New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-26
RAILROADS DON'T RECEDE
Mr.. Stuart Says They Can't At
ford More Pay to Engineers.
SETTLEMENT HOPED FOR
Engineers Expect Results from
Efforts of Judge Knapp and
Commissioner Neill.

l. {. stuart. chairman Of the conference
committee of managers and spokesman Tor
The railroads In the present dispute with
the brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
said Yesterday after coming out froih the
managers conference with Judge Knapp
and Commissioner Neill that the railroads
TAD not receded from their previous posi-
Hon that they could not aford 20 grant
more pay 10 the engineers.
His nat and apparently authoritative
statement OF :h&t point lent strength 70
tho minors that grew stronger throughout
The afternoon to the effect that the big
strike Of the engineers was merely post
poned rather than averted. set these rN~
nIors lacked other veritcauon.
Warren $ stone, chief OF the engineers
organization. led his committee OF NIFTY 10
,he Hotel Manhattan yesterday afternoon
for their side Of the conference with JudSe
Knapp and Commits sioncr NELL, who had
finished with the managers at the morning
session.
AZ the end OF the day Commissioners NELL
,peaking for himself and Judge Knapp
srnilircly married every question that might
IN ANY nav shed light on the progress OF
,he attempted settlement Of the threatened
strike. Mr.. Stuart's frank admission that
rhe railroads had not budged an men Oh
.be salary increase demand OF the engi-
ne.rs was supplemented by the corrioor
gossip, fostercd by representatives. or 'he
railroads. that the managers had put IN
their time with the government medlators
IN putting up their contention tnat IN
creased freight rates were q necessary pre-
i,Ininary 10 any wage increases.
II vas said also that the managers hao
spent some time in trying to convince
Judge Knapp and Commissioner Neil 'nal
,,eps should be taken Immediately 10 put
tho engineers and other labor unions IN
some sort Of corporate shape so they coulo
Ia held liable Il they injured the PUBIC
welfare.
Hanroad men lot directly concerned in
TIE negotiations now proceeding before the
Two government mediators said Yesterday
,ha, the real question now at issue vas
rot oye Of increa sed nay for engineers, but
the broader proposition of putting the en-
sinears Il, position where they could not
,,reator tho welfare Of q large section OF
the country.
IF the engineers do not accept some
,ucb broad arbitration proposition said
one Of tho railroad men. they might IN
due time call strike. but that would leao
20 such an upheayal Of commerce and such
actual danger TO the public health that
martial law would become an absolute
necessity throughout great section Of the
country"
Chief Stone brushed aside all these dire
forecasts with one sweep Of his hand He
said the engineers were not concerned az
ali with the question Of whether this or
that railroad had been sufficiently well
managed 70 permit II 20 pay standard
wage 20 its engineers
We want a standard wage for engineers
throughout this Eastern territory, and that
- all we are talking about" he said. 80
FAR as this talk Of holding US liable for any
hing we do, would only say that the
Brotherhood has never broken one q its
contracts yet, and is not going 10 begin
now"
Mr. Stone said the engineers spent their
conference time yesterday afternoon going
over the varying conditions on the nifty
different railroads in the Eastern territory
that are concerned in this dispute The
engineers will meet the government medi-
stors again to-day.
organizing the PETERBOROUGH motormen, Mr..
Stone said h had been too busy with the
present railroad dispute to give much at
tantion 20 the marlborough affair lately.
lie said the work Of organization was pro-
cae1jng. however, and when II was com
.DIeted the men would be in position 70
ask for what they wanted. That Was some
thing 20 lie looked after when the linn"
cane however nc said. and nothing d"h-
te wa going forward now in that quar-
tsr except organization.
frank Hedley vice president and general
manager Of the InterhOrOugh Rapid Tran
-; Company, said yesterday that the re-
'nswing OF the talk of organizing the en-
.uioyeS Of the company preparatory Ia max
rQ demands 20 he enforced by a strike did
r,t cause him any uneasiness No strike
vas feared, in spite Of anything Nh Stou"
might say - the contrary, and the men dli
not want to join the union. Mr.. stone h'
ysid could not get the employees OF the
Peterborough company 10 strike if he tried
for tho rest 81 his life
The men are loyal and well paid, he
continued. There arc no better paid men
T., their class of work in the United States.
suppose stone il interested only in tho
motcruen. He says understand. that the
belonging to the union. can point 20 Tho
strike Of 1907, which was lost. IN reply to
this
After il vas over many OF the motor
mon who were IN the brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers came back and Were
AFRAID that they would have to leave the
brotherhood. but We made no objection IL
them remaining in ii. But "" VIII not
stand for agitators or trouble makers ana
We will always discharge them in Short
order
Although nothing official has con-" ont
OF The attempt at mediation in thc enei-
neers' dispute with the railroads. the i'm
preston seemed to De growing that the
possibility Of a strike was growing more
remote daily. The engineers admit that
the arguments put forth in inspired inter
,ievs by the railroad men are not worded
as II there was any spirit Of compromise
or concession in the air, but they believe
that Judge Knapp and Commissioner Nell
will bring about "A settlement that Will
satisfy both parties.