The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-07-18
Brotherhood Heads Say There'll
BE Strike II Railroads Insist
on New Demand.
SETH Low BACKS MEN
Thinks Managers Wrong in
Adding Eight Questions
With Wage Dispute.


that a strike would he called on the
Eastern lines II the railroad managers
insist upon forcing the proposed eight
new questions before the board Of medi-
alton when the present wage dispute
is arbitrated.
When President Lee was asked
whether the new tanCle might precipi-
tate the strike he replied YES" He
added that he did not dispute the right
Of the railroads to present questions for
arbitration after giving thirty days
notice.
Presidents Garretson and Lee. after
mittee Of conductors arl trainmen. sent
IA letter to Elisha Lee. chairman Of the
committee Of managers. which con-
tanned this strike threat. veiled diplo-
matically.
The letter declared that the only issue
under consideration was the dema ands Of
the trainmen and conductors.
Low Writes TO Managers.
Members Of the committees represent
ing the trainmen and conductors were
wrathful yesterday over the eight ques-
tions the railroad managers propose to
have Incorporated in the list Of PROPOSE
tions to be arbitrated. Like Presidents
Garretson and Lee they said they un-
derstood that the only questions at issue
were the demands OF the trainmen and
conductors.
The same view was taken by Presi-
dent Seth Low and other officers Of the
National Civic Federation who attended
the conference. Mr.. Low sent a letter
yesterday to Elisha Lee. chairman Of
the managers conference committee,
in which he said in part:
"Messrs. Garretson and Lee have lust
informed me that II the questions raised
by the railroads In your communication Of
yesterday are presented as a condition
upon which the proposed arbitration Of
tho questions submitted By them shall 70
forward they would deem the insistence
upon such a condition. as tantamount 10
a breach OF faith. They do not question
the right OF the railroads to submit to
them In proper way and at proper
time questions which the railroads wish
arbitrated. To do so would be to take a
position not only unreasonable In itself
In which they and the brotherhoods which
they represent have dealt with the rail-
roads from the moment that the effort
BEGAN to secure satisfactory amendments
OF the Erdman law. They do believe,
however. that the railroads are honora bly,
bound to dispose Of the questions raised
by them on their own merits and apart
from any other question before they are
asked 10 consider new and far reaching
problems. to which neither they nor their
brOtherhOods have given the slightest con-
sideration.
Arrange for Conference To-day.
II am entirely In sympathy with this
view. II II has been the intention OF the
railroads to submit these questions as
soon as the new law was passed and as q
part Of the pending controversy ] think
this purpose should have been made known
to the brotherhoods before their aid was
accepted In securing the passage OF the
Newlands law. 1t must not he lost sigh,
Of that the brotherhoOds were willing tc
arbitrate under the Erdman act as II was
| hut they Joined the railroads In askine
for the Newland's law because they
thought the desire OF the railroads for q
larger board OF arbitration was reason.
able and fair They also shared the wish
OF the railroads for an independent board
OF mediation and conciliation, such as Il
provided In the Newlands act.
This altitude OF the brotherhood.
toward the railroads as to the size Of tht
board OF arbitration fairly entities their
| to ask at the present time that the rail
| roads confine the immediate arbitration tt
| the questions raised by them This re,
! quest seems to me both reasonable ant
, Just and ] venture to express the very
! earnest hope that the railroads which yo,
represent will accede to II. II. aftel
considering this letter. you are still ir
| doubt. respectfully ask for an oppor
tunity to be heard by your body as
| was heard by the representatives Of tn,
| brotherhoods. for whom Messrs Garret
son and Lee speak. when they were hest
| tating whether or not to withdraw from
any further effort to secure the amend
ment OF the Erdman act"
| The members Of the managers con
| ference committee would not comment
on this letter, but arrangements were
made for conference with Mr.. Low
at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
Explains EiGht Propositions.
In case the eight propositions OF tn,
railroads are not included by the media
tors under the Newlands law In thu
matters to be arbitrated. would the rail
roads refuse to arbitrator" member O
the managers committee was asked.
"They are not contemplating thu
crossing OF bridges until they come Il
them." he replied.
As to the first proposition. "When I
minimum days wage is paid in an,
class Of service 1t shall entitle the rail
road to the full mileage or hours D
service paid for" ne said:
"Under the present system II a man Il
shifted In a day from one kind Of worl
to another he sometimes gets two day
pay.
THE proposition against double com
pensatiOn related to cases on railroads
where there were both the mile and hou
rates Of compensation"
The third proposition that the SAM
classification be applied to all member
Of the train crew In fixing compensation
smoke for itself. he said, The reason VIII
the fourth proposition called for tn
abolition OF all monthly guarantees wa
that men who had not done full month
work were sometimes paid for full
month. The NTH proposition that con
alteration be given to the reduction o
the existing pay Of yard brakemen unde
certain conditions, he said. was becaus