Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 213, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1916 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 [ADVERTISEMENT]

FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC: The Railroads 9 statement of their posttion on the threatened strike, as presented to the President of the United States A strike on all the railroads of the country has been called by the Train Brotherhoods for 7 o’clock Monday morning, September 4. This strike was ordered from Washington while the President of the United States was making every effort to avert the disaster. The Final Railroad Proposal The final proposal made, by the railroads for a peaceful settlement of the coni trove riy, but which was rejected by the brotherhoods, was as follows.

actual experience as their judgment approves or the President may fix, not, however, less than three months. (c) In view of the far-reaching consequences of the declaration made by the President, accepting the 8 hour day, not only upon the railroads and the classes of labor involved directly in this controversy, but to the public and upon all industry, it seems plain that before the existing conditions are changed, the whole subject in bo far as it affects the railroads and their employees, should be investigated and determined by a Commission to be appointed by the President, of such standing as to compel attention and respect to its findings. The judgment of such a Commission would be a helpful basis for adjustments with labor and such legislation as intelligent public opinion, so informed, might demand.

(a) The railroads will, effective September r, 1916, keep the time of all men represented in this movement, upon an 8 hour 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 wnuld have beep earned upon an 8 hour basis —(overtime on each basis te be computed pre rata. The amounts so shown will be subject to the decision of the Commission, provided for in Paragraph (e) of this memorandum and payable in money, as may be di/ected by said Commission in its findings and decision. (b) The Interstate Commerce Commission to supervise the keeping of these accounts and report the increased cost of the 8 hour basis, after such period of

Statement of Executives to the President In submitting this proposal to the President, the fifty railroad executives called to Washington and representing all the great arteries of traffic, made this statement to him as their convictions:

effort is required for the public welfare, would bo 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 concern over the gravity of the situation and the consequences of a surrender by the railroads in this emergency. In like manner we are deeply impressed with the sense of our responsibility to maintain and keep open the arteries of transportation, which carry the life blood of the commerce of the country, and of the consequences that will flow from even temporary interruption of service over the railroads, but the issues presented have been raised above and beyond the social and monetary questions involved, and the responsibility for the consequences that may arise will rest upon those that provoke it. Public Investigation Urged The questions involved are in our respectful judgment, eminently suitable for the calm investigation and decision by the public through 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 Arbitration, having the public confidence, will be accepted by 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 expenses. If imposed upon them, it would involve many in early financial embarrassment and bankruptcy and imperil the power of all to maintain their credit and the integrity of their securities. The immediate increase in cost, followed by other increases that would be inevitable, would substantially appropriate the present purchasing power of the railroads and disable them from expanding and improving their facilities and equipment, to keep abreast of the demands of the country for efficient transportation service

The demands in this controversy have not been presented, in our judgment, for the purpose of fixing a definite daily period of labor, nor a reduction in the existing hours of labor or change in methods of. operation, but for the real purpose of accomplishing an increase in wages of approximately One 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 of the facts and patient and continuous consultation with the Conference Committee of Managers, and among ourselves, we have reached a clear understanding of the magnitude of the questions, and of the serious consequences to the railroads and to the public, involved in the decision of them. Trustees for the Public As trustees for the public served by our lines and for the great mass of the less powerful employees (not less than 80 per cent, of the whole number) interested in the railroad wage fund—as trustees also for the millions of people that have invested their savings and capital in the bonds and stock of these properties, and who through the saving banks, trust companies and insurance companies, 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 principle involved, nor undertake to transfer the enormous cost that will result to the transportation of the commerce of the country. The eight-hour day without punitive overtime involves an annual increase, approximately, in the aggregate of Sixty Millions of Dollars, and an increase of more than 20 per cent, in the pay of the fnen, already the most highly paid in the transportation service. The ultimate cost to the 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,

In good faith we have worked continuously and earnestly in a sincere effort to solve the problem in justice to all the parties at interest. These efforts were still in progress when the issuance of the strike order showed them to be unavailing. Problem Threatens Democracy Itself The strike, if it comes, will be forced upon the country by the best paid class of laborers in the world, at a .time when the country has the greatest need for transportation efficiency. ' , The problem presented is not that alone of the railroad or business world, but involving democracy itself, and sharply presents the question whether any group of citizens should be allowed to possess the power to imperil the life of the country by conspiring to block the arteries of commerce. “SXKwM*,.*-. u-.' w w attrrritrY R P RIPIEY ■ FRANK TRUMBULL, Atdu.oa, To t <k. & Santa Fe Sy.tei, Che..p..k. & OH. Railway. ' uiddkom DANIEL WILLARD, FAIRFAX HARRISON, Baltim.ra and Ohio Railr.ad. S.uthara Railway.