Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-14
GREAT RAILROAD
STRIKE MENACES
THE ENAT|0NAGA|N
Danger Of Nation Wide Walk
out Of Brotherhoods' Mem
bers Has Not Entirely
Disappeared.
FUTILE CONFERENCE HELD
Representatives Of Carriers 4
Men Fail to Reach an
Agreement.
FUTILE CONFERENCE Hell
MEETING LASTS ALL DAY

NEW OIk, NOV. lo.--lJdHStT Oi d
nationwide railroad strike which was
believed to have been averaged by pas
sage of the Adamson eight-hour law,
has not entirely disappeared, it de-
veloped here today when representa-
tives of the railroads and the four
brotherhoods, compromising 100000
employees failed to reach an agree
ment as toS the proper application Of
the new law. The stumbling block,
both sides admitted, was the existing
mileage system Of compensation,
The announcement of the latest
deadlock between the railroads and
their employees came at the conclusion
Of an all-day conference between the
national conference committee, OF the
railways and the brotherhood chiefs,
which had been arranged in Septcm-
Der.
Another May Not Be Held.
1--WE met" said Elisha Lee, chair
man of the railroad managers and the
conference, 'for the purpose of ex-
changing ideas on the application and
operation of the Adamson law. We
failed to reach an agreement and we
are not certain that another meeting
will take place"
William G. Lee. president OF the
Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen,
spokesman for the employees in the
absence of A. B. Garretson Of the
Order of Railway Conductors, de-
clared in a statement that in the event
of evasion by the railroads of the
Adamson law, summary action would
be taken by the brotherhoods. He said
that the strike order which was di-
rectly responsible for the law, still
was in effect and the brotherhoods
would-no hesitate to enforce it if the
occasion warranted it. 81
Ask for Conference.
"Thc brotherhoods asked for this
conference" said Mr.. Lee. AT the
morning session we discussed the ap-
plication Of the law and found that
there was mo basis upon which we
could possibly agree Another set
back, besides the elenlinalion Of the
mileage system was the determination
Of the railroads to. continue their suits
to determine the constitutfonality Of
the law.
THE mileage system of compensa-
tion, the basis of which is the num-.
Der of miles traversed by train crew
and not the actual hours of work, is
the crux Of the new problem that,
railroad authority said may result in
the development Of situation
similar to the one which brought into
being the Adamson law.
Frankly" said Chairman Lee of
the conference committee in discuss
ing this phase Of the situation, "the
trouble lies in the fact that neither
the railroads nor the men know
definitely how the law should be ap-
piled.
We have our own ideas as to how
the law shall be applied-if at all, as
suits to test its validity are now pend
ing; while the brotherhoods have their
own ideas"
Can't Predict Outcome.
Chairman Lee added that he could
not predict the probable outcome-of
the difficulty. He said that negotia-
tions might be resumed by calling
another conference. This possibility
was strengthened by the announce
ment of the brotherhood chiefs that
they, with the exception Of President
Lee of the trainmen's organization,
proposed to remain here for several
days. President Lee left for his home
in Cleveland tonight. He said it was
his intention to join his conferees in
Washington Monday, where they will
go to attend the opening session of
the Newlands investigating commit
tee.
Besides William G. Lee, the broth
erhood chief, at the conference were
Warren Stone Of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers; w. S. Carter,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen; E. L. Sheppard, act
ing president Of the Order OF Rail-
road Conductors in the absence of Mr..
Garretson, who is on an extended
vacation.
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