Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-19
BOTH SIDES SPAR
FOR TIME IN THE
RAILROAD STRIKE
Waiting to Ascertain Scope of
Arbitration Proceedings Be-
fore Another Move.
SECRETARY POST CAN'T
SERVE AS A MEDIATOR
Arbitrators Are Ready to Take
Up Work on Monday
Morning.

NEW YORK, July 19.-Both the
Eastern railroads and the unions pre-
pared to play waiting game today
in the matter of the scope of the arbi-
tration proceedings looking to the set
tlement of the wage dispute involv-
ing forty-five lines and nearly 100000
men.
l, The general committee of one hun
dred of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen and the Order of Railway
Conductors met to consider last
nights letter from the railroad man
ayers, in which they offered to leave
to the newly appointed Federal board
of mediation and Cancellation tho
question whether the roads griev-
ances shall be arbitrated along with
the mems demands for higher pay.
While the unions have insisted that
this proposal is not even debata-
ble'' and have instructed all men,
bers to hold themselves in readiness
for a strike. it is understood that
they will await the decision of the
mediators, although neither side has
agreed to abide by their findings.
1T is of imperative Importance
that the Senate confirm the media
ton board appointments at ~once,'
said Presidents Lee and Garretson of
the unions. Delay makes 1t only
harder for us to control the situation"
The position of the Erie which with
drew from the conference of man.
ayers early in the negotiations was
explained today by Vice-President j.
G. Stuart upon his return here from
Chicago.
"Our men know" he said, that we
are no longer represented in the con-
ference committee of managers and
that any grievance they may have
should be presented to the proper off,
cials of the road. l have not re-
ceived from our conductors or train
men any requests for increase in
wages or changes in working condi-
tions. When I do receive any such
requests they will be given the care
full and friendly consideration that we
have always given complaints from
the men employed on our lines"
WASHINGTON, July 19AWhen
the new Federal Board of Meditation
met today to organize and begin adj
justment of the wage dispute be-
tween the Eastern railroads and their
trainmen it was confronted by the
discovery that one of its members
Assistant Secretary Post, of the de-
partment of labor-was legally barred
from serving.
The Newlands law under which the
board was created provides that in
addition to the Federal commission
er, the members shall be officials of
the government who have been ap
pointed to their original offices with
the confirmation of the Senate. The
assistant secretary of labor does not
come under that classification.
President Wilson's attention was
called to the oversight early today
and word came from the White House
that while some one would be ap-
pointed in Mr.. Posts stead, the
situation did not embarrass the board
as the law provided that the Presi-
dent shall appoint in addition to
commissioner and an assistant mot
more than two" such officers. I'm
der that construction the appoint
ment of another member seems to be
optional with the President.
|. Commissioner William Lea Cham
bers, Assistant Commissioner Han
ger and Judge Martin A. Knapp,
the other members of the board re-
ceived urgent requests today from
the railroads and the trainmen to
begin work. 1t is believed that will
be done without waiting for the ap-
pointment of a member of the board
in Mr.. Posts place. Later it
was announced that Commissioner
Chambers, Assistant Commissioner
Hanger and Judge Knapp would go
to New York tomorrow and begin
their work with the trainment and
the railroads Monday morning.