New Britain herald., 1916-08-09
Dispute Now Goes to U. s. Board of Me- diation and Strike is Averted for a Time

New York, Aug. 9-The national con- ference of railroad managers today again rejected the demands of the four railroad brother hoods for an eight hour day and time and a half for oVer- time and proposed submission of their differences with the men to the United States board of mediation and concili- ation.
 This proposal A. B. Garretson in behalf of the Brotherhoods rejected.
 Elisha Lee, chairman of the railroad conference, in proposing that their diff ferences be mediated called attention to the fact that the hrotherhoods had previously declined arbitration under the Newlands act, but that the railroads saw no other way out of their difficulties than through mediation.
 MT. Garretson, reiterating the con- tention of the brotherhoods that in previous attempts to settle differences with the railroads through the federal boards, the brotherhoods had failed to obtain satisfactory awards, said that the unions believed they could reach a settlement by dealing directly with the roads
 Wants No Third Party.
 "I believe" he said, 'settlement of our differences can be much better at tained by dealing directly with you without the interference of a third party"
 Chairman Lee then announced that he would, nevertheless, appeal to the federal board of mediation and con- ciliation. This board was at the time , in session at a nearby hotel
 MT. Lees announcement came after MT. Garretson had expressed his will ingness to have the railroads make the appeal. In that event, he said, the unions could make a reply as to their attitude to the federal board. This reply, MT. Garretson indicated after , adjournment of the meeting, would probably be favorable. Judge W. L. Chambers, chairman Of the United States board of mediation l and cnnciliation, announced after the meeting that the railroad had formal 1 ly appealed to the board to mediate l their differences with the unions. The board immediately prepared a i communication to the brotherhoods of . fering it's services, which it was an- rounced would be dispatched to the brotherhood chiefs at once.
 Meantime it was stated the board would remain in session to await the brotherhoods' reply.
 It was indicated by members of the board that the mmun1catlon was being sent on the assumption that the brotherhoods would accept their offer.
 Both sides, after adjournment, went into executive session.
 MT GarretsOn explained to news paper men that the unions had not declined mediation unequiVocally put had refused to join with the railroads in asking for 1t because they did not believe in 1t at this time. The broth erhoods chief, together with his col- league, Warren s. Stone, reiterated that their position was that they had not yet exhausted all the possibilities by tdealfng directly with the railroad managers.
 However" said MT. Garretson, "our position Is something like barkis, i've are waiting and Willing.'
 Statement By Lee.
 Chairman Lee, in rejecting the brotherhoods' demands and propos- ing mediation, made a statement in part as follows:
 "The national conference commit tee of the railways has again given most careful consideration to the mat ters in controversy between us and to all that has been said in our various conferences. We have also carefully Y. considered the serious situation pre- sented by the result of the strike vote pf employees and the grave responsl- bility which rests on both parties to the conference to exhaust every hon. orable means to avoid the public in jury which must inevitably result should you decide to exercise the power which the strike vote has placed in your hands.
 After such consid derat ton, it is our judgment that the proposals which the men have supported by their vote, involve such extraordinarily changes in operating m ethods and such radical revision in established bases of com- pensatiOn as to make 1t apparent that there Is little probability of our being able to harm onize our differences of : opinion unless this result can be brought about through the federal board of mediation and conciliat1on.
 'The national conference commit ' Gee of the railways is as sincerely anxious as your committee can be to reach some amicable adjustment Of the matters involved in the present controversy, but we are convinced that in the end we shall have to in yoke the friendly offices of the federal board of mediation"
 The railroad brotherhO pods later &C., cepted g. proffer of the United States board of mediation and conciliation to mediate their differences with the railroads.