New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-03-21
me STRIKING ENGINEERS.

particular change in the situation.
The Iowa board OF railway commissioners
have been investigating charges of incompe.
tency made against engineerson the Burling
ton road who have taken the place OF
strikers They took considerable testi-
mony at Creston from engineers who stat
ed that they did not consider themselves
as tirstcass engineers. They have sum-
1ned up this testimony and submitted it
to the governor. After reciting this testi-
mony the commissioners say:
Mr.. Brown. superintendent OF the Iowa
lines. admits that under the conditions OF
all his engineers leaving on twelve hourss
notice he WAS compelled to run passenger
trains with new and inexperienced men. 1t
may be regarded as proven beyond ques-
zion and admitted that the men above
designated were inexperienced, under the
general rules laid down by railroad com
panles for the running OF trains and tried
by their own statements. The commits
sloners do not hesitate to say that they
are incompetent.
Alter discussing the employment Of in
competent engineers, the commissioners
say:
- We think we are safe in assuming that in
these particulars the new men running
these trains cannot be equal to those who
had been previously selected from the
oldest and most competent engineers to
run passenger trains. The commits
sioners believe that the examil ations
that have been made and tests that have
been applied to determine whether
engineers are competent to run locomo-
tlVes are dictated by prudence, and to
neglect them Is 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 OF skill and ability.
IDN
:, 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 diligence must be
extraordinary and liability follows slight
negligence" 1t not being in issue the com.
mlssioners have not thought it within the
scope OF this investigation to discuss the
merits OF the differences that led to the en-
gineers and fremen leaving the service OF
The Chicago, Burlington q Quincy railway.
Gov Larabee has sent a letter to Presi-
dent Perkins Of the Misunderstanding him
to settle the trouble with the strik ars 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 OF the
country. Thelaws OF the Brotherho God have
been modified, under the advice OF eminent
counsel, so that authorized acts ofits menl-
bers may not conflict with stringent con-
splracy laws. Each individual member is
q free agent to engage in a strike
or not as he may elect. The Brotherhood
never has nor ever will attempt to dictate
to any railroad company whom they shall
or shall not employ. Ip the case OF the
Chicago Burlington & Quincy, we do not
object to their hiring such men as they
can get to run their engines, nor 10 we say
to the managers OF other lines how near
) they shall go 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
do object to managers Of other roads sup
plying the Bur- ton with men to take
our places, thereby conspiring to our de-
feat and thus depriving us OF the rights OF
lair fight to sustain our just demands.
Neither will our organizationinterfe with
any railway company in discharg ing it's
duties as common carrier but II any in
dlvldual member OF our organization shall
decline to work for any railway company
handling Chicago, Burlington IL Quincy
traffic, he has a perfect right to do SO. We
say individually to the managers who
have been instrumental in supplying the
F9'hicago, Burlington e Quincy with men,
: that II they do not withdraw said men we
will quit their employ. At Kansas City
at a meeting OF the Brotherhood OF Lo-
connective Engineers and Firemen Grand
Master &. b. Wilkinson. OF the Br other
hood OF Brakemen, said that organization
had determined to give it's might to the
cause OF the engineers and firemen. The
brakemen knew, he said, that the en-
gineers now employed by the Burlington
system were incompetent. They let the
water run so low in the boilers that the
brakemen were constrained to take refuge
in the Cabooses 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 OF trainmen, com
!, posed of engineers, fremen brakemen,
conductors, and switchmen. and then
all would get their rights. He i'll the
brakemen would refuse to run for the Bur
lington road if asked to do so. In the
meeting were representatives OF the
Kansas City, Fort Scott S Gulf rail-
road, the Kansas City, Wyandotte &
Northwestern road, the Missouri Pacific
and others. All reported their men ready
to strike if it was necessary for the success
OF those now out on the Burlington.
AT Denver, Col, the striking engineers is
sued q notice to the officials OF the Denver,
tiremen would go out next day. This road
is Il narrow gauge running from Denver to
Lyons, and is controlled by the Burlington
by lease, and is used by the latter as a
feeder to one OF the richest coal districts
of the, state.
{ Postmaster General Dickinson has d.
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
received instructions which will govern in
any action he may take.
The general manager OF the Milwaukee
road says:
1t seems to me to be ridiculous for
court to order a road to hanule Burling-
ton freight when it is not in a position to
obey the order. How can the ST. Paul
haul Burlington cars when our engineers
refuse to work? Discharge them and get
men that will? That's all very we'll, but
suppose we did discharge some OF our en-.
gineers would we be in better position or
would the public be in a 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
-, - Do, ;,