New-York tribune., 1916-06-13
Charge Working Arrange
ment Proposed Would
Curb Earnings.
UNIONS MAY VOTE
ON STRIKE QUESTION
Conference Near Deadlock When
Employers Dodge Question
ing by the Men.

Something approaching a deadlock
brought 70 a summary conclusion yes
terday's session of the eight-hour-day
conference between railroad repre-
sentatives and officials Of the various
trainmen's brotherhoods involved in
the demands for a shorter day and bet
ter working conditions.
Representatives Of the trainmen will
attend to-day's sessions Of the confer
ence, but freely predicted that the
hearings "wouldn't last much longer,
intimating that there was no possibil-
ity Of getting together as long as the
officials OF the roads represented here
continue to entertain their present
views.
Difficulties appeared early In the
morning session, when the railroad
men failed 10 answer the numerous
questions put 70 them by the union
officials concerning their attitude on
the shorter workday. The union men
had submitted TO a grilllng cross-exam-
ination concerning the workings Of
their eight-hour day plan and had ex-
pected on adjouning Saturday that the
officials would answer their questions
just as freely to-day.
'Yardstick" Plan Rejected.
Instead Of answering the questions,
the railroad representatives produced
a statement they called "ysrdstick." i"
in which the arrangement under which
they proposed TO have the men work.
IN the event of the adoption Of the
eight-hour day, was measured up. The
union officials Immediately announced
that the "yardstick" had been framed
with the sole intention Of curbing the
earning ability of the men.
"If that is the deliberate conclusion
Of your committee in the event the
eight-hour dav Is accepted. then there
Is no more reason for n continuance Of
these conferences" said A. B. Garrett
son, Of the Order Of Railway Conduct
ors. at tends only TO curb the earning
caDacity of the men"
EllSld Lee representing lut lNU0-
svlvania Railroad, then explained why
he thought the yardstick would answer
the questions propounGed by the men
and save the roads representatives
from submitting 10 a grilling such as
had been meted out TO the men on Sat
urday.
eve have drawn up that yardstick
answering YOUR questions" he said.
eve think it is fair and. as far as we
can see. IL answers oil Of your oues-
tions. Should you desire to ask more.
however, we are ready to answer them"
Strike May Be Voted On.
The union men were far from salts
fed with the information contained in
the yardstick. They began repeating
all Of the los questions they had pro-
pounded Saturday, but stopped when
thev were only half through. asking
for an adjournment until this morning.
II was generally understood that the
adjournment was for the purpose of
discussing the possibility of conclud-
ing the conference and taking other
means Of enforcing the demands of the
men.
at doesn't look promising for fur
ther conferences" said Mr.. Garretson
after leaving the hall. "If the remain
der OF the railroad mems answers show
that they are measured by their yard
stick then we1l conclude the confer
ence."
II was explained that the representa-
tives of the various railway brother
hoods would report the result of their
conference here to their organizations,
after which they doubtless would re-
turn, bringing strike votes in their
pockets. In such a contingency it
would be the railroad mems next move
TO avert strike, they said.