New-York tribune., 1910-07-16
P. R. R. STRIKE ORDER
MAY Be ISSUED TODAY
Mems Demands Penalty for
Company's Liberality, Says
President MGCrea.
BOTH SIDES REMAIN FIRM
No Further Negotiations in Phil
adelphia, Although Situation
Is More Hopeful on
Lines West.

Philadelphia. July 15.-Nothins de-
veloped in the wage controversy be-
tween the conductors and trainmen on
/ burg and the officials of the company
to-day that would indicate that the
/ breach between the two parties is clos
/ ing. The general committee of the rail-
road men did not meet the officials of
the company. and nothing has passed
between them since negotiations were
broken of late yesterday afternoon.
Rumors in circulation all day that a
strike would be called some time to-
night were quieted by a. B. Garrettson.
president Of the Order OF Railway Con-
ductors. who ssid that strike would
not be called between tonight and 8
O'Clock tomorrow morning. He declared
that he did not mean that one would be
called at that hour. but fixed 8 o'clock
as the time up to which nothing would
happen because the trainmen's COM
mittee would not meet until after g.
m. when anything. he said, could hap
pen Mr.. Garrettson would not say that
strike would be called tomorrow, con-
tenting himself with the statement that
he did not know when a strike order
would be issued.
The general committee of the employees
held several meetings to-day behind
closed doors. and, as usual nothing was
given out as to what occurred. Ru-
mors that new proposition might be
made or that the committee may make
some other move gained circulation, but
could not be confirmed.
President Garrettson and President
Lee OF the Brotherhood of Trainnen
heard with interest the stand taken to-
day by the directors OF The Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, who passed a resolution
approving the course OF the officers Of
the corporation in the wage dispute.
The labor leaders declared that that was
no more than was expected, and added
that the fifteen thousand men in the en-
ploy Of the company had also approved
what their committees had done for
them.
President McCres's Statement.
President James McCrea. for the first
time since the present controversy be
gan. came out tonight in a signed state
ment giving the company's side Of the
/ controversy. II was addressed to the
| stockholders Of the company, its en-
/ ployes and the public. In it he said the
! demands of the men were unfair and a
penalty for former liberal treatment Of
/ its employees.
President Garrettson also gave out q
/ statement tonight in which he said
that all the men insist upon is that the
code of rules that obtains upon every
other railroad IN the country shall be
applied upon the Pennsylvania without
a reduction in the present rate of wages.
! President McCrea's statement says:
not less hours OF labor demanded by the
! conductors and tTaininsr, but, on the con-
trary What they DO demand IS more o. n money '
other railroads in this territory.
/ Calling attention to the awards made
I Crea says:
These awards have been accepted by all
} other lines in the Eastern territory and the
/ Irainmen state that the rates are considered
Z by them as standard and. while the COM
! peny has expressed 2 willingness 10 go to
other lines have in effect under these arbi-
/ tratiOn awards. il cannot concede the de-
mand which Is now made upon it that II
shall pay for ten hours Of work the same
! amount OF wages that Il now pays for
/ eleven or twelve hours of work.
IN other words. reduced to q mileage
/ basis. the contention of the men is that
/ 100 miles. or less, should constitute day,
I figuring ten miles 10 the hour. and that We
should pay, for instance. 44 cents a mile
/ to conductors IN through freight service.
on the other hand the trainmen and con
ductors on the award made TO them by
! Aessrs Morrissev and Clark New York
/ Central case). accepted mileage basis and
/ ten-hour day, at the rate Of 3sS cents g
mile for similar runs.
The companv feels that the demand OF
/ the employees is unfair, inasmuch as II can
NOT be considered other than penalty Tor
I former liberal treatment and that the pres
I ert higher rate of wages the employees are
! now being paid for similar service cannon
/ he further increased. it has, however. eE-
. pressed its willingness 70 make a reao-
[ i,-str,enr 70 conform to the ten-hour basis
! +hat viii not result IN an increase IN WhsI
/ il now paws on the trip basis