The Indianapolis sentinel., 1885-03-12
A WABASH OFFICIALS STATEMENT.
First vice President Hayes Shows This Re-
ductfon Is Only the Entrance of the
Small End OF the Wedge.

ST. LOUIS, March 1l.-There Is nothing
new in the railroad strike here this morning.
A committee from Secalis have called on the
men in the Missouri Pacific shops, but, 1t Is
understood, got little, If any, satisfaction.
1t is stated that the men In the Missouri Pa.
cifc shops here have decided not to go out.
The militia companies, which left here yes
te-dsy, are still resting between Jefferson
City and Sedalia. Negotiations for a COM
promise between the road and the men are
now goirg on.
Captain r. S. Hayes, senior Vice President
of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, in an inter
view on the strike, said: "The main ques-
ton in this strike is one OF personal liberty,
or whether handful OF men, who are not
satisfied with their positions as employees,
shall be allowed 20 prevent other men, who
have no expressed cause OF dissatisfaction,
from continuing at work. Out Of %, 600 en-
ploy yes OF the Southwestern and Wabash sys-
tens, not ], coo are directly affected by the
reduction of wages which is alleged to be the
reason for this strike, and I am molally
certain that of this 1000 at least 500 would
60 TO work tomorrow ii they were
not restrained by their bulldozing co-em-
ployes. The reduction made is in regard to
men employed in machine shops and round
houses and some of the coal shute men. The
train service hands have not been reduced.
The reductions have been principally in
Texas, where thsy may be said, in a general
way, to range from 70 10 per cent but
still leaving wages at which other men fol.
lowing like means OF livelihood have here
tofore got along very comfortably. In Ar
kaI sas, Louisiana and Kansas the reduc-
fions are not so great, but the Texas lines
M nan nd
fixed charges, as rule, and some OF them
were not doing that in these depressed times.
Tt was simply a question of whether given
sum OF money allotted for expenditures to
repair rolling stock and keep up round
houses should be so distributed as TO give
employment to large or a small number of
men; and il was decided to keep as many
as possible. During the dark winter days
hours were limited by reason of shortness of
daylight, and shop-men worked but hye days
in the week of nine hours each, or a week of
forty five hours This time rule prevailed in
all shops IN Kansas and Missouri, but on the
16thb last month the schedule time was
raised to elk days of ten hours, giving fifteen
hours more earning time each week, or from
four to six days extra pay each month.
Some ten days ago both Mr.. Hoxie and my
self were in Texas visiting different places
where these troubles have since occurred,
and the men, If they had complaints had
full opportunity to present them. but no
complaints were made. We heard of no
grievances.
ago Er. Talmage arranged a scheale of prices
for engineers and 6remen, and agreed with
the men that no reduction should be made
except on sixty days notice. This agree
Eent has been lived up to- and it Is under
stood and believed that our train service men
are anxious and willing to work if they can
only be permitted to do so.n
CeDtain Hayes further said that the pay
mast.r stood ready to pay of the hands who,
by reason of failing to return to work after
propir notice, had voluntarily dropped their
position on the companys rolls. The fact
that kome of the strikers have refused to &C.
cept their pay checks did not place them on
any setter footing. Discharged men refus-
ing their wages did not by that refusal, con-
stitute themselves employees, but simply as
sumed the relation of creditors. He said 80
far IS repairs to rolling stock were con-
cerntd, the railroad had now in good shape
thres times the amount OF rolling stock that
was tecessary to do the present volume OF
business. Repairs could be done by con-
tractt il necessary, and the public need not
suffet. liz the laws were properly enforced
and the railroad company enabled to run its
traira, as 1t had right TO do.
A CGnc erted Scheme for a General Reduc-
tion of Wages.
CHtcAGo, March lit is rumored here
thatithe action OF the Wabash Road which
brouEht about the present strike was taken
afte1consultation with the management OF
othet roads. and that it is purely tentative
affaif to test the feeling of the railroad en-
ployas OF the country on the subject OF a re-
duct1on of wages. The Wabash, from its
location and from ths fact that its property
is ur,der. the protection of the United States
Government being in the hands OF re-
ceiv.r, is peculiarly well fitted to try the ex-
pertinent. Whatever the outcome, the stock
market will not be effected to any great ex.
tent. as would be the case were some divi.
den1 paying road to take the initiative.
Then the fact that the United States
Marshals and even Federal troops,
are Stable to pounce down on any body
Of strikers who undertake to destroy
property will prove a strong leverage IN
forcing the result aimed at. II successful
report has it that the leading roads of the
country Will follow with like reduction in
turn. using the reduction of wages on the
Wabash and the competitive advantages
given it thereby as q pretext; in brief, claim
ing that this reduction forces them un'
willingly, to this step. They thus hope to
secure general reduction without engen'
deripg as much hot blood as would other
wise result. The struggling diagonal position
Of ths Wabash system will make this claim
very plausible, for ii runs into competition
with nearly every pool and traffic agreement
of any magnitude in the country. Ii is fur
ther .aid that il the strike is successful and
the road has to give in, the other lines are 10
help pay the cost of the experiment.
Fires i'm Elkhart County.
Special to the Sentinel.