The New York herald., 1879-09-20
A STRIKE AVERTED.

TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT OF THE TROUBLE
WITH THE ENGINEERS ON THE 81" ROADS.
There was trouble anticipated yesterday the
elevated railroads in both the eastern and western
divisions of the Manhattan and it thought that
very possibly travel would be suspended entirely
for time the engineers in body had threatened
to strike work. unless their demands should be
accodod to. and Mr. Guilford the vice president of
the company. had refused to listen to anything in
the form of demand. meeting of the directors
was held however. during the day. and while certain
questions at left in abeyance to be settled
on their merits, sufficient concession made to
satisfy the mon and the trains run regularly
during the afternoon and evening It was not
question Of wages which made the issue between
employers and employed. though doubtless certain
degree OF irritation has been caused by the recent
orders of the company in regard to pay, but the diff
cuty was the climax of long standing grievance OF
tho engineers with the management of MIR. Stirling.
the master of machinery, under whose orders they
have hitherto been.
On Monday last Mr.. Stirling discharged FIVE Of the
engineers on the Third avenue line, according to
the statement of of the disaffected engineers
who was met by the reporter last evening. Mr..
Stirling could not be found by the reporter either
at his Office or his residence, and the immediate
cause of the discharge could not be learned. What
ever was, the other engineers espoused the cause
of their companions. and meeting of engineers of
both the Third and Sixth lines called for
Wednesday last. The man with whom the reporter
talked said he at the meeting but refused to tell
the particulars of the proceedings saying that those
present bound themselves to secrecy. One or two
who refused to do this asked to leave the
and did SO. At this meeting the question Of wages
was discussed, but was not made the basis of any
communication with the company, committee,
however. was chosen to wait upon Mr. Guiliord. the
vice president, and lay before him the grievances OF
the men and demand the reinstatement of the Ave
men and the removal of Mr.. Stirling.
la THE MEMS TERMS REFUSED.
This committee called on Mr. Guilford in
structed and stated their case on Thursday. Mr..
Guilford explicitly refused listen to anything in
the form Of demand and told the committee that
it was not in his power to settle the difficulty
tirely, the action Of the directors necessary.
He assured them, however. that they should have
full justice done to them and that their would
receive immediate attention soon us meeting of
the Board could be held.
''Our committee reported this to us, said the en-
gineer. "nnd we determined to stop work to-day
yesterday IT we did not get more definite answer
But got word to-day that we to be under the
orders OF the superintendents of the two divisions
instead Of under Stirling. and reckon that will be
considered satisfactory by the men. Any way, the
committee didn't ordera strike and there none."
AS more definite information could be obtained
from this the reporter went to the office Of
the company. Mr.. Vanbrocklin, the superintendent
Of the Western DIVISION gave substantially the
account and said that tho transfer of authority from
with all the trouble.
''How about the case of the fve men who were dis
chargedY asked the reporter.
"Wel there were some men discharged, but not
on this division. Their not settled in
the settlement Of the diculty but will be disposed
of on their merits. / do not know why they were
discharged or what disposition will be made of
their CASES.
'Were there no demands made for q restoration Of
the wages to the former fguresY
There has been no reduction in the wages.
The reporter expressed some surprise at this
statement, and Mr.. Vanbrocklin qualified it. "There
has been" he said, change in the method Of pay
ment since the consolidation. The mon were paid
ON the metropolitan road by the hour and on the
New York road by the day. On this system some of
the engineers were making more than day wages.
Now all the men are paid by the day. The only
duction has been in the OF the gatemen on the
metropolitan who were making 81 10 day by the
hour payments They now paid 81 so y day, the
same on the Third avenue road"
"What are the engineers paidY
"a few who work short hours and not on
regular engines get 50 75 day. The regular rates
are SIS q day for men and So 90 for the best"
''Is 1t true that the number Of ticket sellers has
been reducedY'
"Ycs. One man can do the work of a station
easily excepting tor about two hours day. and we
think have men that can do it oil the time. If
find 10 doesn't work, however, will put extra
men We not going to drive away the public"