The New York herald., 1874-09-25
ENGINEERS AND THEIR PAY.

Important Meeting OF Locomotive EnEa.
neers of the Various Trunk Lines and
Leading Roads I'm Regard to WnEcs-
The Present Rates to Be Maintained
Whiie railway managers are holding consulta-
tions and conventions to adjust rates on the
"through" routes, and the new administration Of
the Erie road having commenced general on
slaught on the wages OF employees, the engineers
acting on the principle that an ounce OF preven-
ton Is worth pound OF cure beld meeting yes
terday which was largely attended by delegates
from the leading roads th'oughout tne country.
at 81. Charles Hall, corner OF Eighth avenue and
Forty-second street.
No class Of workingmen in the country perhaps
are better organized Tor sell-protection or more
resolute AND selIreliant than the locomotive engt-
neers whose organization numbers nearly l., 900
members and which extends throughout AL the
States and the Canadas Since the reduction ol
pay on the Pennsylvania Central road ana leased
lines last winter, and the strike that ensued tuere
from, an uneasy and suspicious feeling mas existed
Further reductions have been feared and the pre-
yAlnQ impI esSion has or late been tnat cOnsluol-
able pressure has been brought TO bear oy western
companies upon the managers OF the Erie rOa1 "
make reduction oi salaries on that line ana tM1s
pave the way for general reduction on tne lsSs
powerful roads.
The Ere company pay nominally higher wages
than other lines; Dur on account OF the tnevit ta0e
loss oil time, owing TO the system OF paying by tl0
trip il is not considered by the engineers equal to
the compensation on other roads where nxed
sum is paid monthly, or less per diem rates, with
lost Llne. This state Oh Affairs, together WITH
the recent action OF the new managers OF the Erie
road In making, as the men say "a leariul sla ugn-
terri OF the wages OF many OF the old employees, has
excited considerable alarm, and was the ca Use OF
the meeting yesterday, which was called to 0rder
by Grand Chief Engineer p. NJ. Arthur, OF CleSe-
land, VINO, in q few remarks stated 10 the Con-
vention the object for which 1t was assembled
viz, organization for bold and vigorous resist
ance to any lurtner reduction in the present rste
OF wages.
Alter iurther speeches on the relationship exit.
ing between employers and employees, the lOll0w'
ing resolutions were unanimously adopted
Whereas there seems be a widespread apprehension
that certain railway managers contemplate reduction
OF the OF engineers, We the delegates represent
roads, 10 wit, the New York Central and Hudson Ror
railroads, Harlem Railroad, New York and New Havn
Railroad Erie Railroad, Pennsyivania Central and SO.
side lines New York Central Baltimore and Ohio Raj
road, Atlantic and Great western Railroad. Lake shOr
and Michigan Southern Railroad, Michigan Central
Canada southern Long island and South side railroads
and Western Railroad, Allegheny and Pttsburg and lie
high Valley railroad New York MID and Railroad, Ney
mont and COntoOc oOk Railroad, and Columbus Chicag
and Indiana Central Railroad.
Resolved. That we are & determnedly & opposed TO- an.
and ticaiy against any reduction OF wages AT ht
present that in our opinion, II would be unius
and uncaed for on the part OF any railroad company
attempt any reduction OF present rates
Resolved. That ii is the opinion and desire OF the en-
gneers here assembled that the Pennsylvania Centra
ton made by them the wages OF their engineers last
January promised by the President OF that company
and that will use ali honorable means to accomplish
such restoration.
At six P. NJ. the meeting which was enthusiastic
in the extreme, yet orderly and decorOuS through.
out, adjourned sine die.