The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-14

WHAT PRESIDENT
PROMISES R. R. men

Washington, Feb H.-(A, PD--The
president set forth their principles as
covering the manner in which the
grievances of the railroad brotherhoods
should be dealt with.
In the event that in connection with
the return TO private control provision
shall be made by law for machinery
for dealing with railroad wage matters
| shall promptly use my influence, and
so far as such law confers power upon
me, | shall promptly exercise that
power to bring about the earliest prac-
ticahle organization of the machinery
thus provided
I'm the event that no such provision
is made by law for dealing with these
matters, | shall employ the influence
OF the executive to get the railroad
companies and the railroad employees tc
Joint promptly In the creation Of q
tribunal to take up these problems and
carry them to a conclusion"
The union answer to this proposal
was a reiteration OF their previous
statement demanding immediate relief
They urged that the president not re-
quire them 10 await the creation Of a
tribunal by legislation, They warned
that they did not believe the railroad
employees would be willing to accept
amy plan which contemplated delay.
1T is our earnest conviction, the em-
pluyes letter said, that the situation
Nbl lAAiAe no hl klilk AAiaA eNu IihiliBAiA
indicate to railroad labor that YOU will
create by agreement a special tribunal
to deal with this specific and important
problem.
with full realization of our re-
sponsibilities, however we have decided
to submit to our constituencies the ad
visibility OF the creation of a special
Joint commission composed OF an equal
number of representatives selected by
the railroad companies and the railroad
labor organization signatory TO this
agreement and invested with fun au-
thorty 10 deal with this particular con-
troNorsy on the basis of the following
principles;
1--Rates of pay for similar or analo-
gohs services In other industries.
2-Relation OF rates OF pay to In
creased costs OF living.
"A basic minimum living wage suf-
ficient to maintain a railroad mans
average family upon standard OF
health and reasonable comfort
4~That differentials above this basic
minimum living wage be established,
giving among other things due regard
to skin required, responsibility assumed
and hazard incurred; decision of this
tribunal to be handed down within
sixty days after agreeHent to establish
1t and TO be final and binding upon all
railroads in the United states and the
employees whom we represent"
The presidents attitude followed
closely the recommendation made to
him by Mr.. Hines when he broke off
negotiations with the union representa- e
tives, In his communication 20 the
president MIR. Hines said II was impos-
sible for the railroad administration to
dispose OF such q comprehensive and
far-reaching problem in the remaining
seventeen days In which II will have
jurisdiction, and with such expiring jur-
isdiction the railroad administration
could not justify itself to the country
in settling permanently for the future
a problem Of this character, (which in
wolves 40 much both to the railroad
employees and the public which, In some
form, must bear the cost of railroad
wages"