The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-16
RAILROAD STRIKE
AGAIN LOOMS UP
Nationwide Tlsup Of Roads q
Possibility.
CONFERENCE IN new YORK

Managers and Brotherhood Disagree
Upon Application Of the Adamson
Lsw-Mileaae System and compen-
sation Stumbling Block.
New York. Nov. 14.-Danger Of a
nationwide railroad strike, which
was believed to have been averted by
the passage OF the Adamson eight
hour law, has not entirely disap.
peared. 1t developed here when rep.
resentatives Of the railroads and the
four brotherhoods. comprising 400.
900 employees. failed to reach an
agreement as to the proper applica-
ton Of the new law. The stumbling
block. both sides admitted, was the
existing mileage system Of compen.
sation.
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 Sep
tember.
1--WE met" said Elisha Lee, chair
man Of the railroad managers and OF
the conference, "for the purpose OF
exchanging ideas on the application
and operation of the Adamson law.
We failed to reach an agreement and
we are not certain that another meet
ing will take place."
William @. Lee, president OF the
Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen,
spoke for the employees in the absence
Of A. B. Garretson Of the Order OF
Railway Conductors. declared that in
the event Of evasion by the railroads
OF the Adamson law summary action
would be taken by the brotherhood
He said that the strike order. which
was directly responsible for the law,
was still in effect and the brother.
hoods would not hesitate to enforce II
II the occasion warranted II.
The brotherhoods asked for the
conference" said Mr.. Lee. AT the
morning session we discussed the ap-
plication of the law and found that
there was no basis upon which we
could possibly agree. Another set.
back. besides the elimination of the
mileage system, was the determine
ton Of the railroads to continue their
suits to determine the constitutional.
ity of the law"
The mileage system OF compensa-
tion. the basis of which is the num-
ber OF miles traversed by a train crew
and not the actual hours of work, is
the crux Of the new problem that a
railroad authority said, may result In
the development Of a situation simi-
lar to the one which brought into be.
ing 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 def.
nitely how the law should be applied.
I'VE have our own ideas as to how
the law shall be applied-if at all. as
suits to test It's validity are now pend.
ing; while the brotherhoods have
their own IDEAS"
Chairman Lee added that he could
not predict the probable outcome Of
the difficulty. He said, however. that
negotiations might be resumed by
calling another conference.
Besides William G. Lee. the broth
erhood chiefs at the conference were
Warren S. Stone of the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Engineers; w. s. Car
ter, Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen, and e. L. shep-
pard acting president Of the Order
OF Railway Conductors in the absence
of Mr.. Garretson. who is on q extend
n