Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-04-23
WILL ARBITRATE
WAGE QUESTION
Government Offers Media.
ton and Engineers Ac-
cept Willingly
OWNERS EXPECTED TO AGREE
Definate Announcement Is Not
Expected Until Late
This Afternoon.

(By Special Leased Wire to New Mexican
New York, April 23.-The offer o
mediation from Charles P. Neill Unit
ed States labor commissioner, ant
Judge Martin A. Knapp, of the United
States Commerce Court which was ac
cepted by the Brotherhood of LocOmo
tive Engineers last night just aftel
they had declared for a strike as the
next move in their campaign for in
creased wages, came formally before
the conference committee of railway
managers today. That the eleventh
hour proffer OF mediation by officials
of the United States government will
also be accepted by the railroads was
the general belief this morning.
Judge Knapp and are only acting
as mediators," said Commissioner
Neill, "and if as such we obtain an
acceptance of the proposition Of arbi
tratiOn, then it would be for the rail
roads and the engineers to select one
arbitrator each, those two to select
the third
Engineers Are Delighted.
The engineers appeared to be de
lighted with the offer of mediation
declaring that their position with re-
spect to increased wages was per
fectly sound and if the question was
put up for arbitration they were
bound to obtain some concessions.
254,o0o Affected BY Strike.
The demands for increased wages
were made by the engineers on fifty
railroads east of Chicago and north of
the Potomac river, and Grand Chief
Stone said that a strike order would
affect $4,000 engineers In turn, the
engineers strike would throw 100000
hremen, trainmen, conductors and
other railroad employees out of work.
Railroads Expected to Accept Media
ton.
J. c. Stuart, chairman of the con
ference committee of railroads, has
called meeting of the conference
committee for this morning to consid
er the mediation offer Whether the
railroads would accept the offer Of
Messrs. Neill and Knapp to act as me
diators in the wage contrOversy
with the engineers was not discussed
at this mornings session of the con
fRrGnRp hn Joj1 no, TlS
which met today. Definite announce
ment of the railroads attitude was ex
pected to be made at the conclusion
of the conference probably late this
afternoon.
The engineers remained in session
awaiting the outcome of the railroad
managers deliberations. Several Off
cals said there was reason to believe
the offer of Messrs. Neill and Knapp
would be accepted by the railroads.
New York, April 23.-In his letteI
to Messrs. Neill and Knox made public
today, Chairman Stone says: I'VE ac
cept your offer of mediation with the
understanding that any settlemen
reached shall be effective this date ant
that both sides will faithfully ant
honestly regard this delay as an arm
istice and not employ the delay fo
the purpose of securing a tactical ad
vantage"
A meeting of 8 railroad presidents
to discuss the situation is expected tt
hn held here this afternoon. The pres
idents may advise with the confer
ence committee as they yesterday did
although the latter has been veste et
with full power to act for the rail
rcads.
Mr. Stone said he had large faith il
Judge Knapp to bring about a settle
trent. The latter, he said, had neve
Yet failed to settle any labor contro
versy in which he had appeared a.
mediator.
New York, April 23.-Word reached
Mr. Neill shortly after the adjourn
ment of the conference that the rail
roads had accepted the offer of medi
alton. He had not been advised, how
ever, of the official reply.