Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-10
THE LABOR TROUBLES.
THE TEKAS.PACIFIC STRIKES.
Receiver Browns Statement Giving the Ma
teriaI Facts In Connection with the Tron-
bIe-The Agitation nc Other Points.

| 'fi"i fafts In tonnecuon WIN t"e iio"
| ble-The Agitation at Other Points.
| by telegraph to the Dispatch.l
ST. LOUIS, March "a very long
statement containing all the material
facts in connection with the strike on
the Texas and Pacific railroad, made
by Ex-Governor Brown, receiver OF that
road, has been received here. The es-
sential parts Of the statement are as
follows:
After stating the fact Of the appoint
ment Of receivers Of the road by
Judge Pardee, Of the United States
Circuit Court, on the 10th of Decem-
Der last, Mr.. Brown says: About
December 10Th Receiver Brown went
to Marshall to supervise the transfer Of
the property and to arrange for paying
the rolls due the employees for the pre-
vious month. On reaching the
shops he was waited upon by
three gentlemen representing them
selves as a committee Of employees Of
the shops, and asked if the receivers
would confirm and ratify an agreement
made in March, 1885, with the then
management Of the Missouri Pacific
system defining the relation Of the
management and the employees. Re-
ceiver Brown replied that he
and his associates had been ap-
pointed by the court to control and
operate the property under orders Of
tie court to be from time to time mod-
fed; that the railway and its proper
ties were then in the hands Of the
United States Court that the receiv-
ers were mere agents or officers of the
court; that no contract or agreement
could be made by the receivers without
the authority or sanction Of the court,
but that the receivers would deal with
the operatives in a spirit of the utmost
franhness, fairness and impartiality, and
the same rate Of wages would be paid
to them as prior thereto and as promptly
as they were paid by the former man
agement. The committee thanked him
and withdrew.
The rolls were all paid Immediately /;
no complaint was made to either one Of
the receivers until Receiver Brown, on
his return to Texas in January, re-
ceived communication purporting
to come from W. NJ. Moore, chair
man, and others, signed as committee,
which again drew his attention to the
agreement, a copy Of which was en-
closed also, the code of regulations
which they expressed an earnest wish
that he would endorse and which is
as follows:
MARSHALL. Ten. Jan. q, 1856.
With a desire to have harmonious re-
lations between the Texas and Pacific
Railway Company and the Knights of
Labor Of said road, we respectfully re-
quest that the following agreement be
thus entered into:
|. That there be no reduction in the
rate Of wages Of any employee on the
road unless it be decided by an arbitra-
ton committee appointed-the railroad
company to appoint three and the
Knights of Labor three.
,. That all the rolling-stock of this
company be repaired on this road and
all foreign stock injured on this road
be repaired at the company'S shops.
3. That no employee be discharged
without just cause, said employee hay-
Ing the right to ask for an Investigation
if he thinks he was unjustly discharged.
I. That all promotions such as fore
men be made from the ranks.
5. That all the time worked after
regular working hours be paid at the
rate of one and one half time.
G. If it become necessary to reduce
expenses the men should be consulted
as to whether it shall be reduction Of
hours or a reduction Of men.
:. That should any matter come up
between the employees and the company
it shall be decided by an arbitration COM
mittee Of six appointed-three from the
company and three from the Knights of
Labor-and the company and Knights
of Labor to agree to abide by their de-
cisions.
Receiver Brown replied to this sub
stantially as he had verbally replied to
the other committee, adding, however,
that contracts made By the company
are not binding upon us, nor can we
make new contracts except under the
advice and direction of the court"
Mr.. Brown then proceeds The rea-
sons why the receivers could not make
the proposed agreement are so obvious
as to require no explanation. Mr..
Brown gives these reasons in some de-
tail, but the prominent one is that if
the receivers were to make such an
agreement the management Of the road
would pass from the control Of the
court into the hands Of the Knights
Of Labor. and. moreover, the receivers
possessed no legal authority to make
this agreement.
Mr.. Brown says the refusal Of the
receivers to sign the foregoing agree
ment is the sole cause Of the strike, and
any other allegation of the cause is an
afeI-thought, orcertainly the grievances
would have been referred to the re-
Ceiyers.
Mr.. Brown rcciteS various kilograms
received from different persons un-
known to him, vaguely threatening in
case submission was not promptly made
to the demands of the Knights Of Labor,
and adds {: Much has been said since
the strike about the discharge of c. \.
Hall, foreman Of the freight.car
shops. This, We apprehend, is
an after-thought. Hall was an
incompetent man, not acceptable
to the employees. and about the 18th
day Of February he obtained, as we
learn. leave from the master mechanic
to be absent three hours, and was alb
sent three or four days without further
permission and gave no excuse for the
same. The master mechanic, if these
are facts, very properly discharged
him. Hall made no complaint to
the receivers or to any superior oiii-
Ger of this action of the master me-
chsnic, so far as We are advised. The
employees of the shop made no COM
plant of Halls discharge"
ST. LOUIS. March 9.-The most im-