIDr:
or CONTROVERSY
troversy was made public in "A state
Hent signed by the four brotherhood
chiefs, W. q. Lee, for the trainn,en:
w 5. Carter. for the frcmcu; L. +.
sheppard. for the conductors, and w
;. stone. for the engineers.
we presented a proposition TO place
the Adamson cight-hour law into effect
along the lines suggested by President
Wilson last August, which was that in
all road service except passenger,
drcd miles or less. nine or ten hours
or less, overtime at ten or eleven ruilcg
per hour insert eight hours or less
for basic day. and twelve and ono
half miles per hour for speed basis
for the purpose of computing overtime.
Overtime to be paid for at not less than
one -eirhth OF the daily rate per hour
In al! yard. switching and hosting ser
vice, where schedules now read ten.
eleven or twelve hours or less shall
constitute 4 days work insert eight
hours or less shall constitute n days
work. Overtime to he paid for at not
less than cnc-eighth of the daily rate
per hour. In passenger service, the
present mileage basis will he main
tanned. provided that the basic passcn-
ger day Will not be in excess OF eight
consecutive hours. Overtime TO he paid
for At not less than onc-cighth of the
daily rate per hour.
RAILROADS SUBMIT
OUNTERpROPOSITI
Tire conference committee of the
consideration, and at the afternoon
meeting notified us that they could not
accept it. and submitted in lieu thereof
the following:
IF the Supreme Court holds the
law 10 be constitutional and the two
sides cannot agree upon the applica-
ton OF any of the points. will agree
that the eight-hour commission shall
determine how the Law shall be APP
piled.
LIN case the law is declared uncon-
stitutional. We offer 70 Join YOU in
asking the cight-hour commission to
determine the whole controversy. Any
settlement arrived at to be effective
from January /, 1917.
1T will be noted that in any even
tuality the managers committee have
declined 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
cight-hour law commission being the
board.
"On the other hand il the law is de-
clarcd unconstitutional. they decline to
make any settlement Of the matters in
controversy with us AMI again offer
TO submit the matter TO arbitration.
the members of the cight-hour com
mission being the arb traitors.
III the railroads arc willing TO sub
nit either Of these propositions to ar
bitration. it is evident that they are
willing TO give their employees an
eight hour day il the arbitration hoard
decides, but the railroads them
selves will never grant the request di-
rectly.
The public should remember that.
after failing TO reach an agreement
with the conference committee of the
railways last August President Will
son interviewed and attempted to medi-
ate our differences. and after hearing
both sides of the discussion and con-
sidering the matter for several days.
proposed settlement. which settle
ment is practically the same IS we have
just proposed to the railroads. The
railroads refused to accept the Presi-
dents proposition when the President
recommended TO Congress the enact
ment of a law similar to his PROPOSE
ton. This Congress did, when the rail-
roads again refused to accept the de-
cision of Congress. and have not yet
observed the law in a single instance.
''It is apparent to us that the pur-
pose OF the railroads is to avoid any
settlement of the matter until such
time as the country becomes involved