The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
TALK WITH OPERATORS.


NEW YORK, Oct. H.-President George
F. Baer, Of the Philadelphia & Reading
Railroad, arrived here from Philadelphia
to-day: He said he had come to attend
the regular weekly meeting OF the Temple
Iron Company.
do you consider that the proposition
submitted to the President in the nature of
a recession from the stand taken by the
operators?" he was asked.
81 happen to have drawn the proposition
myself Mr.. Baer replied. Eat least
had considerable part in preparing it. and
/ may state that it embodies my opinions
and views: Further than that 1 cannot say
anything
Asked what he thought would be the re-
suit of the offer made to the President he
replied: II am not a prophet"
Mr.. Baer was asked whether the PROPOSE
ton looked to immediate resumption on
full time. Il do not care to discuss that"
he said.
President Olyphant, of the Delaware &
Hudson, was asked il the public would
not look upon the proposition of the OPP
orators as a concession to the miners.
1T is not concession to the miners" he
replied. 1T is a concession to humanity.
1t is move taken to relieve the distress
prevalent throughout the country. The
need of coal was a serious matter to con-
template. If the season had been summer
instead of winter such a statement might
not have been called for.
President Truesdale, of the Lackawanna,
said: THE whole matter rests with the
President. We reserved no right to Ques-
ton the appointment OF any individual on
the commission whom the President may
see fit to appoint on the terms Of our offer.
| do not know whether the President in
Gliding to appoint the commission, and L
have no idea OF its possible makeup. II
he sees fit to appoint an arbitration COM
will not question the appointment of any
individuals he may select"
On the subject of giving the miners full
time when the mines are opened, President
| Truesdale said he could not speak except
for his own road and company. That, he
said. for two years had run full time, ex-
| eept when there were shutdowns for re-
| pairs. or because of holidays. He assumed
| that the old practice of the company would
be resumed. Mr.. Truesdale was also asked
| If the coal roads had sufficient cars to carry
coal. He replied that he thought they had.
| but for his own road he could say so posi-
| lively These cars. he added. are available
| for the immediate movement of coal and
| he said he believed the same conditions
prevailed with other coal roads.
President Fowler. on being asked what in
/ fuences, II any, induced the operators to
submit the differences with their men 10
| arbitration, replied 1T was chiefly due to
| the pressure OF public opinion, or rather,
| you might say, public necessity. We recog-
/ nized that the public would suffer from
/ scarcity OF coal III something was not done
/ soon. and We concluded that il would be
/ honorable TO overlook In a measure the
rights of the interests that we represent
/ so that way out of a serious predicament
| might be found. Many OF the schools WEI g
/ getting ready to shut down, and still great
/ er hardships might be suffered"
| do you regard the offer of the operators
for arbitration as partial backdown by
them?"
| II suppose many persons would take IL
that way" was the answer.
John Markle. the independent operator.
| declared he had nothing To say when asked
why he did not sign the statement Offering
/ arbitration.