The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-23
THE sTRIklne ! ENGINEERS.

THE sTRIkllc ENGINEERS.
The second @ssk u the great strike Of
the Burlington epsiassts starts III with no
particular change y the situation.
The Iowa board oetailway commissioners
have been investigating charges Of inc0mpe.
tsncy made againat 6nsineerson the Burling.
ton road who have taken the place Of
mony at Creston from engineers who stat.
ed that they did not consider themselves
rs first-class engineers. They have sum.
med up this testimony ahd submitted 1t
to the governor. After reciting this tcsti.
mOny the commissioners say:
MIR. Brown. superintendent oi the Iowa
lines. admits that under the conditions Of
all his engineers leaving on twelve hours's
notice he was compelled to run passenger
trains with new and Inexperienced men. It
may be regarded - proven beyond ques.
designated were inexperienced, under the
general rules laid down by railroad com.
panies for the running oi traina, and tried
by their own stntementa. The commits.
sioners do not hesitate to sny that they
are incompetence. Il
Alter discussing the ssvfloyment oi in.
eompetent ensins nt9nersl
We think We are safe In assuming that in
these particulars the new men running
these trains cannot be eqral to those who
oldest and most competent engineers to
run passenger trains. The commits
Rioners believe that the examinations
that have been made and tests that have
been applied to determine whether
engineers are competent to run tocomo
tives are dictated BY prudence, and to
neglect them in unwise. They would adj
wise the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy
company to allow no engineer to run pas.
senger trains that is not fully up to the
established standard oi skill and ability.
The law governing the carrier Of passcn-
gers says he must use extraordinary care
and caution, the highest skill. the greatest
foresight and the best appliances"
the highest degree OF care, skill
and diligence Of which human
effort is capable" the 'tlilipence must he
extraordinary and liability follows slight
negligence" 1t not heing in issue the com
m'ssioners have not thought it within the
scope o! this investigation to discuss the
merits oil the differences that led to the Ell.
eineers and firemen leaving the service of
tho ChicaRo. Burlington & Quincy railway.
Gov Larabee lias sent {. letter to Presi.
dent Perkins Of the Burlington advising him
to settle the trouble with the strik sra by
arbitration.
Prominent members Of the brotherhood
at New York thus define their position:
They do not propose or desire to commit
any act conflicting with the laws Ot the
country. The laws Of the Brotherhood have
been modified, under the advice Of eminent
counsel, so that authorized acts ofits mem.
bers may not conflict with stringent con.
spiracy laws. Each individual member is
a a. ,it. Tree - agent to engage in q strike
never has nor ever will attempt to dictate
to any railroad company whom they shall
or shall not employ. In the case OF the
Chicago. Burlington e. Quincy. we do not
object to their hiring such men as they
can get to run their eEgines nor do we say
to the managers OF other lines how near
they shall so towards infringing upon the
Interstate commerce law, but we presume
that they. knowing our demands to be
Just, are willing to give us all the
moral support they can; but We
plying tho Burlington with men to take
our places. thereby conspiring to our de-
ieat and thus depriving us OF the rights Of
lair tight to sustain our just demands.
Neither will our organization interfere with
any railway company in discharging its
duties as common carrier, hut il any in
dividual member Of our organization shall
decline to work for any railway company
handling Chicago, Burlington ~ Quincy
traffic, no has IL perfect right to do 80. Wo
say individually to the managers who
have been instrumental in supplying the
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy with men.
that il they do not withdraw said men we
will quit their employ. At Kansas City
ut meeting Of the Nrotharhood oi Lao.
connective E.,ginccrs and Z ,l1'iremen Grand
Master c. II. wilkins on, OF the Br other.
hood OF Brskemen, said that organization
had determined to give It's might to the
cause of the engineers and iireinen. The
brakemen knew, he said, that the Ell.
gincers now employed by the Burlington
system were incompetent. They let the
water run so low in the boilers that the
brakcmen wcra constrained to take refuge
in the cabooscs for fear Of being blown up.
They have in many instances reported
this state Of affairs to the officers OF the
other roads. Mr.. Wilkinson believed that
some time in the future there would be
one grand organization nf trainmen, COM
posed of engineers, iirelncu, brakemen,
conductors. and switchncrl. and then
all would get their rights. He the
brakcIncn would refuse to run for the Bur.
lington road il asked to do no. In tho
meeting were representatives Of the
Kansas City, Fort Scott N Gulf rail-
road, the Kansas City, Wyandotte Il
Northwestern road, tho Missouri Pacific
and others. All reported their men ready
to strike IL it was necessary for the success
Of those now out on the Burlington.
At Denver, Col. tho striking engineers ia.
aned II NJ tice to the officials OF the Denver.
Utah e. Pacific that all their engineers and
tiremen would go out next day. This road
is narrow gauge running from Denver to
Lyons, and is controlled by the burlington
by lease. and is used by the latter as
feeder to one Of the richest coal districts
Of the state.
Postmaster General Dickinson has di.
rected General Superintendent Nash. Of
the railway mail service. to proceed at
once to Chicago. there to remain during
the present railroad troubles. Mr.. Nash
instructions which will govern in
nny action he may take.
The general manager OF the Milwaukee
road says:
II seems to mo to be Ridiculous for ~
rourt to order IL road to hanllo Burling-
ton freight when IL is not in Il position to
obey the order. How can the st. Paul
haul Burlington cars when our engineers
Iciuhe w MoTb. bIsCHHThc lueH1 hIll ScU
men TINT will? That's all very well. but
,uppose We did discharge some OF our en-.
.imeers would we be in hotter position or
would the public bn in ~ better position To
stop our road altogether? could stop
The st. Paul road to-day but don't pro-
pose to do it, because it would only result |
in injury to the public. The ST. Paul is
rot responsible for the present situation
81 :lffnirs.
Another General Manager said: II
y true that the road | represent and
others have considered it for our best in
,erests to disregard the interstate law,
,ut we have adopted the wiscst course and |
,ne which the outcome will justify us in |
.aking. II was right to avert II general |
'triks by any and all means. No one has |
'et measured the full extent of such a |
'alamity. II il all nonsense to say that |
pur attitude has embarrassed tho l,nrlins.
on in the slightest degree.
A meeting Of the Brotherhood was
leld in New York on Sunday with |
:losed doors. About 800 delegates, rep
10000 engineers and iiremen,
we're present.
The following resolutions were passed: |
We say to the railroad managers, super.
ntendcnts and master mechanics who
ave been secretly aiding aud abbatting The |
ihicaso. Burlington & Quincy railroads |
With view of defeating the just demands !
u it's old engineers and fire,nen by sending |
hem incompetent and irresponsible persons
IL engineers and fircmen, thereby en-.
langering the public safety, that IL
hey do not Withdraw or cause said
NON IN he ,,ithd ro w, fr,,n tl,o ,or,.;,,,