Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-26
MEMPHIs AND CHARLESTON R. R.
The strike-what she Employees De
mand OF the Railroad PrOprie-
fnFa

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The Btrike-what the Employees De
mand OF h Railroad PFOprie-
tors
Mr.. Merritt, Of the Charleston railroad,
who indicted an epistle to the LEDGER
yesterday, does not seem to have under
stood the situation when he stated that
the employees Of the Charleston railroad
we're satisfied with affairs. The meeting
or strike followed rapidly. The meeting
was held at the round.house, and was at
tended by about n hundred and seventy
persons, including fremen, brakemeu,
carpenters, painters, blacksmiths. ma
chinists, helpers and others employed in
the service of the Memphis and Charles.
ton railroad. The meeting was called
duly to order, and organized by electing
Mr.. c. F. Aaron chairman, Mr.. ]. G.
Ramsey acting as secretary. The chair.
man stated that the object Of the meet.
ing was TO appoint a committee to hold
an interview with the general manager Of
the Memphis and Charleston railroad,
through Mr.. Bufford, master-mschanic,
and request him to advance the wages Of
the employees, so that they would be paid
the same wages "a are now paid the en-.
ployes Of the Mississippi and Tennessee
and Memphis and Little Rock railroad.
On motion, it was agreed to appoint a
committee for this purpose and on reso-
lutions. The chairman thereupon ap,
pointed on the committee Messrs. J. G.
Ramsey J. B. Holley and W. D. Minton.
On motion, the chairman, G. F. Aaron,
was added to the committee, which was
instructed to draft resolutions, and
through Mr.. Buford to present the same
to the general manager.
The meeting passed a resolution de-
manding the restoration of the former
wages, and that the same be duly drafted
and presented to the manager; after
which the meeting adjourned over to thi;
evening at 6 o'clock. Last May the
wages Of the employees were reduced
almost ten per cent.
WAGES PRESENT AND FUTURE
The men in the shops are now allowed
to work but nine hours a day. The rate
of pay is as follows: Machinists, from
$3.50 to So for ten hours work; black.
smiths, from 50 to 81 So for ten hours
work; helpers, ST. so for ten hours work
AS these employees work but nine hours
a day, there is a corresponding reduc
ton Of wages. In the car department
whose employees, since the first of thii
month, have been working ten hours a
day, the following wages are paid
Painters, from 81 to So so; carpenter
from 81 to 81 so; laborers, 81. The pa.
before the reduction in May was as fol
lows: Machinists, So 10; carpenters
$2.75; blscksmiths, So IS; painters
$2.7 l%aborers, 81 Is. The brakemeI
now receive 81. 80, aud iremen $3.50 pc
day. Firemen on freight engines &c
pay only for the actual number Of day
work, which amount to eighteen days, o
three trips a month. The rates de
manded, ns paid by the Mississippi an
Tennessee railroad, are as follows: Ma
chinists, 1925; blacksmiths, $3.50; helr
ers, $l.75; carpenters, 50; painters, frou
So to 1925; laborers, l.25; 6remen, 81
The section men on the Memphis an
Charleston road average eighty ceuts
day, laboring from sunup to sundown
Last evening the committee appointeC
waited upon Colonel McGhee and pre-
scented a petition rsciting their griev
ances, and written in q business styl
and spirit of fairness.
AMICABLE ADJUSTMENT.
At half-past twelve o'clock today Co
onel McGhee, vice : president of tn
Charleston railroad and general manage
of the line, met the committee appointe
by the employees, and after a free discus
sion and consultation as to the causes G
the strike an ARRANGEMENT vas agree
upon as to rates of wages which wa
alike satisfactory to the railroad CON
pany and the employees. There can b
no further trouble on the Charleston
road, and everything will move along a
before the appearance of the unpleasant
ness,
GNnH