Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-26
PUBLIC SERVICE
HEAD IS FIRM
McCarter Will Arbitrate Wage
Dispute Only Under Utility
Boards Direction

NEWARK, July 26-Thomas N.
McCarter, president Of the Public
Service Railway Company, definitely
refused to arbitrate the wage; dispute
between the company and its trolley
men today unless such arbitration
be under the direction of the State
Public Utilities Commission. He de-
clared If a strike developed the
company would be through and
probably would have to bring about
reorganization.
Mr.. McCarter's refusal to arbi-
trate the dispute came when Mayor
Breidenbach asked Mr.. Wepner If
the union would delay the strike for
80 days, pending attempts at arbi
tration.
Mayor Hague jumped up and sug-
gested that first, Mr.. McCarter
ishould be asked to state the posi-
tion of the company on arbitration
of the wage dispute.
Positively and finally no. Mr..
McCarter replied. 1.-The company
will consider no arbitration unless
it is carried on by the public utility
commission and if the strike is call
ed, the company is through. In that
event, it will probably be necessary
for the company to bring about a
reorganization"
When Mr.. McCarter had finished
his statement, Mr.. Wepner answered
Mayor Breidenbach's original ques-
ton.
THE men have voted to strike on
August l if their demands are not
complied with" he said. 'I per-
sonally cannot change this, but I
can say that if arbitration is agreed
upon, the strike will be delayed"
Mr.. McCarter walked out of the
conference after a verbal battle with
| Mayor Hague in which each accused
the other of insulting remarks.
The trouble began when Mayor
Hague took exception to a state
ment by Mr.. McCarter that certain
members of the conference We're
seeking to make political capital
out of the situation. The Jersey City
mayor declared he felt certain Mr..
McCarter referred specifically to him
in his remarks. Mr.. McCarter ad-
nitted this to be true.
Then followed a verbal tilt after
which Mr.. McCarter withdrew,
thanking the members of the con-
ference for their courtesy.
Throughout the conference, Mr..
McCarter stuck firmly by his dec
laration that the company would
not accept anyone other than the
members of the Public Utilities
Commission as arbitrators. Several
other names were suggested but
were rejected by him as unsatisfac-
tory.
Just before leaving the conference,
Mr.. McCarter, turning to Mayor
Breidenbach, said:
In the interest of harmony I
will agree to submit the wage ques-
ton to a board of arbitration COM
prising three members: One to be
named by the company, a second to
be named by the men, provided the
third member of the board be
Harry v. Osborne"
Mr.. Osborne is chairman of the
State Utility Commission.
This proposal by Mr.. McCarter
was rejected by Mr.. Wepner.
The conference then recessed for
ten minutes.
In opening the conference Mayor
Breidenbach said he had no desire
to take sides in the controversy and
his only motive in inviting the ex-
ecutives of the twenty-five cities
served by the Public Service rail-
way company to meet was
simply to protect their people
and possibly be of some service in
bringing the parties to the dispute
together.
The Public Service Railway Com
pany win not attempt to operate its
cars with strike breakers in the
event that attempts to arbitrate the
wage dispute with its trolleymen
breaks down and the men strike
on August /, Mr.. McCarter told the
group Of city executives.