New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-22
Traction Heads and Labor
Chiefs to Face Indus
trial ArbitratOrS.
PROTECT PUBLIC,
SETTLEMENT SLOGAN
Calling Off of Walkout
and Unemployment for
Men, Among Terms.

The State Industrial Commission,
through its bureau of mediation and
arbitration. yesterday took up the
transit strike deadlock in an effort TO
bring the companies and the Amalga-
mated Union to terms on a compro-
mise basis. To this end the bureau is
prepared to exercise its powers of COM
pulsion.
Subpnnas have been made out for the
heads of the traction corporations ana
the union leaders. including Samuel
Gompers They will be served to-day
Those summoned will be ordered to
appear before the bureau on Monday
morning at IL o'clock 1t is ex-
pected the entire industrial commits
sion. headed by Chairman John
Mitchell, will sit with the arbitrators'
Michael ]. Reagan will argue the adop-
ton Of the bureaus compromise
scheme, which provides:
Immediate calling of Of the
strike by the Amalgamated.
Unemployment Of strikers By
traction lines.
Reduction of the time Of opera
ton OF the Interborough's indi-
vidusl contracts from two years to
one year.
May Settle Difficulties.
Mr.. Reagan thinks this is fair way
to end difficulties. The board. he says,
was absolutely impartial in weighing
its evidence. He appears optimistic of
success, despite the belligerent stti-
tudes of the companies and the union.
II efforts to effect this compromise
fail, the bureau is ready for the next
step II will resolve itself into court
and begin forthwith a public hearing,
which, Mr. Reagan says, will bare the
hidden maneuvres of the companies
and the union. In such matters the
law extends wide powers to the Bureau
of Arbitration and Mediation. Where
the Public Service Commission only
touched the surface, Mr.. Reagan says
the bureau can get at the pith.
II can compel witnesses TO testify
under oath and punish them for con-
tempt of court If they refuse. II can
seize the books and records of the
companies and of the Amalgamated
Union and CLEAN from them such evil
dence as may not be elected from wit
nesses.
"The public has suffered enough"
said Mr.. Reagan. "The time has come
when it should know the facts in this
controversy, which seems hopeless OF
settlement by methods now being pur-
sued. 1t is time the expression The
public be damned be changed to the
rev slogan, The public be protected
1t is the duty and II will be the priv
ilege Of this board to attempt to make
this new slogan as well known as the
old. Though at first glance the odds
may seem against US, | believe we are
going to succeed"
Among the traction chiefs who to-
day will be sought by subpoena servers
are T. p. ShOnts, president, and Frank
Hedley, general manager, OF the Inter
borough; Frederick W. Whitridge,
president of the Third Avenue line;
John Beaver, receiver for the Second
Avenue system; William o. Wood,
president of the Queens County lines,
and Leslie Sutherland, general manager
of the Yonkers street railway.
Gompers To Be Called.
Besides Mr. Gompers, William B.
Fitzgerald, p. J. O'Brien, Hugh Frayne
and other labor leaders who have been
active in the prosecution Of the present
strike will be called. The subp1nas
will be given TO John J. Bealin, special
agent Of the commission, for service.
The meeting will be held in the pub
lie hearing room of the commission, on
the nineteenth floor Of the Victoria
Building, on Fifth Avenue. The medi-
alton board is composed of Frank b.
Thorn, Of Buffalo, Third Deputy Com
missioner; Patrick j. Downey, of Al
bany, and Mr.. Reagan, who lives in The
Bronx. The industrial commissioners
who probably will be present are John
Mitchell, Edward p. Lyon, Louis Wizard,
James w. Lynch and William II. II.
Rogers.
The commission, through its emer-
gency powers. has been successful IN
ending several strikes and many times
stopped threatened walkouts by bring
ing employers and employees together.
an the traction strike we were con-
tent to let matters drift along while
the Mayor and the Public Service Com
mission exerted their best efforts" ex-
planned Mr.. Reagan. eve have kept in
touch with the situation TO the minutest
details, and now are convinced II is our
e.. "