New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
End Strike and Arbitrate,
P. S. C. Urges Both Sides
Board Convinced Greater Part of Blame Rests with Onon
Says Public Rights Outweigh Combined Wrongs
declares Agreement Is Not Destroyed

The Public Service Commission for
the 1st District. convinced after hve
DAYS Of investigation that the greater
n easure Of blame for the lnterborough
green car strike rested with the union,
offered a peace -with-honor settlement
for the consideration OF both sides yes
terday afternoon.
Four recommendation are made by
the commission, the fourth being a
mildly hopeful suggestion that the
strike be declared of while the other
three are considered.
The question Of the right Of the In
terborough and the New York Railways
Company TO make individual contracts
with its employees and the corollary
question Of whether fraud was prac'
tised in persuading employees to sign
nj the commission would have thrashed
out through arbitration But mean
time il calls attention 10 the fact that
the rights of the public loom larger
than the combined wrongs of car lines
and car men, and it asks that traction
schedules be Immediately restored IN
der truce.
Arbitration Provided.
The memorandum reads as follows:
"Tbe agreement Of August was
made with deliberation and care. IL
constitutes a statement Of rights ana
principles. At the earnest solicitation
Of both sides the Mayor and the char
man of the commission underworld that
agreement, which meant that theg
would use their best efforts and their
official power to secure full compliance
To SAFEGUARD both sides but more par
ticularlv the interests of the public
complete method Of arbitration was
provided in place of the strike and the
lockout. For this purpose the agree
ment definitely provided that:
"'All disputes that may arise be-
tween the company and the employees
in the future on which they cannot
mutually agree shall be submitted TO
arbitration as herein provided.
"The various witnesses VINO appeareu
before us testified that they believe IN
the principle Of arbitration and "lsh 10
see il sustained. Indeed, much OF the
difficulty that has arisen is Que 20
charges and counter charges tnat tne
principle of arbitration has been vio-
lated. All the witnesses concur ID tne
oninion that the agreement of August
g was fair. reasonable and workable,
proyided il was observed IN letter ana
in spirit.
No al" and Subway Agreement.
"On August 10, when the commission
fled its memorandum. there was no
agreement covering the subways ana
the elevated. On August 30, 1t appear
from the testimony before us, inc
marlborough Rapid Transit Company
received a committee OF It's men, mem
bers Of the Amalgamated Association,
attended by the same advisers anu
spokesmen VINO appeared before W III
tho matter Of the other railways. AiteI
discussion Mr. iledley informed MET ~
gerald and MS associates that as tnc
same men governed the poHcles OF l"'
Interborough as governed tne PoIie's
~ the railways company they mlgh1
proceed upon the assumption thaI ~
nrircinles and policies embodied III me
ra;iravs agreement Of August would
be regarded as comforting III the '"S'
Of the marlborough. 80
at WAS definitely agreed to by poth
that the princirle Of freedom TO or
,,auize the principle Of freedom from
Intimidation or coercion and the prln-
,inle OF arbitration should govern. ~,
though this agreement was not reduced
20 writing AMI signed by the parties
il was approved by President Shonts
and was relied upon by both SIDES IN
their subsequent negotiations.
"Prior TO and during the hearings
before as the officers OF the INTERIOR
ough sought TO persuade their men not
10 ioin the Amqigamated Union. After
tho agreement OF August they ADVISED
their men 10 form an organization OF
their own, as suggested by the presl-
dent and vice-president Of the com
pany. The company stated that these
suggestions were favorably acted upon
and that nearly ten thousand out oil
some eleven thousand voted to carry
out this policy and that they selected
committees 10 speak for them ana
elected officers.
Standards Agreed Upon.
The company contends that as
result oil the conference between the
committees thus elected and their Of
fcers working standards Of wages and
other matters were agreed upon; that
this arrangement was submitted indi-
vidually 10 the men and that approx
mately ten thousand of them signed
separately an identical memorandum
or agreement embOdying these terms.
Tho company officials say this was done
freely and fairly and without violation
Of any Of the principles of the agree
ment Of August and that the men were
permitted to ami did exercise their con
stitutional rights On the other hand. II
Is asserted by tho officials of the Anal
gamated Association that such a form
Of contract was in violation of the
agreements az August s and 80. and
that these contracts thus signed by
the men were secured through fraud,
misrepresentation. coercion and intini-
datiOn
1t appears that on August 30 the
officials Of the hnalguma,rd first heard
OF the distribution of these contracts
when the working standards were sub
mitted TO them as basis for discus
sion. As soon as they had their coun-
sells opinion Of tho effect of this
agreement upon membership in the
union they suggested that IN addition
10 the four clauses there should be
added the following: