The San Francisco call., 1913-07-16
NEW LAW CREATES
~ MEDIATION BOARD

WASHINGTON. July 15.-New federal
machinery for the adjustment of rail-
road wage disputes was authorized
TODAY. when the house and senate
passed and the. president signed 1pe
Newlands- Clayton till- lust as II was
agreed upon yesterday at the White
House conference between President.
Wilson. congressional leaders and rep
resentatives of the big eastern rail-
ways and their employees.
This law creates the board OF media
tion and concilia ton. headed by com
missioner. to which the eastern rail-
ways and employees brotherhoods nave
declared their Willingness to submit
the wage dispute on account OF which
so o0a conductors and trainmen have
voted to strike.
The union officers agreed to an armis-
tice until tomorrow afternoon pend
ing action by congress. and ofHcfals
here expeet them now to make reaoy
to Law their case before the feoeral
mediators as soon as President wilson
makes the appointments.
The new law went through botn
houses of congress without an obstacle
being put in its way. It reached the
White House late today and soon arter-
ward this statement was issued;
The president signed the Newlands
act as soon as 1t reached the " mite
House and announced through MS
secretary. Mr.. Tumultv, that he would
proceed as soon as possible. consistent
with the Importance Of the appoint
ments. to the selection OF the com
uissfoners OF media ton as provided In
the act.''
low MAY BE COMMISSIONER
Seth Low, president of the National
Civic federation, who has been instru-
mental in bringing the railroads ana
their employees together in the dispute,
is mentioned for the position of COM
missioner OF mediation and concillatlon.
AS the other two members OF the
board are to be government officials,
It was regarded as probable that Judge
Martin w Knapp of the commerce
court, and an assistant to one OF the
cabinet officers, possibly an assistant
attorney general. would be considered.
Just how Yesterdays White House
conference was brought about became
known today. when officials there
stated that Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman
OF the new industrial commission had
informed them that strike was frnmI-
nent unless an agreement on board
of mediation could be secured.
AS a result of her message. both
President Wilson and Secretary Wilson
were communicated with by Secretary
Tumulty and the conference subse-
ouently was arranged with the help of
Seth Low. president Of the National
Civic federation.
The argument made by the train
men and conductors representatives
for an independent tribunal to settle
labor disputes also became known to-
day.
A. 2. Garretson of the Order of Rail-
way Conductors. declared that the de-
mand for an Independent commission
had been begun before the department
OF labor was created and therefore
his association meant no reflection on
the secretary of labor in opposing the
proposal to have the mediation board
under the jurisdiction of any govern
ment department.
II. R. PRESIDENTS RETICENT
The railroad presidents. II was said
today. had little to say at the White
House conference, but acquisced IN the
desire for an Independent board
Two amendments were determined
upon by the house judiciary commit
tee and accepted by the senate.
One aims to make impossible any
construction that would authorize
courts by injunction or otherwise to
compel an employe to labor The other
provided details for filing the awards
with district courts.
The new law provides a United
States board of mediation and concilia-
tion'' to consist of a federal conn
missioner of mediation and concilia-
ton" and two other officials OF the
government TO be designated by the
president
This board may be asked to inter-
vene in a railroad labor dispute by
either party and would first use its
best efforts, by mediation and conci1ia-
tfon. to bring the disputants to an
agreement
Failure would be followed by an