The San Francisco call., 1906-12-26
Commissioner of Labor Sent
by President to Try to
End Railroad Trouble
APPEAL TO BE MADE
FOR ARBITRATION
General Tie-Up Would Have
Depressing Effect Upon
the Industrial Situation
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-In order to
prevent labor conflict which may in
volve all the great railroad systems.
Commissioner of Labor Neill started
today for Houston. Tex, to arrange
for arbitration between the striking
hremen and the Southern Pacific Rail-
road Company
Neill left Washington with the full
approval of the President. who is anx-
ious TO arrest the movement which
threatens the industrial situation gen
orally. The authorities are disinclined
70 talk about the dispute or the means
they have taken to settle it, because
OF their apprehension that word may
upset the plans it has been determined
Neiu shall follow. It was learned to-
day, however. that an appeal was re-
ceived on Saturday by Commissioner
Neill and Chairman Knapp of the In
terstate Commerce Commission asking
them to use their good Offices to ar
range the differences between the fire
men and engineers of the Southern
Pacific and between. the men and the
company.
FIRST EFFORTS FAIL
By telegraphic representation to the
fremen, engineers and the company.
Knapp and Neill made efforts Sat
urday and early Sunday morning to
prevent the iremen from striking. but
their earnest endeavors 10 conciliate
the differences failed.
The strike means a serious handicap
to the Southern Pacific in its operations
and to thousands of shippers using it
10 transport goods to and from the
Pacific Coast via the Southern Pacific
route. 1t is feared that unless an i'm
mediate settlement of the difficulty is
reached, the Union Pacific and Oregon
Short Line. which are under the same
control as the Southern Pacific, will be
embarrassed by a sympathetic strike
on the part of the fremen employed
by those systems.
HOUSTON. Dec. 25-Pending the ar
rival Of Commissioner Of Labor c. E.
Neill, who is en- route from Washing
from Chairman Knapp of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, to offer
his friendly services in reaching a set
tlement between the Southern Pacific
and its striking locomotive hremen and
engineer members of the Firemen's
Brotherhood. there have been no
changes in the strike situation today
Neill is expected to reach here Thurs
day. when he viii offer his services
10 the contending parties.
Vice President Thornwen authorized
the following statement to the Asso-
ciated Press in connection with the
strike:
large percentage of the fremen
belonging TO the brotherhood discon-
tinued work at o'clock Sunday after
noon. Since the strike occurred we
have moved absolutely every passenger
train on our lines. a number of them
practically made their scheduled time
TAKES OPTIMISTIC VIEW
Anticipating the possibility of add
ing to the congestion, which is general
on all the lines in this section at this
time, we gave notice to connecting
lines in this section that temporarily
we would discontinue receiving freight
from them in carload lots and also dis
continued the receipt OF livestock and
perishable freight on our lines We
have, however, been moving a large
percentage of our freight trains, CIV
ing preference to the movement of local
freight, so as to minimize the incon-
venience to local communities. The
situation is exceedingly favorable and
hourly growing better.
The trouble was caused entirely by
the feeling and controversy between
the two organizations running loco
motives. and no questions of wages,
hours or any other grievance are the
issue.
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 25.-Many of
the men who took the places Of the
striking fremen on the San Antonio
division Of the Southern Pacific system
have been induced by the strikers to
stop work, and their places are being
filed with imported men. It is under
stood here tonight that the Brother
hood Of Firemen is contemplating call
ing out all union hremen on the Harri-
man lines
The local Southern Pacific officials
say they are moving all the trains.
passenger and freight, they desire to
on this division.