New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-29
BIG FOUR AGREE
TO NQUIRYPLAN
Brotherhood Chiefs Con
fer with Adamson Law
Commission
BULK OF DATA MUST
COME FROM ROADS
Ferry Officers Seek to
Have Provisions APP
piled to Them

The governments investigation of the
working OF the Adamson eight-hour law
was prepared for at the Custom House
Yesterday when the four chiefs Of the
big railroad brotherhoods met the men,
bers Of the Federal Commission and
agreed to cooperate in every detail with
the tentative plans that had been for
mulated by the commission and the
railroad executives.
Every one who attended the confer
ence was cheerful at its conclusion and
the general feeling was that the com
mission, in spite Of its limited time
and money. would be able to present a
report that would determine the prac-
ticability Of the Adamson measure.
Practically all the statistical informa-
ton on which the commission will de-
pend will come from the railroads
themselves.
It was thought that the Big Four
leaders might objec; - this, but when
it was shown that there was no other
way because of limited time and mea-
gre financial appropriation, they con-
scented to il. The plan gives them
abundant opportunity TO check up the
data Of the railroads.
Full Representation on Hand
The conference, which began at 10
n. m. and ended at l:10 p. m, was at
tended by the full commission, consist
ing of General George W. Goethals
chairman, Edgar f. Clark, of the In
terstate Commerce Commission; George
Rublee, of the Federal Trade Commits
sion, and DR.. Max LorenZ, assistant
statistician of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The labor men were Warren S. Stone,
grand chief Of the Brotherhood Of Lo
conceive Engineers; william G. Lee
president of the Order Of Railway
Trainmen; William S. Carter, president
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Engineers. and f. l.. Sheppard,
acting president of the Order of Rail-
way Conductors.
Mr.. Clark, who spoke for the commits
sion, said that there would be no more
meetings with the labor men or the
railroad presidents, as the commission
had decided upon its course.
methods we might employ in procur.
ing the information we will need in
our investigation of the operation of
the Adamson law. There will be a
variety of forms in which this infor-
nation will have to be presented and
compiled.
1--WE had similar discussion with
the railroad presidents at our first
meeting. In starting the work we
decided that it would be advisable TO
confer with both sides. The confer
ence to-day had In no way the nature
of an inquisition. OF course. some
questions were asked of the labor
men in our informal discussion. but
it had TO do wholly with the system
We were to employ in collecting our
data"
Seamen Want to Come in
When the conference ended John II.
Pruett, national president of the Mas
tiers, Mates and Pilots Association,
asked permission Of General Goethals
TO confer with the Federal commits
sion. He wished 70 know if the Adam
son law might be applied TO the men
belonging TO the organization he rep
resented, as they handle trains on
floats and passengers on ferryboats.
Arthur G. Stiles, counsel for the as
ISOLATION, said that its members felt
that they were more in need Of the
benefits Of the law than were the rail.
road employees.
"Our men go to work at 5:25 a. m.
and quit at 5:25 p. M" he said. "They
have more 10 contend with than the
trainmen. A train will remain on its
track and the train crews are pro-
tected by signals. The masters, how.
ever, have TO contend with wind and
weather and tides, and it Is impera-
tive for public safety that they be
not subjected TO labor longer than
eight hours daily. We believe that
we should get consideration before
the trainmen."