New-York tribune., 1905-01-21
P. R. R. STRIKE DELAYED.
CONFERENCE NOT ENDED.
TrGnmen Meet General Manager
and Discuss Propositions.

PHILADELPHIA Jan. 20.-A strike of the freight
trainmen IN the employ of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company on the lines east OF Pitts
burg and Erie has been delayed. If not entirely
averted, by the presence il this city of Grand
Master P H. Morrissey OF the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen. There appears to be better
feeling on both sides tonight, and, although the
situation has not materially changed II is less
acute than when First Vice-Grand Master Lee,
having exhausted all his efforts to effect an
amicable settlement of the differences, hastily
summoned Mr Morrissey from Cleveland to this
city.
It was expected that definite action would be
taken to-day at conference between General
Manager Atterbury Of the Pennsylvania Rail
road, Mr.. Morrissey, Mr.. Lee and the board Of
adjustment, but, after interview Of two and
a half hours duration. IT was announced that
the conference would be continued tomorrow.
At the conclusion of to-day's conference the fol-
lowing joint statement was issued by Mr.. Alter
bury and Mr.. Morrissey:
At the meeting to-day the situation was again
gone over. No new propositions were made, and
the situation stands practically as it was, but
the conference will be resumed tomorrow. The
conference of to-day was largely to enable Mr..
Morrissey more thoroughly to familiarize him
self with the questions at issue from the COM
panys standpoint
Grand Master Morrissey came here prepared
TO present a proposition which might be consid
cred In the nature Of compromise. and it is
known that General Manager Atterbury is
ious to preserve the company's record of con-
tinued freedom from labor difficulties of an ex-
treme nature.
The evident willingness of both sides to meet
each other half way. 1t is believed. will open
up an avenue through which strike may be
averted Before the meeting to-day r. L. Cohen.
chairman of the board of adjustment, said that
TO him the situation looked much clearer.
1T seems to be tending to a settlement rather
than break" he said. Our side is certainly
willing to arbtrate, if that should be necessary,
and 1 have no doubt that the company would
be glad to do the same.
Mr. Atterbury informed the trainmen that he
would be ready 10 meet them at 2:30 o'clock
this afternoon, and promptly at that hour they
appeared at the executive Offices of the COM
pany. The party included I'm addition TO Mr..
Morrissey and Mr.. Lee, the following members
of the board of adjustment r. L. Cohen, chair
man; d. H Hatfield. vice-chairman; K. r.
vought. secretary; NJ. L. Hobbs. George Nc
Blaine B. B. Weidner and J. N Liddick. They
were at once received by Mr.. Atterbury. who.
during the conference. again submitted his last
proposition. which was as follows:
I will agree 10 stop all compulsory firing on
divisions except such divisions where the
superintendent may feel that the fireman re-
quires assistance by the brakeman. That will
be between specified points for a specified
distance He. Will be paid at the same rate per
hour as the fireman receives. not in addition to
his own rate-that is he will not get double
pav-but he will receive the hremans rate only.
He will not be held responsible for his duties
as a brakeman during the time that he is firing
and should he elect to become a fireman, such
time as he may have put IN firing in this way
will be credited to his seniority record.
Mr.. Lee had previously quoted figures show
ing that under this arrangement brakeman
doing q hreman's work would receive aver
age of 9l-6 cents more for the two hours
work than his rate To-day Mr.. Atterbury
submitted statistics 10 the trainmen showing
that fin some cases a brakeman would receive
as high as 20 cents above his own rate for as
sisting the iremen. The trainmen, II is learned,
are not inclined to consider the question of re-
muneration They opposed to the principle
Of compelling one class OF men TO do the work or
another class. The meeting was friendly. and
IL was found that the issues could not be thor
oughly discussed to-day and Mr. Atterbury
agreed 10 receive the board at the same hour
TO o-fnorrow.
III the company be induced 10 accept the
proposItion TO employ additional hreInens help-
ers IL is understood that the oner VIII be salts
factory 70 Grand Master Morrlssey- Another
meeting OF the board OF adjustment VIII be held
tomorrow morning