New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-17
The Railroads Side.

Elisha Lee. chairman of the confer
ence committee Of managers. wen'
briefly into the history Of the negotla-
tons Yesterday. saying:
THE railroad controversy with me
fircmcn dates back 10 July. l?l2. Whcn
The managers committee first met the
cmpioyes The firemen first asked FOR
an increase of $40. SDWD. or about -
per cent They later modified their
reot,St so as to ask Tor an increase OF
about So $4,000. or III per cent.
Then they made other changes in their
demands. which. aS submitted TO the
men on the strike ballot. call for an
increase in the fremen's payroll on
ffty-four Eastern railroads of Sl2""'-
o1O. or about II per cent.
The railroads have taken the POSI-
ton that such an increase ~ neither
warranted by conditions nor within
their ability 10 pay having regard To
all Of their obligations Tho railroads
offer to apply the award Of the recent
engineers arbitration commission I"
the frcmcn's rules and working con-
ditiops and To- make certain increases
In wages.
THE fremcn refused 10 accept this.
The railroads then offered 10 arbitrate
the case by u board of seven men. APP
pointed 10y some disintercstcd autho"-
ity. as was done in the engineers case.
The nrcmen again rejected the rail-
roads offer hut came back with
proposition To arbitrate under the Erd-
man act. Such procedure the rail-
roads managers pointed out a the time,
would not protect tho interests Of tho
public the railroads or the employees.
and could not bc accepted
81 this point the strike vote Inlet
v.ned. Overwhelming sentiment in the
ranks ~ the forty thousand fremen
and enginemen involved pledged their
organization To strike unless the Officers
of the union could effect an acceptable
compromise or an acceptable agreement
regarding arbitration. Since the strike
arbitration shall conform strictly 20
the provisions Of the Erdman act has
stiffcned. and the only new proposition
made has been that Of the railroad
managers regarding the constitution OF
a voluntary board.
Queer Tanale on tho L |. r. r.
ON the Long Island Railroad repro
sentatives of the fircmen held several
conferences Yesterday 10 try 10 come
to some decision regarding very in
torcsting situation that has arisen.
II has been the habit of the Long !sl-
and. as of other roads. 10 recruit It's
force of engineers and trainmen from
the ranks of the firemen. The men go
recruited would first be given tempo
rarv work i'm their new capacities. and
when vacancies occurred the men would
get permanent positions.
Owint 10 the likelihood that .hey
might be returned To their work as Are
men these men did not give mp their
membership in the fircmen's union. An
effort has been made during the lest
week To get these promoted men to
agree To walk out provided strike ~
ordered. but so far they have absolute
ly refused what TO do with these men
i'm case strike is called is the puE-
cling question.
No word has come from the officials
thntr mi h, in - -
of strike. but during the last 'ew
DAYS all the watchmen i'm the employ
of the road have been sworn as deputy
railroad police and have received spc-
cial instructions as TO the care that Is
to he given to guard the company's
property.