New-York tribune., 1913-07-22
Confidence Founded on Belief
That Managers Will ReCede
from Position That Their
Grievances Be Heard.
THREE CONFERENCES HELD
Federal Board Meets Managers
Twice and Talks with EN-
ployes' Committee - Sure
That Arbitration Com
mission Will Be Needed.


mission Will Be Needed.
Things look hopeful" was the
comment Of Judge William Lea Cham
bers. at the close Of the first days
work by the Federal Board of Media
ton and Arbitration which is trying TO
settle the dispute between the Eastern
railroads and their conductors and
trainmen. During the day Judge
Chambers and his associates. G.. ". w.
Hanger and Judge Martin w. Knapp,
held three conferences-two with the
railroad managers and one with the
employees.
The employees refused TO agree to the
demand Of the managers that the
grievances Of the railroads be arbi-
trated with theirs, and the managers
were equally insistent that their griev-
ances were as worthy Of arbitration as
those Of their employees. Yet, notwith-
standing this. Judge Chambers's hope
was believed to be based on confidence
that the railroads would recede from
their stand.
Mediation Out Of Question.
The al board realized after its
first days work was well under way
that media.,on was out of the question
that the threatened strike could be
averted by board Of arbitration only.
With this knowledge 'ork was direct
ed TO induce each side to outline the
questions that they would submit for
/ arbitration. This they hoped would be
| done Jefore the end Of the week, so
that they could report to Washington
on Monday at the latest.
Yesterdays conference with the men
was with full committee of one
hundred at the Broadway Central Ho-
tel. To facilitate m; tiers a commit
tee of twelve was appointed to act on
behalf of the men. The twelve consist
/ of W. G.. Lee, chief Of the trainmen. and
/ five trainmen, and . ,. Garretson,
chief OF the conductors, and five con-
ductors.
AT the conference both lie and Gar
retson made emphatic speeches declar-
ing that the men would never consent
to the boards taking up the grievances
of the railroads. ' h, they said,
would amount TO a reelection Of about
20 per cent In wage They demand.
among other things, a 20 per cent wage
increase.
Both Garretson and Lee made much
Of their contention that the railroads
did not suggest that they had in mind
any grievances until July l6, after the
Newands bill, which had been advo-
Gated by both sides. had been signed
Is the President.
Want Ere's Position Made Clear.
one request of the trainmen and
conductors. which the federal mediators
agreed 70 comply with, affects the Erie
Railroad, which withdrew from the
conference committee OF managers on
Iuly l, after taking part in the nego-
tlations that began early in January.
The men refused 10 recognize the Erie's
withdrawal. and asked that the federal
mediators urge its return 10 the rail-
road committee Should the mediators
fail in this they were asked TO get
the Erie TO promise to abide by the
findings of the board of arbitration.
DO this" the spokesmen for me
traipp,ap and copductors prooJ ",ho.
We may know just where we stand. n
they will not agree 10 be bound by the
findings of the board OF arbitration. let
us know al once. and we will deal with
the Erie ourselves"
The conductors and trainmen we're
far from pleased with the action Of the
Erie Railroad. and il was said that the
men strongly intimated that II the Erie
did not agree 10 one or two Of the de-
mands made upon them through the
federal mediators an independent
strike would be called on the railroad.
The first conference' was with the
railroad managers. who visited the fed
eral mediators at their quarters on the
twelfth floor Of the Hotel Manhattan.
This conference lasted two and a half
hours.
The managers. headed by Elisha Lee.
presented their side which was a state
ment Of their eight grievances as out
lined i'm their letter to w. G. Lee and
A. B. Garretson on July rs. and their
reasons why these eight matters should
be dealt with simultaneously with the
grievances of the men.
After this conference Judge Chambers
and his associates had luncheon. and AZ
2;3O o'clock they arrived at the Broad
way Central Hotel. where they met the
Committee of one Hundred in one of
the large parlors on the third floor.
on their return to the Hotel Manhattan
Just before dinner they had their sec
ond conference with the railroad man
ayers.
To-day's work will begin at 10 O'Clock
this morning. when the newly appoint
ed committee of twelve. representing
the trainmen and conductors. will meet
the board at the Hotel Manhattan.
Low STEPS FOR SHEATH SKIRTS.
Chicago. July 2l-Oficials of the rhi