New-York tribune., 1907-06-19
l.. I. X. II. STRIKE UNLIKELY
Men and Company, Officials Sag,
U'W Probably 4gree TODAY.

Superintendent McCree of the Long Island Rail-
road Company and Valentine Fitzpatrick third
vice president of the Brotherhood of railroad
TraInmen. and committee representing the train
men Of the Long Island Railroad. spent most OF
Yesterday trying 10 adjust matters TO satisfy the
demands Of the men and at the same time. as
railway official put IT, the road from practical
DankruptIy The negotiations ended at $50 p m
without definite result and will be resumed AT 10
O'Clock this morning. It is expected that agree
ment will be reached that will avert strike.
Chairman Hoyt of the trainmen's committee said
last night. after circulating among hts men, that II
seemed almost certain that all danger of a strike
was past. and that an agreement would be made
to-day which would be satisfactory to both the men
ana the road
The report yesterday that the men had given the
company until noon to accept their demands
found untrue. The negotia lions between the COM
Tauy and ts employees actually began last March
bat at no time before had the differences been so
serious as to threaten a strike In fact. the men
were willing 10 wait FOR final answer until July /
Mr. Fitzpatrick appeared IN the negotiations for
the first tie last Thursday. and Yesterday he was
highly indignant the report that the men had
fixed time for tying up the system. The demands
originally were for a change from the svstern Of
paying by the day 70 a mileage rate The men
wanted originally 90 Is for lis miles travel which
would make rate OF about one and eight-tenths
cents mile.
Mr. McCrea said Yesterday that Mr. Fitzuatrick
considered the original demands OF the tranmen
excessive and unfair and he made modified
proposition. which VAS to have been finally decided
yesterday. When the committee called up Super
intend"nt McCrea he met their proposition with a
counter one. based upon a combination DAY and
mileage rate This proposition was discussed in
private for short time. and the committee de
parted to consult with the trainmcn. They re-
turned late In the afternoon for another conference
and 1t was said at the end or that session that the
matter was put over FOR nna adjustment until this
morning.
Mr. Fitzpatrick said after the conference that
the negotiations had been pleasant and he felt a
settlement would be reached to-day. He had no
thought OF strike but the same time ne said
he prophet
The general superintendent was equally conf
dent OF 4 favorable outcome OF the negotiations
no rlpp Ia lie
proposition with a few unimportant changes
Railroad officials admitted yesterday that the
trainmen could tie up the railroad n thev 90 de-
sired. but said that they fully prepared to
run trains in case of trouble. Some OF the men
were confident that tic-up would win their de
mands in short order. but others counselled can
ton, for they realized that the powerful Pennsyl-
Vania Railroad was back Of the Long Island com
blow to he successful.
tn" summer train schedule goes into effect on
thursday next, ana It Will increase the number OF
trains operated daily from about eight hundred 20
over one thousand. The company has greatly aug
m"nted It's working force to meet the Increase and
u IS heHeved that the new would side with
me old employees The tranmen say the company
mas made canvass among its clerks and en-
pIoYes I'm the express service and other branches
I" see how many would be willing 10 work on
emergency trains. and only enough consented to
assure tn" operation of thirty-seven trains n day
the entire system
superintendent McCrea explained the company's
position fully. He said that last year II was neces-
sary 10 borrow $50 to pay the interest on bonds
and that until the earnings Increased sufficiently
10 meet the fixed charges the company did not
tcei that II could make increases i'm It's payroll
so informed the trainmen when they first waited
upon him. He was In Europe with his father, who
IS president OF the Pennsylvania Railroad. when
the men made their first demand. in March and
the matter held over until Mr. McCreas return.
lie took II up on June |. He said that the COM
pany might we'll go out Of business as TO ac-
cede to the original demands