Show MEN AGAINST INVESTIGATION ACT RAILWAYS FIRM ON 0 ARBITRATION TION VASH WASHINGTON Aug 29 This This statement to o the public was issued by the committee of railway ailway presidents We are unable after th the most earnest consideration consideration con- con to agree with the proposal of the president of f th the U United Stat States s W which lc Is 1 that t we accept without arbitral arbitration on the substitution of an hour eight da dasent day dar r for or the pre present sent ten-hour ten day in all of the existing exiting practices and nd agreements agreements' This Is the main point in controversy and nd we cannot surrender it without an opportunity to be heard icard In s me form of fair arbitration We Ned d do not assent to the statement that the hour eight-hour day now undoubtedly has the sanction of the judgment of society in its favor Wo We believe that society has not yet recorded its judgment upon this subject We Ve are not in this controversy however dealing with the he conditions relating to the hour eight-hour day In the industrial industrial Indus- Indus trial rial world The difference between the hour eight-hour day clay In business and manufacturing Interests and in the railroad train rain service day has been fully explained The railroad day Is a basis for computing pay and overtime the length of dally daily service being controlled by variable conditions The demands Involved In this controversy have not been een presented In our Judgment for the tho purpose of fixing a definite dally daily period of labor nor a reduction In the existing hours of labor or change in methods of operation but for the real of attaining purpose an Increase of wages approximating a hundred million dollars per annum or 35 per cent for the men in railroad freight train and yard service represented by the labor organizations in this matter After careful examination tion of the tho facts and patient and continuous consultation with the conference committee and managers and among ourselves we have reached a clear understanding of the magnitude of the questions and of I the he serious consequences to the tho railroads and to the public involved In a decision of themAs themAs them As trustees for the public served by our lines and for the he great mass of the less powerful not less than 80 per cent of the whole number interested in the railway wage fund fund-as as trustees also for the millions of people who have Invested their savings and capital In the he bonds and stocks of these properties and who through the savings banks trust companies and Insurance companies companies com com- are vitally interested to the extent of millions of dollars in the integrity and solvency of the railroads of the country we cannot in conscience surrender without a hearing the tho principle involved nor undertake to transfer the enormous cost that will result to the transportation of the commerce of the country The hour eight-hour day without punitive overtime Involves an annual increase approximating In the aggregate sixty millions of dollars and an increase of more than 20 per percent percent percent cent In the pay of men already the most hig highly ly paid in the tho transportation service The ultimate cost to the tho railroads of an admission in this manner of the principle under contention cannot now be estimated the effect upon the efficiency of the transportation of the country now already under severe test under the tide of business now moving and at a time when more instead of less effort Is required at public welfare would be harmful beyond calculation The widespread effect upon the Industries of the country as a whole Is beyond measure or appraisement at this time and we agree with the insistent and widespread public concert over the gravity of the situation and the consequences of a surrender by the railroads in this emergency In like manner we are deeply impre impressed sed with the sense of our responsibility to maintain and keep open the arteries of transportation which carry the life blood of the commerce commerce com com- merce of the country and of the consequences that will flow from even a temporary interruption of service over the railroads but the issues presented have been raised about above and beyond the tho social and monetary questions Involved ed and the responsibility for the consequences that may arise will rest upon those who provoke it The questions involved are in our respectful judgment nt eminently suitable for the calm Investigation and decision by the public by the agency of fair arbitration and cannot be disposed of to the public satisfaction in any other manner The decision of a commission or board of arhl- arhl V WASHINGTON Aug 29 The The brotherhood heads heads heads-Garretson Garretson Stone Lee and Carter issued Carter issued the following statement explaining their opposition opposition opposition tion to any legislation along the plan of the Canadian commission Since the abolition of slavery no more effectual means has been devised for insuring the bondage of the workingman than the passage of compulsory Investigation Investigation tion acts of the character of the Canadian industrial disputes disputes disputes dis dis- act To cite an actual occurrence In 1910 the men upon eighty eight railroads in the eastern territory of the United States presented to the railroad companies of that territory a demand for an Increase In wages The companies refused to deal concertedly with the proposition and it was ther therefore ore taken up with the Individual roads Three of the p properties were Canadian and two days after negotiation was as opened on January 7 the first road of the United States negotiation opened on the three Canadian properties The negotiations inthe In Inthe inthe the United States included federal mediation in the first Instance and arbitration In the third case On the nineteenth day of July following settlement was made on the last of the seventy-seven seventy American lines Involved On the same date at 6 p. p m. m a strike took place on the Grand Trunk railway one of the Can Canadian dian railways settlement not having yet been ef effected effected effected ef- ef on any anyone one of the three this growing out of the delays which the employers were able to Interpose under act the Industrial disputes Moreover the period of Investigation Is eternally utilized by the employer to entrench himself in his effort to defeat the demands of the men no matter how Just their cause may be and In a a. majority of Instances where a verdict by an investigating commission has been I favorable to the men it has been repudiated by the em em- In consequence of this attitude disregard forand for forand forand and Ignoring of the provisions of that law has s led d to placing thousands of men In the attitude of lawbreakers and the passage of l laws ws which Induce men to open vi violation l tion thereof is a deadly injury to a nation because it breeds universal contempt for lawIn lawIn law In the present strife If such an act were passed all that would that would be necessary would be for the power of at attorney attorney attorney at- at torney to be withdrawn from the national conference committee of managers by the Individual roads and then Immediate necessity would arise for Investigating boards to be created or If only a limited number were provided for men would be compelled to remain for years in involuntary servitude if they obeyed the provisions provisions pro pru- visions of such a law having the public confidence will wil 1 be accepted by bythe bythe bythe the public and the social and financial rearrangements made necessary thereby will be undertaken by the public but in no less deliberate nor orderly manner The railroads of the country cannot under present conditions assume this enormous Increase In their ex ex- ex- ex If It imposed upon them it would involve many In early financial embarrassment and bankruptcy and imperil the power of all to maintain their credit and Integrity of their securities The immediate increase in cost followed by other increases that would be Inevitable would substantially substantially substantially sub sub- approximate the present purchasing power of the railroads and disable them from extending and Improving improving improving Im im- im- im proving their facilities and equipment t to to keep abreast of the demands of the country for efficient transportation service For these reasons we are with deep regret unable to accept the suggestion made by the president of the United States We Ve propose however as a basis for settlement the following The railroads win will effective September 1 1916 keep the time of all aU men represented In this movement upon an hour eight basis and by separate account monthly with each man maintain a record of the difference between the money actually earned by him on the present basis and the amount that would have been earned upon hour eight-hour j basis on each basis to be computed pro rata The amounts so shown will be subject to the decision of the commission provided for In paragraph C of this memorandum memorandum memorandum memo memo- and payable in money as may be directed by said commission in its findings s and decision |