The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-07-10
WILSON CONFERENCE
MAY HALT R.R. STRIKE
Representatives Of Lines and Of
Employees to Meet in White
House Monday.
WILL DISCUSS ERDMAN ACT
Trainmen's Chief Says $17,.
900, 900 Raise, Is No
Concern Of Men.

WASHINGTON. July s.-Announcemen
was made at the White House tonight
that President Wilson on next Monday
afternoon will meet the representatives
of the Eastern trunk lines and OF :he
conductors and trainmen who are
threatening to strike.
The conference at tho White House
has been arranged as the result Of q
joint request by the railroads and the
union employees. It's chief purpose is to
convince President Wilson Of the urgent
necessity Of the adoption by Congress
Of an amendment to the Erdman act
which will open a way for the settle
ment OF the present trouble by arbitra-
ton or mediation.
The conference at the White HOUSE
was arranged through Secretary Of
Labor William b. Wilson.
Ready to Approve AmendMents.
The representatives Of both the rail-
roads and the employees are prepared
to give their immediate approval to the
act. The point which they wish to
emphasize is the necessity for action at
| once.
Both sides refuse to arbitrate under
the Erdman law in it's present form.
They take the ground that the law as
at present constituted does not provide
for an adequate representation Of en-
ployers and employees and SO far as the
present emergency is concerned the act
| is useless.
The F.rdman law names the Commits
sioner OF Labor and the presiding Judge
of the Commerce Court as mediators in
! railway troubles. In cases where
| strikes are threatened the mediat tors
| upon application are authorized "a
| treat with ths parties concerned. II
employers and employees consent tc
arbitrate each side selects an arbitrator
while the third member OF the board IL
selected by the members 30 named
NH Passed by senate
A bill amending the Erdman act was
passed by the Senate several days az,
Ii pro III - ir .ascs # railway s,r.ncr
for beard Of arbitration * SIX men.
bers two To be named by the employers
two by 'he employees ana the four thus
nam"l to 3, .ect the other ,wo. In case
Of INABILITY OF the four members "a
agree On Inc two other members Of the
board the Government boari II con-
C!l'ati IN and mediation is authorix.i IA
fill the board of arbitration. The dill
! reported by the House Judiciary Com.
mittee differs from the Senate bill in
numbe" of important respects. II oro.
vides t'- ertitrat!on boards If three. six
or nine members. according to the
wishes Of the parties concerned
| The point at issue between the tws
houses does not hinge on the compile
men; OF the boards OF arbitration. II
has to do with the personnel OF tn,
Government board OF cancellation ant
mediation. The Senate bill provides tha
this board, composed OF two members
shall he named by the President Tn,
House bill also provides that these mem
bers shall be selected by the Presiden Mt
but directs that both shall be Govern
ment officials. one of them to be tn,
! Commissioner OF Labor Statistics. al
official Of the Department Of Labor; tn,
second member to be another official O.
the Government. Objection has beer
made To this provision on the grpunt
| that II would give the Department o
Labor voice in the matter.
House Seeing Need Of Action.
The impression seems to be quite gen
errl that II Congress acts promptly or
this proposed legislation the threatened
railway strike can be averted.
There were evidences day that tn,
House is arouslng itself to the neces
sity for immediate action. There is {
possibility that the Senate amendmen
may he passed by the House on Satur
day. but the likelihood now Is that tn,
House will hold of until after the Whit,
| House conference