Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-18

~ LIZ. Nli1li man VI NV WI
ference committee of managers.
The managers feel" says the state
ment that the public will not tolerate
strike
Mr. Lees communication is addressed
to Judge Martin a. Knapp of the United
Hanger. acting United States commits
sioner Of labor, who have been acting
as mediators in the dispute.
Text of the Notice.
1t is as follows:
AT the urgent request of YOU as repre-
sentatives of the government, and under
the strongest protest we are able TO
voice, the managers committee agrees to
arbitrate the tiremen's controversy under
the Erdman act. The managers also de-
sire to give notice at this time that they
shall earnestly request that the hearings
in this arbitration be open to the pubic.
LAS the managers have stood out to the
limit against arbitration under the Erd-
man act and as the government--or the
pubic-is responsible for whatever the
consequences may be, the managers re-
iterate their principal objections to the
Erdman act. These were pointed out by
case:
The responsibility which ultimately
would rest upon third member of an
Erdman arbitration board was too great
to impose upon any one man.
The operation of the act is to settle
dispute rather than to adjudicate con-
troversy.
The arbtrators are three in number.
Each side is represented by one arbitra-
tor. 1t rests therefore upon the third ar
bitrator to bring the other two as nearly
as possible together. and if he cannot do
SO he must decide between them. This is
accomplished by splitting differences and
the case may be adjusted without ade-
quate investigation Of the facts involved,
and the award may not rest upon basis
Of equity.
But the most fundamental defect of
the Erdman act Is that the interests of
the public are not guarded by it.
'The managers feel that the public will
not tolerate strike, and realizing their
three fold responsibility to the public,
their men and their shareholders they
only agreed to arbitration under the E.rd-
man act when it seemed the only way to
avert the calamity of a strike. The fire.
mems brotherhood has no responsibility
except to its members.
For the Public to Consider.
'"rhe question the public should serious
ly consider is whether, in compelling the
railroads to arbitrate under defective
and inadequate law, and in thus securing
temporary convenience and accommOda-
tion, they are not sacrificing their perma-
nent welfare.
THE managers committee wishes to
warn the public at this time of another
and similar demand for increased wages
made by the conductors and trainmen.
We desire to put the public on notice as
to the crisis that will confront them when
these demands are considered by the rail-
roads.
I'VE also desire to call attention to the
serious public danger Of these recurring
demands. backed up by repeated demands
that the railroads arbitrate under the
law
THE whole situation is now in the
hands OF the government and the people.
They have taken 1t out of the hands OF
the managers at a time when the latter
hoped to make stand for the public
good
Federal mediators and officers Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen began this morning
what promised to be the last confer
ence looking to the settlement of the
differences between the fircmen and
the eastern railroads.
Until late last night Judge Martin y.
Knapp of the United States Commerce
Court and G.. W. w. Hanger, acting
commissioner of labor, were in con-
ference with the railroad managers.
ished. and, being exhausted, they de-
cided to defer until today their talk
with union representatives.
cl1cu w dutCu al O4tA dtAO0s
The tiremen had stood to a man for ar
bitration under the Erdman act ever since
the deadlock began: the railroads had
stood firm for arbitration before a COM
mission of six or seven men.
Three men. acting under the law, will
decide the firemen's claims. Their dect-
sion will be binding.
The firemen selected their representative
on the board of arbitration as soon as the
decision of the railroads was announced.
The man they selected is Albert Phillips
of Sacramento, Cal, vice president of
their organization. The railroads selected
as their man W W. Atterbury, vice pres
ident and general manager OF the Penn
SylVania lines east.
Within a day or two these TWO men will
select the third neutral member. With
in thirty days thereafter the arbitrators
must render their findings. Where they
Will meet was not announced.
The agreement To arbitrate was prompt
~ signed by both sides
The mediators. in formal statement.
later announced that the firemen's com