The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-19
THE STRIKE.
The End Apparently Beached-HloVe-
ncnt of Trains All Along the Line.

| and hremen which commenced last Monday, il
apparently at an end, and the Boston ant
Maine Railroad Company have defeated one o
the most powerful combinations in this coun
| try.
The passenger trains on this road were rur
regularly Saturday and were much better pat
ronized than they had been during most of thu
| week. Several extra freight trains were rul
each way.
1t was reported that some acts of malice
would be attempted in this city by the striker
or their friends, yesterday. Superintendent
Furber heard the report and telegraphed t,
Mr.. Stevens, the agent in this city, to have al
extra police force on duty to protect the com
panys property. In response to this despatch
Marshal Bridges detailed six men, who huns
around the station all day, while the special DO
Ecemen employed by the company were watch
Ing for something to turn up about the round
house. They were all disappointed, however
for not striker appeared nor hardly anyone
else. At 4 o'clock there were twenty men per
haps in the depot to see the freight train &C
out, but all was quiet and ordinary police force
seemed uncalled for The freight train that
went out was very heavy one. Six or seven
heavy trains arrived from Boston during the
day. AT this rate the road will soon be cleal
of freight.
Strange to say, the men are very confident
that the matter will be settled and they shall
get their old positions with the pay they ask for
just bow they expect to bring about this revo-
luton they do not make public.
The Boston Herald does not appear to credit
the statement that the company have won a
victory ard says: The public do not believe
that the strike is ended far from it. The strike
has only commenced; and ere it is adjusted,
judging from the material which composes the
belligerent forces, it will involve the interests
of every road centreing in Boston in contest
as unwelcome as it will be unavoidable. The
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi neers, as an
organization, yields an influence over toe rail-
road interests of the country second only to
that exerted by similar organization in the
Old World The question OF labor versus capt.
tai has assumed a new aspect; and the engn-
GERS assert that, should the result Of the strug-
gle which is liable to ensue prove that capitals
able to win the victory, the pay of engineers
and fremep will be even lower than the pres
ent rates. History, they say, will repeat it.
self. that capital is dictator from whose fiat
there is but one appeal. Realizing that fact the
members Of the Brotherhood announced their
determination to assert their rights and protect
their interests and the interests of their fell
low-workmen, even at the sacrifice of time and
money. On the other hand, the corporation
whose business is Frustrated claims certain
rights which are inviolab,e. No body of men
should be allowed to dictate terms on which
the business of any corporation shall be con-
Quoted. They have, however, a right as en-
plOyes, to demand any fixed sum as a remun-
GRAFTON for their services, and no one can deny
them the right of declining to accept less
amount. But how far they are warranted in
obstructing the business of corporation in
their efforts to carry their point is the question
on which the community is disagreed.
Hearing Before the Railroad Commits
sioners of Massachusetts.
The Railroad Commissioners of Massachu-
sets held an informal conference with both
parties, Friday and Saturday, in Boston.
President White was first called He said
that early in the year 1876 the Directors felt
called upon TO reduce the expenses of the road,
and vote was taken to make reduction of 10
per cent. ON all officers and employees of the
road, to 90 into effect on the 18th of January,
1876. This vote was made public, and dele
cation then called upon him from the engineers
of the road and informed him that they could
not submit to any reduction.
The delegation was informed that the reduc.
ton affected all alike, and that it was all the
road could afford to pay. The committee called
several times and at the last interview he was
Informed that unless the pay of the engineers
was restored they should call the Chief of the
Brotherhood to advise with them, Mr.. Arthur
was sent for, and on his arrival in Boston the
committee again called upon him an d asked at
what time he would meet Mr. arthur He re-
piled at two o'clock. Mr.. Arthur came, and
during the interview be said that the pay Of the
men must be restored. You don't want to lose
those men. MIR. White replied that he did not
want TO lose his men, but he could not restore
the pay. Mr. Arthur then said that if the pay
was not restored he would not be responsible for
their acts. Ii he ordered them to strike they
would strike, aud il he ordered them not to
strike they would not.
The committee was informed that he could
not accede to the demand made; that busr ess
was dull, and that the road was paying all it
was able to. The committee then retired, but
called again aud asked if the former decision
was to be changed, and be replied that it was
not in his power to increase the pay of the en-
gineers, as 1t had been fixed by vote of the
Directors, and the matter would have to come
before them. They then said that there were
other matters OF which they had to complain,
and that was of the treatment of William
Smith, the train dispatcher. The matter was
talked over, and the committee left. The next
day he received letter signed by Mr. Arthur,
in which he said that in all cases where there
was difference between the corporations and
the engineers, he, as the Chief Engineer of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was
called upon to act as adviser, and he asked
when an interview could be had MIR. White
replied to the letter verbally that he did not
recognize this Mr.. Arthur, and be would not
allow any man to come between him and his
engineers
The committee then said that unless their
demands were complied with they should leave.
Very we'll, said Mr.. White, you can leave.
Mr.. White then gave an account of the strike
substantially as was given in the columns of the
dailies, and also spoke of the acts of violence
which had been done.
Mr.. Adams, of the Commissioners, inquired
in regard 10 his comforting with the engineers
since the strike. To which be replied that he
had no one to confer with, as he did not con
slider any of the men in his employ now; that
he considered all connection between them sew
cred.
MI Arthur asked if it was known that any
of the members of the Brotherhood were gull
ty of tampering with the engines; to which Mr..
White replied that he did not. In answer to a
question by Mr. Q. f. Choate, counsel of the
Corporation, Mr.. White said that some of the
men had said that they did not want to leave.
W
of their lives. and he did not think he ought to
give their names.
Director Osgood next made statement,
which was'in entire accord with that made by
President White. He further said, that the
course of the President ard Superintendent
had the approval of the Directors, who had
been in consultation with them since the diff
Guilty first arose. He had said that he would
house every engine on the road rather than to
submit to dlctaSion from any source
Supernten lent Furber said that so far as be
knew the relations between the men and off
GERS of the company had been pleasant till the
redactlon of ten per cent. was ordered. He re-
garded the enginemen as superior sort of men
Until this time there had been no complaint
| made against Mr.. Smith, the engine dispatch
| er. What really caused the strike he did n }
| know; he never could see any good reason 70
| it, and was never more surprised than when h,
heard there was strike.
| Mr.. Furber was asked several questions by
| Mr., Arthur, in answer to which the Superin
| tendent reaffirmed that his relations with thu
| men had always been pleasant, and it was no
because he had treated them harshly, ignored
them or failed to do what he had promised
| that they went over his head and went to Mr.
| White, the President did say to one of the en-
| gineers that the committee they selected wer
| macontents. Mr.. Kent, one of the COMMITTEES
of engineers. charged that Mr.. Furber said, a
the second hearing, THAT is none of their d.
business; I'll attend to that" and Mr.. Furbe
| denied it.
VIM. Smith, train dispatcher for the pas
l fnur uaars wac ca1led He testified that tn