The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-22

taken from the engine and placed on the road, but
tnat ~ Is necessary Tor him. and Tor the safety OF
all VINO are with him, to pay due attention TO his
attention Is more nee ded at his entering and leaving
the stations than at any other time, which duties
cannot De attended to by any other person. But
We complain That In the action under the supple
mentaIy rules, the engineer had been discharged,
when all who knew of the facts In the case could
not attach any blame to him for the misfortune and
the station agent, who in rule LIST is held RESPONSE
be is still retained in the employ OF the company
Now let us look OF this point in its true bearing
We do not deny but that we take a general sur
vey Of the road and switches, and to see that
no obstruction is on the track; but that it il
matter OF impossbility for US to note all the
switches without neglecting some other i'm
portant duty which is assigned to u.s. as in
SIX to twelve switches on the main track; many Of
these switches without lights and it is matter
OF mpossibty for us to discern them in the night.
discharged from the employ of the company and
still retaining the keys Of the switch. These men.
out of spirit Of enmity malice towards us or the
company deprive US OF our situations by placing the
laws, there ID no means for to obtain redress but
at that moment we are discharged men, and our
names posted on each division and branch Of the
could be proved of reckless running as we have al
ways considered it as much to our advantage as
that of the company that such men should be dis
charged. But we hold that we have right to be
heard In vindlcat0n OF any misfortune that may
befal us. At our first conference with Mr. McCalum
the following suppostion was made by one Of Us -
"Sir, as an engineer have been in the employ Of
the New York and Erie Railroad Company for q pc
ri0d of about six years, during which time train
has never been detained or any accident occurred
through any mismanagement Of mine. Now, it, on
merely to run my forward trucks Off the SWITCH
doing no damage to the engine or cars, which
switch had been placed wrong, would it be right,
under all circumstances for me to be discharged2s
Maf aIlryno tt
such arbitrary rules and measures that we seek to
escape. We believe that we who are still de-
sirous of life and point to service OF years in the
pany's employ. When we say that we have been
| we look back with spirit of pride that through
our exertions and that Of the administration of Mr..
| Mipot, confidence has been gained by the travel
| ing community, that extra trains are now needed
| over that OF any other season.
| A circular dated New York. June 10, 1854 issued
| by d. G. McCallum, contains the following:-
consider them (the rulss) of vital Importance in
operating the road not only for the protection of the
travelling community and interests and property of the
company but for the safety of the engineers themselves
| and other persons employed on the trains
| With all due Difference to the knowledge of Mr..
| lum-what is best for safety!-that know
| ledge having been attained by him in period Of
about three OF four years, we still claim, of
discernment to know what Is safe aud just for US
to work under, our knowledge having been attained
upon the engine and in the shop, through period
Of from four to twenty years, and 10 almost every
country III WHICH TullTO1 Us are In existence. Mr..
McCalum also sets forth in his circular that state
ment of the grievances had been presented to him,
but did not contain the genuine signatures Of the
individuals whose names were appended. Mr..
McCallum well knew that he was informed that the
statement Of grievances, with the original sigma
lures attached, could be had for him. but which he
did not desire-the said original statement having
been personally signed by the engineers the three
divisions with the exception of some three or four.
One of the most serious of complaint against
the regulations of the company, and of which we
have asked repeal, was the publishing to all roads
Of this regulation which we have asked them to
repeal.
| Mr.. McCallum, in his circular of the 10th, does
not answer the question, as asked by us, neither
does he deny that notices given Of dismi ssals,
with such other statements, detrimental to the
party dismissed, as the company may choose to
make; and we ask the impartial public to Judge if
we have not the most serious cause of complaint.
and most justifiable cause for resignation.
Now, with all due Difference to the President,
and superintendent, and managers OF the road we
beg to inform them that we, well as themselves,
have minds to discriminate what is JUSTICE and that
| we are not, as they may have improperly judged,
| like the machinery we manage, entirely to be
| destroyed by the carelessness of the switchmen,
| and others, over whom we have control. Our
| lives and limbs we have always hazarded but our
regulations are too valuable for the price they offer.
JOHN DoNAHUE,
JOHN c. MEaNNEs,
WM SCHRIER,
Committee on behalf of the Engineers of the New
York and Erie Railroad.