New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-04
R. R. STRIKE VOTE SURE
Coming Conventions of Con-
duCtors and Trainmen to Decide.
LINES REFUSE ARBITRATION
Conference Under Erdman Act
Requested by 100000 Men
on 43 Railroads.


I'VE don't want a strike. but the atti-
tude Of the railroad managers makes it
look as ~ II was bound TO come. There
is no doubt the men will vote for strike
II they once go out on strike II will mean
an indefinite tie-up on the Eastern rail-
roads, and there Will be no going back
until tho demands for equitable wages are
granted. Even II the railroads should see
the light and want to arbitrate after the
men were called out II would be long
and difHcult undertaking TO get them 10
consider arbitration in view OF the fact
that the railroad managers natly turned
down our suggestion TO arbitrate under
the Erdman act"
That was the parting announcement OF
W. c. Lee, president Of the Brotherhood
OF Railroad Trainmen. who, with A t.
Garretson, president OF the Order of Rail-
way Conductors, left the city for the west
last night, following the failure or the
recent conferences with the committee OF
railroad managers TO reach solution OF
the wage controversy between the forty
three Eastern railroads and the lOovW
frainnen and conductors employed
Mr.. Lee went back 10 Cleveland. where
the headquarters Of the trainmen's broth
erhood are located. He VIII go 10 san
Francisco 10 preside at the biennial con-
vention of the trainmen in that city from
MAY 10 to June 1. Mr.. Garretson lett lot
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his home town. Inc
convention Of the conductors Will oeglh
i'm that city on May r. During the CON
ventions the ballots will be printed ana
the strike vote taken Immediately after
the conventions end.
Garretson and Lee addressed letter
Yesterday to Elisha Lee, chairman OF the
conference committee of the railroad
managers. i'm reply to a letter In when
the managers characterized as absurd a
comparison made by the employees repre-
scutativcs between the increases In pay
and increases Of dividends, a point which
was said to have precipitated the acdon
Of fine union leaders in issuing the order
for a strike vote The leaders declared
that there had been an Increase In diVl-
bends of 40 per cent during the period
lSyU-ltlD, Wnlle wages iidu nv S""SN O-'
80 per cent for the same period
The reply from the two organization
presidents to Chairman Lee said, in part:
when confronted with a damning fact
the easiest way on earth, when you are
unable to break down that fact or TO
discredit the figures on which 1t is based
IS TO assert that IT Is absurd. Those
figures were prepared and verified by
man whose analysis compelled your com
Ynittee during the engineers arbitration
10 withdraw whole series Of figures on &C
count of proven inaccuracy, and whose
conclusions your entire statistical staff
was never In a single instance able to
refite or discredit Even cursory exami-
nation will convince you. as 1t has u.s.
that the figures as stated are absolutely
correct, and II there is anything absurd
contained therein II lies in the fact that
we accepted, and assert as proof OF
their correctness, the oath OF the man
aging officers of the properties from
whose reports they were taken"
The point in the railroad Systems at
which the strike, should there be one,
would be felt most was at the great termi-
nails OF the Eastern roads. II was said.
About twenty-five thousand yardmen and
switchmen, belonging to the trainmen's
brotherhood, make up the heavy through
freight trains at these terminals. Be-
cause Of the experience required for such
work their places would be hard TO fill,
and little freight could be moved for
long time II they went on strike, 1t was
said.
The Investment Bankers Association OF
America, representing most OF the invest
ment banking houses In this country. hied
a brief with the Committee on Finance OF
the United States Senate yesterday. The
association urges that the federal income
tax follow the general plan Of the Eng
lish act at least with respect TO interest
ON corporate bonds. 1t suggests rs
basic provision that the corporation be
required TO make a return on all interest
and 10 deduct and pay the normal Income
tax directly, unless II be shown that the
nerson 10 whom the interest is payable is
EXEMPT from the tax. leaving II to the
corporation or individual TO show the eX-
emption II they will and can. but also
reouiring the Internal Revenue ONCE TO
ascertain. so far as may be from the re-
turns of individuals and banks, the per-
sons actually depositing specific coupons
ond IN certify to the corporation list of
the interest payments included IN It's re-
turn which are found to be exempt from
the tax.