The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-08
WILSON MAY TAKE
HAND IN TROUBLE
Interested in Effort to Avert
Strike of 100000 Rail
road Men.
HOLD CONFERENCE TO-DAY
Difficulty Likely to End in
Amendment Of Erdman
Act.
HOLD CONFERENCE TO-DAY
Especial to The Times-Dispatch !

Especial to The Times Dispatch
New York. July President Will
son Is interesting himself In averting
possible strike OF 10000 conductors
and trainmen on eastern railroads.
Secretary of Labor Wilson has been
instructed to watch the developments.
This city Is to be the scene to-mor-
row OF the momentous conference be-
tween the conference committee of
managers representing the lines in
volved, and the committee Of 100 rep
resenting the conductors and trainmen.
Should a crisis be reached. Secretary
of Labor Wilson, acting, II ls said.
upon instruction from the President,
Is prepared to send the chief or the
Bureau of Labor Statistics to New
York.
Through their chairman, Elisha Lee.
the railroads have stated they Will
not only refuse the demand for $17,-
100000 increased pay made by them.
but they will refuse to arbitrate under
,the present Erdman act. The board
of arbitration. under the Erdman act,
would consist of three men, one repre-
senting the railroads. one the men and
the third to be chosen by the first two.
This, tho managers assert. Is practi-
cally = "one-man board and the
issue too momentous to he placed in
the hands of one man.
The Times Dispatch correspondent
was Informed tonight that rather
than permit n tic-up OF all tho roads
east Of the Mississippi and North of
the Potomac. Congress Will BIO urged
by President Wilson and the Secretary
of Labor so to amend the Erdman act
that large arbitration board will be
provided for. Arbitration by a board
of seven or more men Will. II Is be-
lieved, prove acceptable to the rail-
roads
To-morrow's conference will be at
tended By the managers committee
and by committee OF nifty represen
tatives of the order OF Railway Con
ductors, headed by President a. B.
Garretson. and fifty representatives
OF the brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, headed by President w. G. Lee.
At the beginning OF the. conference
Messrs. Garretson and Lee Will an
nounce the result of the recent strike
vote. Ninety per cent or the men are
said to have voted to sttke If the rail
roads adhere to their present attitude
President Garretson. of the conduc-
| tors. said to-day to Il representative OIL
The Times Dispatch:
while we are prepared to go to the
limit, we Will not act hastily We In
tend giving the railroads every chance
for an amicable settlement In al
probability there will be negotiations
| after the announcement OF the strike
vote and before strike is actually
| called.
|, II believe the Erdman act is likely
| tc be amended before II strike is called
AS both the railroads and employees
| favor amending the Erdman act, IL Is
probable the matter will finally go te
| q now arbitration board. Both sides
! think, Will agree to that"
Chairman Elisha Lee issued n state
ment to-day showing the actual wages
| Of regular conductors and trainmen ir
| 1912, rs taken from the payrolls OF the
| railroads. The tables show passenger
| conductors receive an average salary
| of $1,000 a year, passenger trainmen 6
few dollars less than $1,000, freight
conductors $500, freight trninmer
about 1916. yard conductors $1,000, anc
yard trainmen $1,000.