New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-10
FEDERAL AID ASKED TO
HEAD OFF R. R. STRIKE
Firemen's President Refuses
Arbitration Plan Submitted
bv Managers.
VOTE WOULD. FAVOR TlE-UP
Companies Therefore Withhold
Action on Ultimatum Pend
ing the Governments
Reply.

VA appeal FOR federal assistance IN Sci
n.nS the differences between the loco
motive Crcmtn and the managers of the
Eastern rail- Dads was the outcome of yes
;crday'S Joint conference between the
committee of managers and the general
adjustment committee representing the
iremcu. following the receipt of com
municat!on from w :. Garter. president
cf the brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Ens.nemen. in which he fatty
rciused TO accept the proposed plan of
arbitration.
\ short consultation between the lead
ers OF the opposing forces resulted IN the
dispatch Of telegram TO Martin a.
Knapp. presiding Judge Of the United
states Commerce Court. and Charles I.
Ncii. United States Commissioner OF La
hor. urging them to come To this city al
once and use their kindly Offices in me
dating the disagreement between the
railroads and the fremen.
Mr.. Ca-ter's rejection of the terms oil
arbitration proposed by the managers OF
tho roads at Wednesdays conference
came i'm the nature Of surprise Nniie
urging arbtra ton. the managers made a
firm stand for board OF seven members
and the employment OF the same general
method of procedure as was followed in
the trouble with the engineers Iestef-
DAYS refusal was founded on the fire
mems demand for a settlement of the
differences under the Erdman act. when
proyides for a board Of three men, with a
time limit for bringing in an award.
THE communication submitted by Mt.
Carter rot only declined absolutely TO &C
cept arbitration under the terms proposed
hv the railroads hut severely criticised
the methods used in settling the en-'-
ucors' grievances The leaders of the hrc-
mon declared last night that the action oi
the managers in continuing the confer
,pce following the receipt Of the brother
hoods refusal OF terms was wholly uneN-
pccted. since it was expected that MI
Carter's letter would put an immediate
srd 10 all negotiations and precipitate the
strike
Yesterdays meetingihad been IN session
onlv few minutes twhen the hremen :
ultinatum was read. The railroad man
ayers Immediately retired to consider II.
returning to the committee room, Elisha
Ice. the chairman of the managers COM
read men expressing the belief that II
VAS 10 the interest OF all concerned 10
roach settlement of the controversy AT
once and thaf while the managers con-
coded that II a referendum vote was
aiken among the firemen ii would ne
favorable 20 a strike they were OF the
opinion tina; time might be saved oY
~aiying the vote and requesting Messrs.
kaapp and Nell to come To New YORK
AT once.
NJ. Carter. ia behalf Of the iiremen
committee then Informed the railroad
officials that his committee was satisfied
"a ioin with the managers in calling III
The federal men to act as mediators. Inc
conference thereupon sent the telegram,
with the information that crisis had
been reached i'm the negotiations and that
their assistance was needed After the
telegram had been sent the conference
adjourned to await the reply OF the fed
cral officials.
The communication of the hremen
committee presented at yesterdays meet
ing was not made public. although TINS
was the intention of Mr.. Carter when ~
entered the committee room. The sudden
shift in the situation caused by the action
Of the managers in calling for mediatoiy
methods made il seem advisable 10 with
hold the reply Of the firemen At the pres
ent time. Should mediation fail however,
Mr.. Carter will make the ultmatun
public