The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-24
AN ARM|ST|CE
STOPS TROUBLE
President Bancroft Is Willing
to Submit Wage Question
to Arbitration.
C. 0. PRATT FOR EMPLOYEES
WOULD GO STILL GURTHER
Letters Are Exchanged Between
the Two Men; Status
of Controversy.

Whit might betermed an arbitration
in the controversy between the street
car mon and the Utah Light & Rail
way company was established Tuesday.
There were no developments of any
Importance, matter being somewhat de-
layed by an exchange of communica-
tions between W. II. Bancroft, pres
ident of the Utah Light & Railway
company and C. o, Pratt, chairman of
the international executive board.
The situation as it now stands is that
President Bancroft offers to submit to
arbitration the wage question. Chair
man Pratt, on the other hand, states
that the employees stand ready to sub
NIT all the questions TO arbitration
This means the wage question and the
question Of n working agreement, and
of the establishment Of board un-
der which that agreement can be car
ried out or to which future differences
shall be referred, thus preventing
recurrence of the present crisis.
In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Ban.
croft stated that he was willing and
cuss the situation. He wished to deal
with the employees only, ss it was with
them that his negotiations dealt. He
was desirious of referring the quesetion
of wages TO arbitration, he said and
when asked with regard to the other
matters in dispute he replied that they
had not yet arisen. When asked with
regard to conference with Mr. Pratt,
President Bancroft said he did not
know him j nthe negotiations at all,
that his dealings had been with the
employees. When ii was stadte that if
the men had delegated Mr.. Pratt as
their representative, would there, uu-
der those circumstances, be a confer
eDce between the two. Mr.. Bancroft
replied: THAT is another question. y
Mr.. Pratt's Position.
When a reporter called at Room So,
Kenyon hotel he found Mr. Pratt in
conference with the committee. n q said
he was waiting reply from Mr.. Ban
croft to communication which he had
sent him IN answer to the letter of
Monday. When asked what develop
ment had taken place in the situation
Chairman Pratt said there really were
none; they simply awaiting reply
from Mr. Bancroft, the tenire of which
might produce developments. He said
he set forth in his letter to President
Bancroft that they would wait rea-
sonable time for = reply before taking
further action IN the matter, and they
were waiting.
When Mr.. Pratt was asked what the
attitude of the men was with reference
to the arbitration proposal, he dictated
10 The Tribune representative the fol-
lowing statement:
1--WE stand ready TO meet the com.
pany upon any honorable basis of arhi-
trstlon and vii submit all grievances
Tor admd,cation. We favor arbitra-
hali
ceptable 10 both the company and the
men and If we could meet in mutual
conference many If not all of the ex-
lstIng differences would be wiped out
II that is impossible there can only be
one plan of arbitration, and that would
he one embodying all differences exist
ing between the parties 10 insure per
manent peace. We stand ready to ca.
operate TO that end: anything less than
that would be worse than useless ;,
Mr.. Bancroft's
Following is The reply made by Mr.
Bancroft to the letter which Mr. Pratt
sent to him on Monday morning.
have your letter Of this date and
note IFS contents. At about the time Of
its receipt; was advised by General
Manager Wells Of the Utah ii. Inf ara
Railway company that a ,ommtite, nf
employees had called upon hin mis-
lnorInne and that he haA had an inter
1as,N
that the matter OF differences in re"
gard 10 wages had not been Satisfactorily
adjusted 10 them. He suggested lbc
Willingness Of tho compnnv in vuh,,,it
that question TO three arbitrators and ns
] understand from him. he Suggested maj
II would be agreeable 10 the company Tor
,he employees to name one arbitrator
the company 10 name one ana tie two
10 select third arbitrator or up,r,i,o
and to such committee submit the n,asl
ti0n Of scale ol wages for their deter.
mination.
| approve this suggestion. and / suh-
NIT that this pronosiron is one entirely
ialr and ought TO be acceptable 10 The
employees. our business Is with the en-
ployees. and feeling that this proposiiin
Is one mat should be acceptable To them.
! conceive that II Will also he entirely
pressing as you do by your letter. a per-
sonal interest I'm their welfare.
npe pehdi9g ihI me action Of the employees
should take no further action.
Pratt Explains the Ballot.
Replying TO the letter lust ouoted
Mr. Pratt wrote as follows
Salt Lake city. Utah, April %.
Mr.; ". II. Bancroft Deseret News
Dear sir:-Your communication of
in the day TO permit of an earlier renlv
j have carefully noted all YOU saw and as
IT is the first official knowledge that |
10 adjust The present differences through
board OF arhiters, ] am authorized 6y
your employees TO say that we are will,
ing 10 consider a plan OF arbitration not
only Of the wage scale. but Of the entire
matter OF differences between the com
pany and its employees. and We are ready
the purpose of drafting and signing the
necessary bill Of particulars embodying
the questions involved In dispute that
shall be the specific questions for a board
OF arbitration 10 pass upon