Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-14
Representatives of Roads
and Employees in Dead
lock OUer Application
Of -Adamson Law.


NEW YORK, November i3-panror
of nation-w ide railroad strike. which
was believed to have been averted by
the passage of the Adamson eight hour
law. has not entirely disappeared. il
developed here to-day when rcprcsenta-
tircs OF the railroads and the four
brothcrhoods. comprising 100000 en-
ployecs, failed to reach an agrccmcn,
as to the proper application Of the new
law. The stumbling block. both sides
admitted. WAS the existing mi!eac.
system OF compensation
The announcement of the latest dead.
lock between. the railroads and thei,
employees came at the conclusion of
an all-day conference between the ma.
tional conference committee Of III.
railways and the brotherhood chiefs.
which had been arranged in September
we met" said Elisha Lee chairman
Of the railroad managers and the con
ference. for tho purpose OF cxchanr-
ing ideas on the application and tho
operation OF the Adamson law. We
failed TO reach an agreement. and We
are not certain that another mcetin.,
will take place"
THREATENS SUMMARY ACTION
IN EVENT OF EVASION
William G; Lee. president OF the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmeu
spokesman for the employees in the
absence OF \. Is. Garretson. of the Order
Of Railway Conductors. declared i'm
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 directly responsible
for the law. was still I'm effect tn,
the hrotherhoods would not hesitate 70
enforce ii if the occa sion warranted IT,
THE brotherhoods asked for this
conference said Mr.. Lee AT the
morning session we discussed the APP
plication Of the law. and found that
there was no basis upon which we
could possibly agree. Another setback
besides the elimination of the mileage
system. was the determination OF the
railroads to continue their suits to
determine the constitutionality OF the
law
The mileage system Of compensation
the basis OF which is the number OF
miles travcrsed by a train crow, and
not the actual hours of work, is !he
sruN OF the new problem that. a rail-
road 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 IN.
conference committee. in discussing this
phase Of the situation, THE trouble lies
i'll the fact that neither the railroads
nor the men know definitely how the
law should be applied.
EACH SIDE HAS OWN
IDEAS AS To APpLICAT
We have our own ideas as To how
the law shall hc app!ied-if AZ all, ~
suits TO test its validity arc now pend
ing-whilc tho brotherh oods have their
own ideas"
Chairman Lee added that he could
not predict the probable outcome OF the
difficulty. He said, however. that ne
gotiations might bc resumed by call
ing another conference. This possi-
bility was strengthened hy the an
nouncement Of the brotherhood chiefs
that they. with the exception Of rresi-
dent Lee. of tho traiumcn's orpaniza-
tion, proposed to remain here for sew
cral days. President Lee left for his
home in Cleveland tonight. lie said 1t
was his intention 10 join his confcrecs
in Washington on Monday. where they
will 20 TO attend the opening session
OF the Ncwlands Investigating com
nittcc.
Hesides William q. Lee tho brother
hood chiefs nj th" conference were:
Warren q. stone. OF the brotherhood 9f
Locomotive Engineers: w. :. carter.
brotherhood or Locomotive Fircmcn
and Enrincmcn, and T. l.. Sheppard.
acting president of the order Of Rail-
way Conductors. in tho absence Of MIR.
GarrctSon, who is on an extended vaca-
ton