Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-24
Prospects for Federal Arbitra-
ton of Dispute of Locomotive
Drivers and Railroads Appear
Hopeful,
BROTHERHOOD ANXIOUS
FOR AN ADJUSTMENT
Pending Definite Agreement to
Hold Conference, Warning
Sides Must Respect Rules
Governing ArmiStice.

| IBy Morning Journal snerIni Leased wire.I
New York, April 23.-Mediatlon Of
the differences between the Brother
/ hood Of Locomotive Engineers and
the eastern railways, which have
/ threatened u strike OF fifty lines east
| of Chicago and north of the Potomac.
! Is expected to result from the action
of the conference committee of rail-
| way managers today In agreeing TO
confer with Charles =. Neill United
states labor commissioner, and Mar
| tin j. Knanp, Judge of the United
States commerce court.
! While the answer Of the railroads
To the letter of .Messrs. Neill and
Knapp did not definitely accept medi
alton, the opinion was expressed by the
engineers that in the end this would
be the result
Commissioners Neil In nm Interview
given after he had received the rail-
| roads answer. indicated that he con-
T. sidered that mediation was intended.
| Tonight In all quarters the opinion
was expressed that the possibility of
! strike is remote.
on a series of conferences beginning
tomorrow probably will depend either
| the definite settlement of the dispute
| or the arrangement of plan of arbi-
/ tration
MI ~eif arnopneea ,t,n. ~ would
confer with the railroad managers to-
morrow morning and II possible
would meet the engineers later In the
day. The decision OF the railway man
ayers To confer with Messrs. Knapp
and Neill was reached after an all-day
conference, The presidents of several
railways We're in conference today and
II is understood they approved OF the
letter sent to the government repre-
sentativcs The letter OF the railways
follows;
"Hon. Martin A. Knapp, presiding
judge United StateS commerce court.
MIR. Charles l.. Nell. United States
commissioner of labor.
Gentlemen Your letter of April
22nd has been received In which YOU
advise that negotiations between the
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and the executive committee OF the
managers of eastern railroads have
been definitely broken off and that
threatens most serious consequences
to the public.
In the emergency you are impelled
by sense Of duty to tender your
friendly offices to the contending par
ties In the hope that some means may
be found to adjust the matters in dis
pute without the calamity of a general
strike.
"Thoroughly appreciating the value
of your good offices and in the hope
that some means OF reaching a settle
ment can be devised that VIII spare
the public the grave consequences that
might follow the severance OF rela-
tions. We will be glad TO meet YOU In
(Signed) "The Conference Commit
tee of Managers. BY j. C. stuart.
chairman"
ON receipt Of this letter Mr.. Nelll
said he would confer with the railway
while Judge Knapp would
confer with the engineers.
They will meet later to compare
notes. In this way he pointed out the
of each side will he pro-
ected by secrecy from the other while
giving the government representatives
! basis upon which To- work.
on behalf Of the railroads II was
ratad that their consent 10 confer
With the government representatives
lid not mean that they had agreed 20
Tho position of the rail-
oads. II was stated. is that they will
ionr what Mir. Neill has TO offer. but
I his proposals are not satisfactory
nc railroads are free to refuse them.
n this event affairs would return to
heir former stntus-tho refusal OF the
ailroads to grant the demands Of the
nglneers.
Despite this railroad view however.
he oplnion was expressed generally
hat the negotiations will result IN
FILTRATION. In this event Il was stat
4 tho provisions Of the Erdman law.
hich call for three arhitrators. win
q ignored and q board OF five. and
orhaps seven. named.
From the attitude of the engineers
appears that they would welcome
FILTRATION. Two points upon whcih
ley will Insist were made In the let-
II sent by Grand chief Stone OF n
To Commissioner Nell
lccp;ing the offer Of mediation. one
that settlement shah De effected
ON today and the other Il thai any
.lay due to future nexo1ietlnn9 shalt
u he utiIibed by e((11< - ~
IN a technical e0vou<1H<
In exp'snesloH q 1@<'r