New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-25
Whether Called "Mediation" or
"Arbitration," He Adds, All
Are Working for Peace.
JOINED BY JUDGE KNAPP
Little Progress So Far in Settling
the Dispute with Fngineers-
Freight Rate Question In
jected Into Discussion.

enceS on the threatened strike or lle
railroad engineers of the Eastern terri
tory Yesterday at the Hotel Manhattan.
He spent the day in going over the
questions at issue with a sub-commlt-
tee of the conference committee of man.
ayers. which is the official designation
of the railroad company representa-
tives. Judge Martin l.. Knapp, VINO
will be the other government official IN
terested. arrived from Washington last
night
At the end Of the days work Com
missioner Neill, speaking for himself
and Judge Knapp, said that the first
conference with the managers would be
continued to-day, and that he and Judge
knapp would not be ready TO begin
their conference with the engineers until
o'clock this afternoon, If then.
II was understood from the openly
EXPRESSED attiture of the railroad man
ayers that little progress was made yes
terday. 1t was said that the railroad
managers wanted to discuss freight
rates. holding that to grant the pay IN
crease demanded by the engineers they
would have TO he allowed TO raise
freight rates.
Commissioner Neill was apprised of
the fact that certain representatives OF
the railroads have been quietly putting
forth the story that the railroads had
not entered into mediation" with the
government officials and the engineers,
but were simply comforting" and that
further it was the plan of the railroads
to delay matters as long as possible by
comforting" and then demand a spe-
cial arbitration by a special commission
Of something like nine or ten members.
Il don't care what you call It, the
Commissioner replied. whether media
ton or arbitration. but we are all
working for settlement of the trouble
Sure Railroads Are Sincere.
The Commissioner asserted that both
he and Judge Knapp were perfectly sat
isfed that the railroad managers sub
committee was sincere in its acceptance
of the offer of peacemaking.
We are satisfied that both parties are
sincere" he said. We are not quib-
bling over words. They are engaged in
a sincere effort TO settle their differences
and we haven't time 10 bubble about
what it shall be called"
AS to the special commission of nine,
the story of which was first advanced by
a railroad man who wanted his name
kept out Of it. the Commissioner said
that nothing like that had been men
toned 10 him by any one.
II think l know who that man is
said Mr.. NELL. he wasn't here to-day.
was he?"
No he was not" was the reply.
Well" Mr.. Neil answered, disposing
of IT with a wave of his hands, and leav-
ing the inference that the railroad man
was not authorized to talk.
The report that The railroads actually
want such a special commission would
not down, however Grand Chief War
rem S. Stone of the Brotherhood of Lo-
comotivc Engineers. who waited at his
headquarters in the Broadway Central
Hotel for the call to take the engineers
committee before Commissioner Neill.
had heard it and from such sources that
he believed there was some truth in it.
Stone had also heard the rumors that
politics was beginning to mix into the
situation" as he described it, but he
took no stock in them.
NeiIl Did Not See Taft.
In answer to a direct question Mr.. Nell
said that he had not seen or talked with
President Taft about the threatened
strike. He said in response to further
questions that he and Judge Knapp were
acting in their capacity as government
officials. although not strictly under the
Erdman act.
we never offered our services in
labor dispute before" Mr.. NELL admit
tod. but in this case it was a PROPOSE
ton of anything to keep the peace. In
similar matters before we have always
been asked to intervene. This situation
was so serious that we stepped in. We
did nothing until both sides broke off
negotiations and the matter became so
serious, and so big with such possible
ties for tremendous and terrible effect
on n great section of the country that
we established precedent by offering
our services"
MIR. stone SdlO lidl, lHOu6H II was
generally understood that the railroads
wanted some kind of special commits
sion to arbitrate, his organization would
be content to stand by the provisions Of
the Erdman act, which provides a COM
mission of three. one from each party
interested, these two TO choose the third
In the event that they cannot agree on
the third man, the act provides that
Commissioner Neil and Judge Knapp
shall name the third member.
The engineers chief also had noted
the fact that the letter of the railroad
managers to Commissioner NELL and
Judge Knapp had carefully avoided
using the word mediation"
I'm not quibbing," said Mr.. Stone.
neither are the engineers. All we want
is results with fair play and square
deal"
Sub Committee of the Roads.
The railroad managers sub-commit-
tee which went into conference with
Commissioner NELL yesterday was com
posed OF j. C. Stuart, vice-president OF
the Erie chairman A. II. Smith. of the
New York Central; G.. l.. Peck. of the
PENNSYLVANIA; B. A. Worthington. of the
Wheeling G. Lake Erie, and II. j. Horn
Of the New Haven.
Late in the afternoon some of Chief