The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-19

charge OF the negotiations with the road. This
gentleman stated that the leaving of the trains
by Messrs. Whidden, Cook and Virgins was
not countenanced by the organization now
striking, but that these men were members of
the Brotherhood. The witness had been an en-
gineer for rs years on the Boston & Maine rail-
road, and commenced to work for $50 per
month, and was advanced at different times
until SO per diem was given by the corpora
ton. The various grievances were related,
amongst which may be mentioned the refusal
of President White to confer with their &C.
knowledged representative Mr.. Arthur. The
witness stated that he ran 1873 miles per day.
but knew of an instance where an engineer ran
15l miles, for which he received but 81 so per
day. The harsh treatment of Train Dispatcher
Smith was especially referred to, and several
instances OF his alleged unmahly conduct
were told. The reason for the abandoning OF
the trains at the same time by all of the loco
motive employees was said to be simply to pre-
vent accidents. The opinion of the witness
was that the remainder of the employees re-
ceved wages as high as those given by other
lines, but that the engineers and firemen did
not receive an adequate recompense for SER
vices.
MIR. G. w. Kent, another member of the
committee mentioned above, stated that he
heard of the contemplated strike about a week
before it actually took place. He told the cir
cumstances OF his appointment on the commit
tee by the engineers at this end of the line and
gave brief account of his interview with
President White, which was in the main cor
roborative of that of the previous witness In
relation to the clause referring to the oldest
men having the best train, he said when it was
presented TO Superintendent Furber, he replied
with an OATH that it was none of the commit
faQ III hn told Of ell T.. al.
Train Dispatcher Smith had cast upon him,
and related several instances of his gross negli-
gence The witness had reported these cases
to President White, who promised redress. In
relation to the stoppage OF the trains at Ger
tain hour, the gentleman said that the orders
were to stand by their engines two hours, that
it was done on the ground of safety, and that
the retention of the locomotive and unshack-
ling OF the engine was done upon the personal
responsibility of the participants, and not upon
that of the committee of the Brotherhood. The
object of the hiring of the engineers by the
Brotherhood was stated to be- to compel the
corporation to accede to their demands.
Mr.. William I'll. Walker of Dover, N. H., an
employe of the company for the past twelve
years. commenced as fireman at 1926 per day,
and had steadily advanced to So IL, which he
received at the present time. His story was
substantially the same as the two previous
members of the the committee 1t is espe-
cially desirable that Mr.. Smiths authority be
engineers like men.
Mr.. Charles A. Stevens of Lawrence, the
remaining member of the Engineers Commit
tee, stated that he had been in the employ of
the corporation for the past eleven years, seven
of which had been spent as an engineer. First
received $1.S2, and at present receives the reg
ular pay. The present trouble commenced
about year ago, and the spirit of discomfort
had reigned ever since.
The reports that the men were intimidated
md fhraa nod wifi rytoIaa
sign the agreement was false. Instances were
related of special grievances.
Mr.. Peter M. Arthur being sworn, testified
that he was resident of Cleveland, O., and
that he was Grand Chief Engineer Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers of the
United States. The first intimation of any
difficulty between the members of the order
and the B. &. M. r. r. was one year last
April, when the engineers were much dissatis-
ned with the reduction to which they had been
subjected. He received telegram from the
department at this city stating that there was
serious difficulty in this city. Went to Phil
lipsDurg, N. j., and arranged a similar diff
Guilty.
Upon coming to Boston he sent a letter to Pres
ident White, requesting aninterview, to which
Mr. White replied that he did not know this
man Arthur and did not porpose to let any man
come between the corporation and the engi-
neers. He couselled moderation, and stated
that wherever he has had an interview with
the ofhcers OF corporation that strike never
took place. Personally the witness was oppos-
ed to strikes and was in favor of m oral suasion.
He had said, under the present excitement
that he ha but to give the word and he could stop
every road in the city. The brotherhood had
been ordered by the speaker not to tamper or tc
injure the property of the corporation in any
way whatever, and the course of the engineers
who did this was disapproved of by the chief.
In answer to request, the speaker gave his
tory of several strikes which had taken place
and which have been amicaDly adjusted by the
brotherhood.