New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-14
|. r. T. Refusal of Arbitra-
ton Spurs Mayor and
Straus to New Effort.
NO SPECIAL LAWS
OR BUS LINE ASKED
Company Firm for Special
Contracts, While Unions
Offer Concessions.

vanished yesterday WIN the cOlIapse
Of the plan outlined by Mayor Mitchell
and the Public Service Commission.
Absolute refusal of the marlborough
Rapid Transit Company TO treat with
the Amalgamated Association Of Street
and Electric Railway Employees, or any
| Of its representatives, on the ground
that the organization could not be
trusted to carry out its agreements,
proved an insurmountable obstacle in
the way of further negotiations. Rep
resentatives of the union. however,
agreed to accept the Public Service
Commissions proposals with reserva-
tions.
But even this outlook did not cause
Mayor Mitchell or Chairman Oscar S.
Straus of the Public Service Commits
sion to despair Of ultimate success.
Both announced they were working
upon plans to bring the belligerent
principals in the traction strike to-
gether. There will be another meet
ing this afternoon.
Mayor Mitchell denied, however, that
he had any intention of calling for
special session of the Legislature to
pass a compulsory arbitration law or
to attempt to solve the traction con-
gestion by advocating bus system to
parallel the present street railway
lines.
Mayor Eager to Help.
81 am still seeking methods of bring
ing the two sides together and am
holding myself in readiness to act in
the event that my services may be
sought" said the Mayor. Meanwhile,
/ must admit that | have no definite
plan for proceeding. The chief OBJ
stable in the way of the proposed bus
plan is that it would take thirty days
TO carry it into execution. That is far
too long time to wait for remedy TO
the present situation"
Richard Reid Rogers, representing
the Interborough Rapid Transit Com
pany and the New York Railways Com
pany. removed any doubt as TO the at
titude of these roads Immediately after
the opening of the morning session Of
the Public Service Commission. He an
nounced that the two companies could
not accept the suggested plan. He ex-
planned this attitude by reading the
following statement:
"First-As 10 the Interborough, it
cannot arbitrate its right to enter
into agreements with 1896 of its en-
ployes out OF total of ll,S00, when
the employees who have signed are con-
tent with these agreements and are en-
deavoring to carry them out in good
faith.
"Second-It cannot arbitrate its own
good faith in becoming a party to those
agreements when they are definite as
TO pay and terms, signed by the en-
ployes upon the recommendation OF
their own duly appointed agents, and
to-day are fully accepted by the great
mass of our loyal employees.
No Hope of Arbitration.
"The New York Railways Company
respectfully represents:
at cannot arbitrate the causeless de-
sertion of its service by its striking
employees when their differences with
the company were in process of order
~ adjustment under the terms of the
agreement of August 6, underwrtten by
the Mayor and the chairman Of this
commission.
"The officers, agents and members
Of the Amalgamated Association Of
Street and Electric Railway Employees
have constantly made either yelled or
open threats OF strike while we were
endeavoring by conference to adjust
all matters Of difference with our en-
ployes.
when difference arose about TAX
ing back convicted criminals they de-
cined our suggestion of arbitration
and passed a strike resolution. We
yielded the point to preserve peace.
Then. while our conferences were pro-
ceeding to a harmonious close on the
New York Railways matter, they
called these men out on sympa-
thetic strike because of a pretended
grievance respecting employees of the
subway and elevated lines"
They insisted, with a threat OF
strike, that the contracts of employ
ment Of the elevated and subway en-
rloyes should be cancelled, and when
We offered TO leave all disputes to the
courts Of justice. they actually called
the existing strike. They have bro
ken their agreements with the other
railroad companies in this city, hav-
ing absolutely no connection with our
affairs. and called their employees out
on a sympathetic strike.
Refuse to Seek Treaties.
"Any further conferences with such
men would get us nowhere, and in the
meantime our discipline would be de-
moralized to the great injury of the
public and ourselves.
Both companies must respectfully
decline TO hold any further confer
ences with the officers, agents or
members of this association or Of any
persons affiliated with them.
at is apparent that they cannot he
depended upon to keep their agree
ments for the peaceable and orderly
adjustment of differences.
Both companies respectfully state
that they will continue their undated
efforts, against all opposition. to main
tain the service which it is their pub
lie duty 70 afford the citizens Of this
city"
William Il. Fitzgerald, AS spokesman
for the Amalgamatcd Association Of
street Railway Employees, prefaced his
acceptance Of the main features OF the
arbitration plan with a protest against
the commissions conclusion that tho
issue Of unionism was not involved in
the present controversy. To prove that
unionism was directly involved he
cited the much quoted statement Of
James l.. Quackenbush. attorney for
the Intcrborough company, that the
roads could not be operated half
union and half non-union."
Unions Seek Arbitration.
The first condition OF acceptance OF
the proposed arbitration plan by the
rtors enid Eftyn.ralJ Wao .hat oil