The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-04-23
Government Officials Mediation
Likely to Be Accepted
BY RAILROAD MANAGERS
The Eleventh Hour Offer Was Already
Accepted by the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers After They
Had Threatened to Strike.

New York. April 23.---The Offer of
mediation from Charles P. Neil, United
States commissioner Of labor, and Judge
Martin A Knapp, which was accepted
by the brotherhood of locomotive en-
Qneers just after they had declared Tor
a strike as the next move in the cam
paign for increased wages, came formal
| ly before the conference committee OF
railway managers to-day. That the
eleventh hour proffer of mediation by
the officials of the government will also
be accepted by the railroad IS the gem
eral belief here.
knowing that the situation had
reached critical stage, Judge Knapp
and Commissioner Neill hurried to this
city from Washington and as soon as
the decisive break between the engineers
and railroads occurred, they addressed
letter to both Chief Stone and to
IL. c. Stuart. chairman of the confer
erce committee Of railroad managers,
declaring that the sense OF duty inn
pelled them to tender their friendly
offices" to the contending parties in the
hope that some means may be found
to adjust the matters in dispute with
ont tie calamity of a general strike.
Although Chief Stone had few min
utes before declared that his 40 asso-
ciates on the engineers committee would
proceed to their headquarters to prepare
for a strike within 30 hours, he was
impressed with the letter OF Messrs.
Knapp and Neill to the extent that he
amended the order, declaring that the
committee would remain to consider the
situation He declared that he would
place the proposition before the en-
oineers' committee with recommendation
that il be accepted. For this purpose
he Immediately called the committee to-
gether for an executive session. The
committee voted to accept the proposal
of Messrs. Knapp and Neill for media
tion.
Chairman Stuart of the railroad COM
mittee received an identical letter from
Messrs. Knapp and Neill at the same
time. but would not comment on what
position the railroads would take as to
the tender OF mediation. He immedi-
ateIy ordered a meeting OF the COM
mittee, however, TO consider the pro-
posal
Two Vermont Roads Not Affected.
The list includes practically all but
three of the railroads in the territory
roughly described as east Of Chicago and
north of the Potomac river. The three
exceptions are the Central railroad of
New Jersey. whose contract with the
engineers does not expire until June ],
and the Central Vermont and Rutland
railroads, both OF which are in Vermont
and which have a separate agreement
with the men employed so that the re-
suit will be their taking up the wage
question directly with the men.
The engineers demands for increased
paw were made upon all the railroads
concerned January p and committee
of general managers OF the railroads
was appointed to confer in New York
with Chief Stone and board Of so
other officers OF the brotherhood of loco
motive engineers. At the first conference
in March. the railroad committee an
nounced that the demands if granted
would add to their pay roll S7553,0OO
year, or an increase of 1853 per cent.
Progress of Negotiations.
Ten days later the railroads formally
rejected the demands, declaring that
granting the increase would be tanta
amount to placing lien OF SlSS,S44,O00
on the properties which would have pref
erenee over the first mortgage bonds
and lessen the ability of the roads
to make additional improvements. 1t
was also stated that the railroads were
not making sufficient net earnings to
warrant the increase; and that the in
crease. if granted, would be followed by
demands of other employees which would
result in actual bankruptcy to some
of the railroads.
On March 20. Mr. Stone and his lieu
tenants voted to order the members of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
to ballot on the situation the question
being definitely put whether they would
authorize a strike if further negotiations
with the railroad should fail The re-
suit of the vote as announced on April
II was declared to be Overwhelmingly
in favor of strike or by percent
age of 1913 of the 25.700 votes cast.
J. c. Stuart, chairman of the manag-
ers' conference committee, was notified
OF the strike vote and a second joint
conference was held here on April IL
but came to determined deadlock. The
engineers agreed to wait until the night
of April is for further word from the
railroads.
When that time came Mr.. Stuart re-
quested an armistice for As. hours so
that the members of the committee
could be rounded up. and the armistice
was granted Ii expired Sunday night,
but Mr. Stone agreed to continue il un-
til yesterday afternoon.
The Refusal of Railroads.
After a dey spent in discussion Of the
situation. the committee of railway man
ayers sent the following reply TO Mr..
Stone:
I'm reply to your favor of the 10th
instant. the managers IN conference to-
day, and with the approval OF the Presi-
dents, beg to state;
They have carefully reconsidered the
whole subject at issue, and regret they
see no way of modifying the conclusions
previously announced.
Nearly an hour before the formal re-
ceipt Of this letter. Mr.. Stone, appar-
entlv with knowledge that the railroads
were in the act OF making another re-
fusal. declared that a strike would be
called in 80 hours. He barely made
this announcement when he received the
letter from Messrs Knapp and Neill.
NJ G.. h. fnll,~r-