Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-01-28
C0RBIN'S STATEMENT
OF the Difficulties on the Reading
Railroad.
He States That the Men Had No Cause to
Strike ana VIII Not be Taken Back
in Their Employ Only as
Individuals.
PRESIDENT coRBiN's STATEMENT.

the various communications from people along
the line OF our road, who arc deeply interested
In the operation of both the railroad and coal
and iron companies, VIC beg to make the follow.
ing statement.
In December certain carloads of merchandise
arrived at Port Richmond, consigned TO the
Philadelphia Grain Elevator Company OF this
CITY, The employees OF his company AZ Port
Richmond, In charge Of The switch engines re.
fused to transfer these cars to the elevator
company, and gave as reason that the COM,
pany did not employ knights Of Labor. They
we're Immediately notified that with such n
question this company had nothing to do; that
we were common carriers t.nd bound to receive
and deliver freight to any person or company
that offered it to us and paid for TRANSPORTATION,
Notwithstanding this. they still refused TO make
the transfer, and an order was issued by the
general manager OF this company, of which the
following is a copy;
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, jan II. 1888.
Mr. |. A. Sweigard, Genera. Superintendent,
Philadelphia:
DEAR SIR-l understand THAT several car
loads OF flour consigned to the Philadelphia
Grain Elevator Company are in our Port Rich.
mond yard and that some Of our men have re.
fused to move them. Give orders that the cars
be moved and, if the men refuse. discharge
them Immediately from the service OF the com.
pany A. A. MCLEOD General Manapor
Five crews of menln succession were directed
10 move this freight and upon their refusal were
discharged. Because of that action the leaders
a
ordered all the employees Of the Reading & Phil
adelpha Railroad Company as they were
pleased to denominate il, "Cn strike" They
lett the service OF the company with notice to
II that they would not return unless the men
discharged were reinstated To this the man.
agement answered that the men were dis
charged for dsobedience Of orders, would never
be renstated and this company proceeded to
MI the places left vacant by the voluntary with.
drawa OF the employees from its service as fast
mi
FINALLY, on saturday, the oath day of Decem.
Der, the general manager issued an order that
the names of such employees as did not report
for duty on the morning Of Tuesday, the 27th
day OF December, would be stricken from the
rolls and their places filled by new men. That
was done The men who left the service of the
company had never made, and have never to
lhls DAY made, any complaint that they were
worked an unreasonable number of hours that
their wages were not fair wages for the work
performed, or that in single instance they had
been treated otherwise than kindly by the man.
agement. Notwithstanding this and that under
,he terms of their employment with the com.
pany, they were bound to render honest and
faithful service, complying with all reasonable
orders It might m Ike in the regular transaction
OF It's business, they violated every obligation OF
ms character, and by their own act cancelled
any obligation that m ght have been made on
the part Of the company to retain them in its
service. Over 2,5 men voluntarily left our
service.
The same number of new and corupetent men
presented themselves for service with the com
pahy 1hey were employed. and will be re-
talned SO long as they perform their duties
faithfully. We have never made any objection
TO labor organizations. In employing labor we
nave never asked the question whether an en-.
ploye was amember of labor organization or
not. so long as men perform the duties they
owe TO inns company properly we stand by
mem, whether they be union or nonunon No
man snail be ostracised on this road because he |
peiohgs 10 labor organization, and no man will
pc ostraclsed because he does not
Our employees will be expected TO render |
FAITHFUL service, and take orders from the man |
aBement IN relation to its business promptly |
ana ana without question As long as they DO this |
they VIII retain its confidence and friendship |
but any action hereafter such as has been |
taken heretofore by employees, will merit and |
receive the same treatment The trouble on |
,he railroad is ended, and will never be opened |
up again.
As TO the miners dfcuty, have to say this:
On the lith day of September, at the request of |
committee representing the miners the SUI |
perntendent OF the Coal & Iron Company, Mr. |
., H. Whltlng met them, at their request, |
agreed upon an advance OF wages of the miners |
Tor four months, commencing on the 1st of Sep. |
temher, 1857, and ending on the lst day of Jan |
uary 1'SS. This agreement was reduced to |
Sritlhg: one copy was retained by the commit
tce, or Mr.. Davis, chairman vii the signature |
or initials Of Mr. Whiting upon il. The original
mas the signature Of John II. Davis chairman
upon it and was left with Mr. Whiting and is
now IN possession Of the company.
