The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-15
Leaders Reach Agreement
at White HOuse-Armis-
tice Expires Tomorrow
NAME COMMISSION
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
Strike Will Be Arbitrated Under Pro.
visions of the Newlands- Clayton
Act, Which Will Be Made
Law Today

Washington. July Representa-
tives OF the $4,000 conductors and
trainmen of eastern railways who have
voted to strike for higher wages and
managing officers of the railroads
agreed at the White House today TO
submit their differences to arbitration
under the provisions OF the Newlands-
clayton act, which President Wilson
and congressional leaders promised to
make law by tomorrow night In the
meantime. no strike will be declared,
officials Of the employees brotherhoods
agreeing to an armistiee until Wednes-
day night.
Conference at White House
This victory for arbitration over the
strike was the result of two-hour
conference at the White House between
President Wilson and congressional
leaders, both republicans and demo-
Gratis. the presidents and managers OF
the railroads and representatives OF
the Brotherhoods OF Trainmen and Con-
duetors. The agreement not only
averted temporarily, at least, the strike
which threatened to tie up railroad
traffic generally in the east. but
smeothed out differences of opinion
that had arisen in both Houses as to
the composition of the board of me-
diation and provided permanent conf
mission to deal with railroad disputes
The pathway was cleared for prompt
action in both Houses Senator Kern
telephoning from the White House TO
have the Senate adjourn until tomor-
row, instead OF Thursday, as conteln-
plated, and Representative Clayton that
he would move to take from the speak
ers table his bill to which amendments
in conformity with the Newlands' bill
in the Senate would be attached.
Wilson Will Sign Measure
! The President later said that he
would sign measure such as agreed
upon and described the conference as
simple and satisfactory.
Seth Low, president OF the National
Civic federation, who had been instru-
mental in bringing the railroad heads
and labor leaders together, acted as
spokesman for both sides, relating to
the President the details of the legis-
| latiye situation that had arisen in the
attempt to provide a substitute for the
| Erdman act. The original board of ar
| bitration provided under that act was
! Independent of any government depart
ment, but one of its membership
commissioner of labor-had since been
included under the department of labor,
where his duties had been increased
so that only portion of his time could
be given to labor disputes.
The bill introduced In the House by
Representative Clayton. chairman of the
judiciary committee originally was iden-
titled with that introduced In the Sem
ate by Senator Newlands, but had beeh
amended at the instance of Secretary
Wilson, of the department of labor, who
wished the arbitration board to consist of
nine members who We're to be under the
jurisdiction of his department.
Bill viii Be Passed Today
AT today's conference however Seere-
tary Wilson, while still expressing his
preference for the amended Clayton bill,
announced he would not insist on It, and
an agreement was Immediately reached to
put through the Newlands bill of which
both parties to the controversy had previ-
ously expressed their approval with two
minor provisions of the Clayton bill in
corporated. Before tomorrow night both
Houses probably will have passed a per-
feeted bill, to be sent to the President
for his signature
The Clayton amendments to the New
lands bill concern the elimination of an
Inconsistency as to the place for the fill
ing of papers in the various hearings and
of any court could obige an employe
TO work against his will While this is
conceded having been taken care of
by the constitution, 1t nevertheless was
placed In the Erdman act TO avoid con-
sttutional objections Of technical ma
ture and had been inadvertently omitted
by the trainers of the clayton NewIands
bill
Personnel of Board
The perfected bill Will create the Uni
ted States board of mediation and con-
ciIiation to be composedb of a commts-
sioner OF mediation and cancellation, ap-
pointed by the President With the con-
gent of the Senate, with salary of 1850
and tenure of seven years ard not more
than two other officials of the govern
ment already appointed by the President,
with the consent of the Senate, who shall
be designated by him as the two other
members of the board There also would
be an assistant commissioner, with
salary of 5000 authorized TO act In the
commissioner absence.
For the settlement of controversies as
they might arise the measure would pro-
vide for boards of arbitration of six or
three to be selected with the help of
the board of mediation and eonciliation
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