The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-19
Roads Rapidly Settling Back to
Normal Conditions.
All Parties Are Satisfied With
Strike Settlement,
VICTORY FOR BOTH SIDES
Men Think Their Conditions
VIII Be Much Improved.
Officials Glad Road Heads Put
Patriotism First.

with the railway strike cloud re-
ceding as rapidly as it advanced, ship
ping conditions in Topeka territory
began settling back to normal today
Shortly after noon the Santa Fe raised
all embargo orders placed as the re-
suit Of the threatened trainmen's walk
out. Immediately after the notice was
received in the office of j. r. Koontz,
general freight agent, it was flashed
on the wires and local shippers were
notified. There is no doubt but what
restrictions will be 1aken off all rail-
roads before night.
At a late hour this afternoon the
Union Pacific officials here had re-
ceived no orders to lift embargoes.
However, they are looking for a flash
from Omaha every minute. Delay in
such notice being issued is due the
fact the Union Pacific did not place
a definite embargo but accepted all
freight subject to delay and ship
pers' risk.
The Santa Fe ordered an en-
/ barge Wednesday on all perish
| able freight, livestock and ex-
ton by Sunday evening at o'clock.
Unperishable freight was accepted
subject to delay.
The Rock Island placed no en-
bargoes on it's own lines and refused
TO accept shipments with destinations
east of the Chicago gateway only.
Both Sides Satisfied.
Settlement of the controversy was
greeted with general satisfaction by
trainmen and officials alike here, be-
cause of the conditions under which
it was brought to a close Under the
settlement trainmen are awarded an
S-hour basic day with pro-rata over
-, i.I, l. Ian TO
cent increase in pay and a correspond
ing increase in overtime. The settle
ment is, in a way, described as "a
victory for both sides" inasmuch as
| the additional expense to the railroads
is not as large as under the original
demands of the trainmen. Their de-
mands during the previous contro-
Versy were for an S-hour basic day and
time and a half overtime. In short,
the trainmen have won their S-hour
day and an increase in overtime and
the railroads have avoided paying as
/ much overtime as was asked at first
Satisfaction voiced by officials here
is based on the crisis which faced the
} country. Railway officials and men
alike favor getting solidly behind Pres
ident Wilson in the German crisis in
; preference to tying up the country for
sake of personal gain or corporation
gain.
Fox Makes Statement.
F. c. Fox, general manager for the
Santa F'e railway, said this morning
that official confirmation thru railroad
channels of the national defense COM
missions settlement had not yet been
received here. He received notice
from Elisha Lee this morning that the
strike had been averted by the COM
mission being authorized to settle the
dispute.
1t is practically unanimously taken
for granted that the commissions set
tIement will automatically become eff
fective January l. When the railroads
filed the suit, now in the supreme
court. against the Adamson law they
assured the government and the train
men that the courts decision would
make whatever settlement it effected
effective at this time. Trainmen, If
such agreement be reached, will re-
ceive whatever additional pay is COM
ing to them in a reasonably short time,
as all railroads have been keeping
track of time so they can settle on
any basis.
Court Decision a Surprise.
Despite the fact the strike settle
ment made by the national defense
commission practically duplicated the
Adamson law, Topeka railway and in
dustrial circles received shock that
shook their foundations today when
the latter was upheld by the supreme
T court. The right of congress to die
tate wages under such conditions stag
gered attorneys. They eliminated the
effect which the outcome of the con-
troversy will have on the railways
3 and turned speculation the posi-
bility of other bodies of, men gaining
an increase in their already swollen
pay checks in the same manner.
One railway official limited at gov
eminent ownership of. railway lines
when expanded prosperity collapses.
His views are not scoffed at by sew
eraI others, deep in the councils of
their interest, who fear the Adamson
law is the first step in such a move on
the part of the government. The fac
ton, political and otherwise. which
favors that step has ignored failure
of government ownership in Canada
and now it wouldn't surprise most
denly find himself in the employ of
the government
Some OF these days" a Topeka
railway official said today, the gov
eminent is going to take over rail
lines and forget to give them back.
/ One thing is sure tho, the govern
ment is going to regulate and run the
lines whole lot different than it is
making the present owners run them.
When the present expanded prosper
ity collapses one of two things will
happen-must happen. Either re-
venues must be increased thru in
down at the expense of employees and
efficiency. If not, there will be a loss
in such operation and, as usual, Mr..
Common Citizen will be asked to
patiently carry the burden"