Inc agreement reads as follows: Memoran
dum OF an agreement made at Pottsyie Sep.
tember IA. 1887, between S. b. Whiting Gcner.
al Manager OF the Philadelphia h Reading Coal
ana Iron Company, and joan H. Davis, chair
man, ana olhers loint committee represent
ing the miners, laborers and other employes of
the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and iron Com.
pany, now working under the 80 basis:
Ihe Philadelphia Reading Coal & Iron Com
pany is to raise to the present schedule of basis
prices Tor wages and contracts eight per cent
from september O. 1887, for four months or
until January I, 1883, and this agreement is TO
terminate January |, 1883. II u settlement is
made with the other companies before that
time, the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron
company is TO adopt whatever advance in basis
rates is agreed on by all other companies, or in
case no agreement is reached by January ], or
the men return to work at former rates then
and in that case the Philadelphia & Reading
Coal & Iron Company are to return to the pay
up 10 September, 1887.
JOHN H. DAVIS, Chairman Committee.
Pottsvie. Sept. II.
Under this agreement the Reading Company
proceeded TO make payments during the four
months strictly In accordance with the terms of |
the contract and we paid the miners. during
those four months in addition to the basis OF
wages that had heretofore governed the settle.
ment or their wages, the sum OF S2i1, ,9O64 49, No
|
us terms than that one, and il u patty to con. |
tract can ever be expected to stand by its terms.
we had right to expect that the miners would
stand by their part of this agreement
ABOUT the Goth OF December however a re.
quest was made upon this company to state
what II intended to do by the miners on the ist
uay OF January An answer was to furnished
them through Mr.. Whiting, accordingto the in
structions contained in the following letter,
which was on the ed day of December, ad.
~ hng 10 nf nm |
made 10 the men.
PHILADEIpHIA, Pa, Dec. %, 1887.
MIR; s. ,. Whiting, Superintendent Of Philadel
phia Reading Coal and Iron Company:
DEAR SlR-By direction Of the receivers / |
am authorized to address YOU as follows: In
september last the receivers made with the
men the following contract: 1.-THE Philadel.
pha Reading Coal and Iron Company are to
raise the present schedule of basis prices for
wages and contracts eight per cent from Sep.
lcmber ], 1887, for four months, or until Jan.
nary J., 1888, and this agreement is to terminate
IN January l. 1888. II settlement is made
With the other companies before that time, the
g. Reading Coal and Iron COMPANY
IS to adopt whatever advance in basis rates Is
isrecd upon by all the other companies, or in
,ase no agreements reached by January |, or
ne men return to work at the former rates,
men; and in that case the Philadelphia & Read
ng Coal and Iron Company are TO return to the
payment OF the re 10 basis schedule Of prices, as
)aid up to September !, 1884," -
You are authorized to say to the men as fol- |
ows' That we have lived up to our part OF the ,
,ontract rigdly, and now we expect the men to
I'VE up TO their part by COZ tinuing TO work after
January /, unless the Lehigh Valley miners
houd return before that time at an increased |
hedule OF wages. That is what the men agreed
Q DO, and we expect them to perform their part
" the agreement as honestly as we have ours |
II the same time we say 90 the men, that ifthey
,erform their part OF the contract after the LIST
lay OF January we will at any time thereafter,
I they desire II, take up the question again and
ee II anotherand more satisfactory basis than
ne old one can be made between the men and !
he company. We are willing TO say further |
hat we pay at all times as high wages as any {
ther coal company, and we have always been, {
nd are now, in favor Of paying good wages to ,
ur miners. A. A. MCLEOD,
General Manager. ,
Notwithstanding the terms OF the agreement,
nd OF the notice given to them in this letter. of
4 the e2d OF December the miners refused to
ontinue at work in the mines after the lst day
! ! , January, as they hae promised to do. am
irst, because We would not reinstatc the men
mo were discharged on the railroad and
econd, because we would not continue the !
ight per cent advance which we had under !.
MS agreement, paid for the four months men, |
ioned: and we are informed they would on no q
asis OF wages have been willing to return to (;
'ork unless we first reinstated the railroad
1cn or arbtrated that question. ~
As have stated, that question is ended. and
o matter In connection with that strike will 4
VERDE submitted 10 arbitration. As TO the
uestion OF wages TO be paid TO miners, we have
ways paid, and have always been willing 10
ay as high wages for mining coal as any OF the
,rge companies which are selling coal In the
iarket in competition with tnis one To pay
lore than our competitors for the mining OF our :
oal would practically drive US out OF the com. y
etitiye market, and the only market 10 which I
o could bring our coal wculd ne 10 such loinis n
n the line OF the Philadelphia q Readins rail. !.
BAD as are BY reason Of their localion,a com. '