New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-15
ROADS OFFER F|REMEN
NEW ARBITRATION PLAN
Want Board of Six to Decide
Wage Issue-Men Debate
Mediation Move.
RAILROAD HEADS ANXIOUS
Presidents of Seven Important
Lines Give Managers Com
mittee Increased Powers
to Avert Strike.

| bluCo 0lVC Mdud6Ci VVm
mittee Increased Powers
to Avert Strike.
All efforts at direct mediation be-
tween The Eastern railroads and the
locomotive firemen having failed, the
| railroads made this proposition to the
| 1remen at late hour last night-that
the arbitration provisions Of the Erd-
man act be modified for present pur-
poses to include commission Of six
instead of three members, two to be
appointed by the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen, two
BY the railroads. and two by the four.
The statement issued By the confer
ence committee OF managers read:
ITO avert the possibility OF a strike,
the managers committee now offers to
arbitrate with a board composed of two
representatives Of the firemen, two
representatives Of the railroad com
panies and two disinterested members,
to be appointed in the same manner as
the board provided for in the Erdman
act.
Preserves Erdman Act.
I'VE have requested that this offer
be placed before the fremen's commit
tee and have asked the mediatOrs to
endeavor to bring about an agreement
to arbitrate with such a board, preserv-
ing all other features Of the Erdman
act which the firemen may desire.
THE managers committee is agree
able to any modification of the above
plan which may provide for board Of
more than three arbitrators.'
Martin A. Knapp. presiding judge OF
the United States Commerce Court. and
II. w. Hangar Acting Commissioners OF
Labor, brought this proposition to the
conference committee Of firemen at the
Broadway Central Hotel at 10:
o'clock last night. The fremen had
been meeting off and on during the day.
BY ballot they had already voted TO
stick BY the Erdman act. But they re-
ceived the federal mediators, and i'm
rnediately went into session with them
behind closed doors To consider the
concession ly the railroads.
The conference between the fremen
AMI the mediators adjourned Il few
minutes before midnight. To be contin-
ued this morning. William $. Carter.
president Of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Foremen and Enginemen, at
first refused TO discuss the proposition
submitted by the managers. but finally
said:
Any departure from the strict let
ter OF the law invalidatcs IL. You can
not hold witness for perjury. for in
stance. Ive shall meet again to-mor-
row and continue the discussion
Judge Knapp said:
If the firemon accepted the plan
proposed by the railroads the arbitra-
ton would not be held under the Erd-
man act"
When pressed to explain the matter
OF swearing witnesses under some other
plan than that provided by the Erdnan
act he declined. saying:
That's too deep legal question for
me 10 answer offhand."
Have you absolutely refused TO meet
the railroad proposition" was que3-
ton put TO Carter.
IL haven't said So" was his reply.
n,
day brought together I'm the city the
presidents Of seven OF the largest rail-
roads involved in the present dispute.
which affects in all fifty-four Eastern
railroads and forty thousand fremen
and enginemen. These seven railroad
heads. T.. ID. Underwood, OF the Erie;
William II. Trucsdale. of the Lacka-
wanna: w G.. Brown, Of the New York
Central: Daniel Willard. of the Balti-
more & Ohio; Samuel Rea. of the
pennsylvania: George +. Baer Of the
Reading. and j. c. Besler, OF the Gen.
trail Railroad Of New Jersey. met I'm
conference in the afternoon in the new
executive offices at the Grand Central
Terminal. What In detail they decided
could not be learned. but it was def
nitely established that they gave the
conference committee of managers full
Ter authority than II had previously
| possessed to make terms with the fire.
men.
Railroad Managers Busy.
The conference committee OF man
ayers consists of Elisha Lee. assistant
to tho general manager of the Penn
sylvanIa lines East. chairman; $. G..
Peck. vice-president Of the Pennsyl-
vania: A. r.. Dice. vice-president OF
the Reading; J. q. Walber, assistant
to the third vice-president Of the Bal
timore & Ohio; p. f.. Crowley. vice.
president and general manager OF the
New York Central, and A. j. Stone,
general manager OF the Erie. These
men it was who authorized the state
4 Inns M a n