New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31
Peace Pact with Big Four
Binds Against Further
Litigation
BOARD TO DEFINE
MEANING OF LAW
No Agreement as to What
Is TO Follow if Bill Is
Unconstitutional

Inc peace pact between the railroads
and the big four brotherhods' 1t be-
came known yesterday, included a
nromise by the roads TO accept as hnal
and binding the decision Of the Su-
nreme Cour. on the Adamson act. BY
the terms or the Genticman's agree
rent between the two groups the roads
are estopped from any further litiga-
tion.
As part Of the same agreement the
brotherhoods arc bound to make no
serious protest against the Withholding
Of the AdamSon law scale Of wages
ncndinr q decision in favor OF the men
Nominal protes. against this was made
al THURSDAYS meetings OF the Two
crouns T, became snown yesterday.
however. that before the Department
of Justice and the roads entered INTO 4
stimulation that this be done the DIG
four" chiefs had given their taclt sp-
provsl to the programme.
II has further been agreed that II tne
Adamson law is upheld an effort Will be
made to determine what IL means either
bv reference 10 government commis-
sion or by arbitration. This, 1t is hel9'
avoids all chance Of disturbance foi-
lowing decision that might be favor
able 10 the Law.
No Old-Fashioned Arbitration
No agreement has been reached how
ever. as to what will follow II, az the
railroads expect. the law will be nelo
to be unconstitutional. Tho brother
hoods have been DESTROYS OF olearln g
the situation that may thus be erented
by an old-fashioned arbitration agree
ment. The roads do not believe that
this will be possible.
at is probable" said ono OF the best
informed railroad men in the country
Yesterday. chat VIC have seen the last
OF the old-fsshioned get-togethers
around table TO settle things.
The action Of the brotherhood CHEERS
in pointing to the possibility OF further
LITIGATION in the face OF the agreement
that there will be none was declared ny
railroad men Yesterday to be part OF
the programme Of the "big four" chiefs
"a moIlifv their discontsnted followers.
For this reason and because OF the IN
Outstanding that nothing would he done
BY them 10 embarrass Messrs. stone
Garretson. Carter and Lee Win thelr
men. the railroad managers have re-
Trained from making any FORMAL m
wer 10 the statement.
"As matters stand" said one in close
touch with the railroad viewpoint, the
managers arc conten. 70 let inc prother-
hood chiefs skin their own hsn. ~
would get the rosds nothing 10 giost
over the chiefs or appear 20 be too Vel
satisfied with them selves. They nave
troubles enough, have Stone and ms
sllios.'
Svitchmen Cutting In
The easiness Of mind OF the Brother
hood Of Railroad Trainmen leaders has
rot hen increased bv reports from the
Wet and South that the United
ep-itchmen Of North America, it,
American Federation Of Labor rival ~
n.ino its recent increase in wages 20
sn-o7l new members. This orgsniza-
ZION has in its ranks only a fraction OF
4he switcbmen Of the country. " h,s
besn growing in influence and member
abip. However. and with the advantage
zlven bv its present scale Of wages ~
now challenging the power OF the larger
body. ..
Representative or the DIG touI' ~
il said. made an effort to get into touch
with Samuel Gompers. but this failed:
The object Of the "big four" is believed
TO be due TO A desire TO have the Ted
eration's chief call of the sTitchmen's
union.
An officer Of the federation said yes
terdav that this could not he done.
"Mr. CT mpers," said he, "has no power
to tell the switchmen what they shall
or shall not do within their own field.
We sympsthize with the brotherhoods,
hut there is a limit"