Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-23
ludge Martin A, Knapp and
Commissioner Of Labor
Charles ], NeiII Offer Their
Good offices.
FEDERAL MEDIATION OF
DISPUTE NOT UNLIKELY
REPRESENTATIVE Of General
Managers Of Railways In
voIved Takes Matter Under
Consideration,

IBv Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.l
New York, April 22.--The tender
Of the friendly offices of representa-
tiyes of the federal government, cali
cd temporary halt tonight to strike
of railroad engineers in the territory
east Of Chicago and north of the Po-
tomac river, in which it is estimated
fiftv per cent of the railway tfa1llc
of the entire country is handled.
The mediation of federal officials
came Immediately after the refusal of
the managers of fifty railroads to con
cede the engineers demands for an
eighteen per cent increase in wages,
when Chief Warren S. Stone, of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
had announced that in view of TINS
refusal a strike of engineers would go
into effect within thirty-siX hours.
Knowing the situation mad reached
critical stage, Martin A. Knapp pre-
siding Justice of the United states
commerce court, and Charles r.
Neill. commissioner Of labor, hurried
here from Washington and as soon as
the break occurred, they addressed =
letter both to Chief Stone and to j. {.
Stuart chairman of the conference
committee of railroad managers, de-
claring that grave situation had
arisen and that a sense of duty impell-
ed them to tender their friendly Oh
fees" in the hope that some means
may be found to adjust the matters
in dispute without the calamity or
general strike.
Although Chief stone few minutes
before had declared that his iorty
nine associates on the engineers com
mittee would proceed tonight to ther
headquarters to prepare for strike,
he was impressed with the letter OF
Messrs. Knapp and Neill to the eN-
tent that he amended the order anu
the committee later met ana Noleo
to accept the proposal of Messrs'
Knapp and Neill for mediation.
He said, mo organization is so
strong that it can fail to harken TO
an appeal from representatives Oh 'He
federal government"
Chairman stuart of the railroad
committee received an identical let
ter from Messrs. Knapp and Neiil'
but would not comment on what po-
sition the railroads would take as 10
the tender of mediation. lie 1mmeui-
ately ordered a meeting of the conf
mttee for tomorrow to consider the
proposal.
In this manner the crisis rested TO-
night, still regarded by many obser-
vers as critical, but by others as prom
Using some sort of adjustment
The railroads affected by the strike
include practically all but three oA
the railroads in the territory roughly
described as east of Chicago and nofth
Of the Potomac river.
The three exceptions are the Cen
tral Railroad of New Jersey, whose
contract with the engineers does not
expire until June /, and the Cehtr"l
Vermont & Rutland railroads, in YER
mont, which have n separate agree
ment.
The engineers demands for lncreas-
ed pay were made upon all the r'i'-
roads concerned on January zz' an"
committee OF general managers was
appointed to confer i'm New York WIZ"
Chief Stone and a board of officers
of the brotherhood of Locomotive I'm
siners. At the first conference III
March. the railroad companies an
nounced that advances. II gfahted'
would add to their payrolls St,sSS'oo"
a year, or an increase of lf-oS per
cent. Ten days later the raiiroaos
.mauv rejected the demands ue-
,aApa that granting the increase
would be a tantamount 10 plaeihS
lien Of S1Ss.s44.O0O on the propertles
which would have preference over t'o
fira mortgage bonds and lessen VI,
ability of the roads to make aadlli"'i-,
,nprovements and install acditl"i.''i
.seeuards. IL also was stated thai INV
,lroads were not making sufficleht
I earnings to warrant the ihcr
Id that the increase. II gtahte"
ouid he followed by demands oi
her employees which would result D"
tual bankruptcy to some T"aoS.
|, on March 2s. Mr. stone ana M
| utenants voted for strike n'lip''
. question being whether the enEi-
ers would authorize a strike u iuI-
er negotiations with the ral'ro''"S
suld fail. The result Of the vote AZ
pounced April 12. was overwheiin-
slv in favor Of a strike or hN q
Acentage OF ss.s of the 25.7oo votes
second joint conference held Ar1li
- came to a deadlock