New-York tribune., 1916-12-29
Neither Side Will Move
Until Decision Is Made
by Court
TRAlNMEN SILENT
AFTER MEETING
Roads Stand Ready to Re
imburSe Employees if
Statute Is Upheld

The chiefs Of tho railroad brother
hoods and tho representatives Of the
railroads met yesterday 20 discuss the
situation created by the Adsmson law.
They agreed that neither side would
do anything 10 disturb the status QUO
pending the decision Of the Supreme
Court For the present no further con
ferences viii be held
The faces OF the brotherhood chiefs
showed their disappointment, but they
had not a word 70 say. The railroad
managers confined their formal state
ment 70 a declaration Of intention TO
await the decision Of the Supreme
Court.
Though the conference had been
billed as momentous, the railroad man
sgors and those whom they affection
stely term "the brothers" knew that
yesterdays session was TO have been
formal affair The brotherhood chiefs
were there 20 keep the records straight
against a possible row In their organi-
zations by making A last request for
the Adamson law schedules and wages
before Sunday. when it was expected to
become effective Both sides knew that
the request would be denied.
Decision TO Await Action
The decision to await action by the
court was all but reached two weeks
ago and was delayed until yesterday,
until the srbitrators who were consid-
ering the demands of the switchmen
for an eight-hour day could render
their findings, this on the chance that
the award might be one on which the
brotherhoods and the roads could
agree. The announcement by ". G.
Lee, for the brotherhOods, that the
award was not good enough for them
was no surprise 10 the managers.
The balance of the ninety minutes
spent in the conference room was in
the main used by the chiefs and the
railroad managers expressing their
views az 20 what the Adamson law
really means, the brotherhoOds holding
that II does not affect passenger trains
and the managers that it did. The best
that could be decided on this point was
that 1t would be necessary in the event
Of decision upholding the constitu-
tionality Of the law TO have q commits
sion interpret its meaning.
Leaving the meeting, Mr.. Lee. spokes-
man for the brotherhoods. insisted that
there was nothing TO say. Later at the
fol R~rr y l. 4
then. with his associates. Warren s.
Stone. Of the engineers; W. 6 Carter.
or the frcmen, and L. T.. Sheppard rep
resenting the conductors, denied him
self 70 al callers.
Statement by Lee
The managers were in session large
part Of the afternoon At the end OF
the meeting Elisha Lee, the chairman,
issued this statement:
There have been several informal
discussions with the heads of the
brotherhoods az which the possibilities
of settlement Of the eight-hour con-
troversy were discussed. But there
Was such q difference Of opinion as TO
what should be done that no agree
Dent was possible. and therefore the
discussions have been discontinued.
"The railroads will await the deci-
sion Of the Supreme Court in the
Adamson law test case. By agreement
with the Department Of Justice at
Washington the railroads will keen 2
record from January Of the wages
Of all employees affected by the Adam
son law. in order that, II the law is
upheld by the court, the employees will
receive the extra back pay due them.
The rights Of the employees in the in
tervsl will thus be amply protected.
"The statement has been made ID
the press that the conference commit
tee has been aiding in preparing a bill
70 be supported By the roads and the
employees alike, and TO be offered es p
substitute for the legislation proposed
by the Administration, 20 hold strikes
in allegiance until an investigation by 2
public body. The National Conference
Committee had not been party TO
such q programme"