The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-02-15
RAILROADS MAKE
NEW PROPOSITION
New Move Made by the Eastern Rail-
roads to Prevent Strike of
$4,000 Firemen.

NEW YORK. Feb. IA new DOS
sibility OF peace between the 81 east
ern railroads and their -. 900 hremea,
who have threatened TO strike for
higher wages I'M revised working
conditions. appeared tonight with A
fresh arbitration proposal BY the rail
roads. and the break that seemed int
minent during the day was averted.
temporarily. at least.
The railroads. which have insisted
upon arbitration by a committee Of
seven men. similar TO that which de-
cided the dispute with the engineers
last year. while the fremen demanded
arbitration under the Erdman act.
now propose arbitration by a board
OF six members, two representatives
OF the roads. Two OF the hremen and
two disinterested members. to be up
pointed as the Erdman act provides
The roads offer also 10 retain in the
arbitration proceedings all other fel-
lures OF the Erdman act which the
firemen may require.
The railroads proposition. given
out by the conference committee OF
managers. vas Immediately submitted
"a the federal government officials.
"ho have been trying to bring the
parties together. and AT once placed
by the mediators before the repre-
sentatives OF the Brotherhood OF Lo-
conceive Firemen and Engineers.
Reads New Move.
The roads made their new move
after n day OF many conferences. the
chief Of which. perhaps. was that be.
tween the presidents of six OF the
largest lines involved. When a break
seemed almost inevitable and the FIRE.
men made IL known that they had "A
strike order in readiness. and intimat-
cd they would wait no longer than
midnight for the roads TO make some
concession. President Brown. of the
New York Central. sent out n hurried
call 10 such presidents Of the other
affected roads rs could be reached.
Presidents Underwood OF the Erie.
Willard Of the Baltimore 4 ohio.
T~ruesdale ~ the L~ackawanna. Rae OF
the Pennsylvania and Haer OF the
Reading responded with Vice PRES.
Cont Fesler or the Central Railroad Of
View York. they conferred with Mr..
trown. Joining the managers shortly
afterwards. When the presidents ad-
Iourued This evening they said they
you'd not take the matter out Of the
managers hands. but would he satis-
fed With whatever disposition they
should make o. the question.
Tire Statement.
Thus fortified by the action of the
presidents. the managers resumed
flrir conference tonight. The result
was apparent when they issued the fol-
lowing statement.
'ln order 90 avert the possibility o.
e. strike. The committee
r Offers fo arbiirafe with n hoard
composed OF uo representative ~ the
hremfn. two representative % tho
railroad companies and wi d~isinfcr
esed members to be- appointed in tho
same manner ss tho board provided
for in the Erdman act
W. have requested that fh.s offer
fn placed hrrorr fnc nrrmfns COM
mifit. on have asked the MEDIATOR
fn frfcatnr to brine alouf on arree-
rfnf fn arhifruir with surh re- board
rrrsrrviur af other feaiurfs Of f1f
trfman rct which Che nrsmcn may
d,s,rc
"Th' manrecre committee 4re
rrrosalie Oh, modification OF 90
unovc plan which mal provide Tor 81
foafd 81 more .hnn three arUitra-
tors"
\ r-epresentatise ~ the manege-1
explained that one point for which
The hromen particularly have con
tended uas embodied inthe oncr
made Under the Erdman act Wit
nesscs may b. %subpocnacd and pcr-
altics for false testimony enforced
These provisions 90 vas stated. the
roads wcre willing 90 adopt
AZ a late hour Judge Knapp. OF tho
United states Commerce Court and
g. W W Hanger acting commits eiCu
o. ~ labor. tho federal madistors.
Scrc stll in conference With President