New-York tribune., 1908-12-05
PR. R. STRIKE AVERTED
CONTROVERSY SETTLED
By MEDI4TION BOARD.
Agreement Bet7reen Railroad Com
pdny and Brotherhood of Loco
mOtire Engineers Reached.

Washington Dee 4-The threatened strike or
locomotive engineers on tlle Pennsylvania Rail-
road lines west Of Pittsburs has been averted
through the efforts Of the National Board or
Mediation. composed OF Martin A Knapp, chair
man OF the Interstate Commerce Commission.
and Charles P Nein. Commissioner OF Labor
An agreement suggested by the Board Of Medi-
alton was accepted tonight by G. L. Peck
general manager OF the Pennsylvania lines and
the board OF adjustment Of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers.
When the controversy submitted 10 the
Boa Td Of Mediation the situation was serious
The engineers on the Pennsylvania lines west
Of Pittsburg had voted TO strike unless they
could obtain what they considered q proper re
dress OF theiT grieH ances. Through the effosls
Of Nj Knapp and Mr.. Neill the parties 10 the
controversy were brought together In the pre-
lminarv conferences it appeared unlikely that
an agreement could be reached, because the
controversy involved principles IN the policy OF
the management Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
frcm which the officials did not see their va!
clear 10 recede. After careful consideration or
the statements of the engineers ana the rail-
road officials M knapp and Nj. Neill proposed
q plan Of adjustment which eventually proved
te ne satisfactory 10 sooih sides
Al = conference late to-day with General
Manager Peck. Grand Chief Warren 5 Stone
ans Assistant Grand Chief Charles Burgess Of
the brotherhood and the board OF adjustment
Mr.. KnsPp and Nj Neil submitted a plan OF
agreement. 1t was accepted by both sides. and
the acceptance vas made binding by an eN-
change in writing
After the conference Mr.. Knapp and MI Nelh
ISSUED = statement em5.odydng the agreement be-
tween the Pennsylvania Railroad and the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
This statement recites that the general man
aser refused TO entertain certain requests made
lsz tae general committee Of the engineers, on
the ground that the requests had not been
passed upon by his sJbo -1nates required by
p rule Of the lines involved. 1t adds that the
representatives. Of the engineers assert that the
requests were presented TO ahe division and gen
eraI superiEtendents. and investigation has
shown that some Of the reC1Uests were presented
TO the division SIperinte nGcnt in December.
1907. v-file others were not II then continues;
conceded bv beth sides. recommend that the
committee eliminate from their petition TO the
general manager such rNquesas as nave & nvt Peen
submitted To the oITislon 'SlperlnteI'denus IN
accordance with the rUe. and that if desired
they be taken I'D in regular course with these
subordinate officers.
The statement then declares that II the appeal
taken on the renal i1ing requests in 1900 was
abandoned. OF If conditions have changed as
70 warrant such action. the general manager
would he justified in requiring that the requests
be again presented 10 the division supeTin-
tendents. II recommends that the general man
sger waive all question regarding the appeal and
take up for settlement the matters which have
beer PASSED on by his subnrdiHetes.
1t is further recommended that in order To
avoid future cnTnplica tiors and friction a rea-
soma bic time he fixed within which an appeal to
the general manager may be taken and . sim
liar limit within phich subordinate officers shall
pass o. requests submitted TO them.