New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-19


r,ee.nresident of the Rapid Company yester-
sav sent a letter to the Executive Committee
of the Brotherhood.
ACTION OF THE WESTERN UNION.
!. coxMrrEr TO HEAR COMPLAINTS APPOINTED
BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The action of the Executive Committee OF the
xy..,srn Union Company ignored the existence OF
ths brotherhood of Telegraphers, and the demands
for higher wages and less work which were submit
tod bv n committee of the latter organization 10
yice-President Eckert on Monday. The position OF
General Eckert was fully supported and his treat
ment of the telegraphers's committee unanimously
approved 1t was decided TO appoint commi'.ee
of three consisting of AloDzo B. Cornell - W.
Clendenin and John T. Terry, to nvest'ga'e
compla,nts of inequalities of pay and
service and report to the Executive Committee
This action is regarded both by friends OF the COM
pany and the discontented telegraphers, as notiee
that no negotiations will be held with the secret
organization of the operators. The future course
of the members of tho Brotherhood will be aeter-
mined by the action of their Executive Board. now
In this city, bat no official statement OF It's inten
tions could be obtained. the general expectation
among opsrators is that strike will be ordered TO
day. ,. >,vrrrSa
j. The Executive Committee OF the western chioh
met at 1890 o'clock in the company's building ~
Broadway and Dey-st. There was full attend
auce of the members. The president, DR.. Norvin
Green. George J. Gould and Augustus
schell. who are now In Europe were the only ones
absent. The first to arrive at the meeting were John
Il. Terry and Harrison Durkec. A little later e1-
Governor Cornell came In and then the other men,
hers struggled in irregularly. Mr.. Gould was the
last one to enter the ROOM The full list OF tho Ex-
ecutive Committee as represented Is as ioio"s'
Thomas T. Eckert, vice-prcsident and gencpei man.
agcr aud acting president in DR.. Green's absence;
John r. Terry, John Van Horne Harrison Durkee'
JAY Gould. Russell Sage, Aionzo B. Cornell. sidney
Dillon and Cyrus w. Field. Erastus Wiman, a de
rector uf the company, was present TO furnish IN
formation regarding the Great Northwestern COM
oauv of Canada, and James w. Clendenin another
director, but not member of the Executive Com
mittse, also attended the meeting.
The first business done was the presentation by
General Eckert of the memorial received
by HIM on Monday and statement
of his interview with the telegraphers COM
mittee. A thorough discussion was then entered
into regarding the attitude taken by the acting
president, the chances of a strike and the ability
with which the company could successfully meet 1t.
There was no disagreement, 1t is understood, re-
pardlng the position taken by General Eckert, and
all his acts during the recent agitation were cor
daily approved. The sentiment was general That
the company could not afford to recognize In
any way a secret labor organization. the
opinion being universal that any concession in the
present case would only lead to further excessive
demands What passed between the members oil
the committee regarding the character OF the de-
mands is said to have indicated a unanimous view
that they were far beyond the bounds of reason.
The officers asserted that the advance in wages
asked coupled with the requested reduction OF the
hours of labor would be equivalent to raising OF
salaries 80 per cent.
No SERIOUS RESULTS OF STRIKE FEARED.
Assistant General Manager d. IL. Bates and Gen.
eral superintendent Tinker wore called in TO the
meeting TO submit statistics bearing upon the pos
sible condition into which the company would be
thrown by strike The directors were assured
that large number of the operators could be de-
pended upon to remain with the company that
many of the strikers places could be filed by re-
tired operators and new men who understood
the business aud that the strike would not be
likely TO affect many country offices. The
employees in those offices, 1t said could be called
upon 10 do work in the main offices should the
latter be crippled seriously The whole tenor of
the discussions is said have indicated determl-
nation TO resist the demands presented as well as
the mode of presenting them and to tace the utmost
possibilities oi strike before yielding. To indicate.
however. the willingness Of the company to make
equitable adjustments of labor and wages where
individual inequalities existed 1t was finally
decided to appoint committee OF Investigation
This resolution is unanimously adopted:
Reseired, That committee consisting Of Ex-Governor
Cornell, James Clendenin and John T. Terry be APP
po,ued inquire complaints OF inequalities Of com
pensaon condition Of service OF employees OF this
company, n any, and report 10 this committee
COMPOSITION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
No authority to act was gwen to the special COM
mittee. The next meeting of the Western Union
Executive Committee will he held on next Wednes-
day. The Special Committee held a brief confer
ence after the other meeting was over. aud decided
TO meet this morning at O'Clock. The friends OF the
Western Union comment upon the committee
" "no-comproinise" one. A " manifold issued by
the Associated Press possesses significance. II
says:
The composition Of the committee is OF some interest
action. Mr. cesdenin one Of the members il president
OF the Acadia Coal Company which las extensive mine
community and have frequently indulged strikes
Mr. Ciendenin has always managed these crises and hs
a strike Ex-Governor Cornell and Nj Terry slse
said be opposed 20 the strike as means OF settling
wage difficulties.
A TALK WITH JOHN T. TERRY.
II was proposed at first that the matter should b
referred TO the Committee on Expenditures. to wbic
1t naturally belonged but the suggestion OF prom
inent member of that committee that 1t would b
better to appoint special committee. OF whcl
neither Mr.. Gould nor Mr.. Sage should be member
was finally adopted. The final selection OF th
committee was made in harmony with this policy
Ex-Governor Cornell has not been active In tn
management of the company since 1t has beer
controlled by Jay Gould. Mr. Clendsnn is not q
member Of the Executive COMMITTEES and was
present at the meeting only by accident. and Mr..
Terry was elected director about four months age
- representative of the estate Of the late ex
Governor Morgan. Of which he is one OF the execu
tors. In regard to the present relations between
the telegraph company aud its employees Mr. Terry