The Sentinel=record., 1912-04-24

 ARBITRATE
BROTHERHOOD AND RAILWAY MANAGERS WILL MEET WITH
 FEDERAL OFFICERS.
While Not Definitely Determined 1t Is Believed That Mediation Win Be
 Result of the Conference Held.

New York, April 23-Mediation Of the difficulties between the Brother hood of Locomotive Engineers and the eastern railways. involving the threat, ened strike on 50 lines east of Chi 1 cago and north of the Potomac river is expected to result from the action of the conference committee of rail- way managers today in agreeing to confer with Charles P. Neill, United States labor commissioner, and Judge Martin K. Knapp of the United States commerce court. regarding the dis pute.
 | While the answer of the railroads to the letter of Messrs. Neill and Knapp did not definitely accept medl- alton, the opinion was expressed by the engineers that in the end this would be the result Mir. Neill in an interview given after he had received the railroads answer, also indicated that he considered mediation was in- tended
 Tonight in all quarters the opinion was expressed that the possibility of a strike, which yesterday appeared imminent, is Increasingly remote.
 On series of conferences begin rfno tonoorroxx, r,-ol,o hI,y ,pil1 danapd either the definite settlement of the dispute or the arrangement of plan of arbitration. Mir. Neill announced tonight he will confer with the rail- road managers tomorrow morning and If possible will meet the engineers later in the day Judge Knapp, ac- eording to word received from Wash ington tonight, wifi leave that city to- morrow to take part in the negotia- tions here.
 The decision of the railway man. agers to confer with Messrs Knapp and Neill was reached after a confer ence lasting practically all day. The presidents of several of the railways involved were also in conference here today and it is understood they ap- proved of the letter sent to the gov ernment representatives. The letter of the railways follows:
 Hon Martin A. knapp, presiding judge, United States commerce court.
 "Mr. Charles P. Neill, United States commissioner of labor
 Gentlemen: Your letter of April 22, has been received, in which you advise that negotiations between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the conference committee of man. agers of the eastern railways have been definitely broken off and that a grave situation has arisen which threatens most serious consequences to the public. In the emergency you are impelled by the sense of duty to tender your friendly offices to the contending parties that some means may be found to adjust the matters in dispute without the calamity of general strike.
 thoroughly appreciatng the value of your good offices, and in the hope that some means of reaching settle ment can be devised that will spare the public the grave consequences that might follow that severance of rela- tions, we will be glad to meet you in conference.
 "The Conference Committee of Man agers, by J. Stuart, Chairman"
 Immediately on receipt of this let ter, MT Neill announced his program for immediate action toward ending the trouble if possible. It is his in- tention to confer with the railway managers, while Judge Knapp will confer with the engineers.
 They will meet later to compare notes. In this way. he pointed out, the contentious of each side will be | protected by secrecy rom the Othei, while giving the government repre- sentatives basis on which to work for settlement.
 On behalf of the railroads, follow ing the giving out of their letter, it was stated the decision to confer with the government representatives did not mean that they had agreed to mediation. The position of the rail roads, some stated, is that they will hear what MT. Neill has to offer them, but in case his proposals are not sat isfactory, the railroads are free to refuse them In this event, affairs would return to their former status.