Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-01
Strike AVGrtGd
 By Arbitration
RAILROAD MANAGERS AND EN-
 GINEERS SIGN AGREEMENT.
A COMMITTEE OF SEVEN
Each Party to Controversy Will se- feet One, These Two to Name Other Five--ResuIt of a Compromise.

New York, April 80.-The threatened strike of engineers of the fifty rail- roads east of Chicago was averted to- night by the signing of an arbitra- tion agreement between the two com mittees representing the railroads and the engineers.
 Will Be Seven Arbitrators.
 The arbitration committee will con- sist of seven members, one from the railroads, one from the engineers and the other five to be appointed by the two. If the two fail to agree on the five umpires, Chief Justice White Commissioner of Labor Neill and Judge Knapp will be asked to make the appointments.
 Brought About by Federal Officials.
 The settlement was brought about by the efforts of Charles P. NeiH, U. s. commissioner of labor, and Judge Martin A. Knapp of the United States commerce court. They first offered their services as mediators on April P in the differences between the rail- roads and their engineers over the question of wages. An increase of from 15 to l 8per cent. was asked by the men. These officials failing to bring the parties to the dispute to- gether for a settlement on definite terms, took up the alternative of ar bitration.
 Result of Compromise.
 Their efforts in this direction proved successful tonight after lengthy con- ferences with both sides during the day and evening. The form which the ar bitration takes represents a cOmpro- misc The railroad officials originally asked for an arbttral board of thir- teen, while the engineers insisted upon three or at the most not more than five. The railroads then proposed a board of seven members. of whom one was to be selec@d by each side, these two to choose the other five. In case they failed to agree upon the other five the chief justice of the United States supreme court was to be asked to appoint them. This plan did not meet the approval of Chief Stone of the engineers, who proposed a board of five, the neutral members. in case of disagreement, to be appointed by the mediators.
 Must Be Named Within IS Days.
 Under tonight's final agreement, a compromise is reached by including both the chief justice and the medi- ators as electors of the neutral arbi- traitors if necessary.
 The seven men provided for by the arbitration agreement will take up all of the technical details embraced in the demands of the engineers for wage increases and the fixing of a standard scale on the half hundre deastern railroads involved. It is provided that the aTbitratOrs be named within IS days.
 Majority Decision Binding.
 A majority of the members of said board shall be competent to make a valid and binding decision or award and each of said parties hereby pledg- es itself to accept and abide by the decision or award made, according to it's terms and intent, for the period of one year from it's effective date and thereafter subject to the usual thirty days notice
 The board shall fix the date when it's decision or award shall take effect and may make the same retroactive if it shall seem just and proper.
 To Share the Expenses.
 The necessary expenses of the board, including the compensation and ex- penses of its members, stenographers' fees and other joint expenses shall be ul\luGu 6qudIly DGIW66H lle pHIll6S, and one-half thereof paid by each of them.
 Strike Settled" Says Stone.
 "The strike is settled" said Chief Stone after the conference. Tt saves the country from bad situation, and I am glad that the controversy is ad- iusted, not only on account of the en- ginners, but because the arbitation prevents the public from the annoyance that would have followed a strike"