The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-03
WANT PUBLIC sYMpATHY.

The striking employees are extremely
anxious that in this controversy they may
be sustained by the influence of public
opinion. They have carefully refrained
from doing anything that would justify
public censure, and are determined that,
while they will resort to every honor
able method TO compel the railway company
TO pay them Just remuneration for their
services, that they will do moth
ing that may bring reproach upon
them or the organization they represent.
The men are striking not to compel the
railway company to pay them for services
they do not perform, nor is it to compel the
company to accept blind men to run engines.
Neither do the men demand that the com
PAM shall furnish free passes for their
wives, their cousins and their aunts.
THE MAIN QUESTION.
The main issue is the question of wages.
Shall the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Railroad pay the same wages for the same
work that is paid by tn" Chicago and Alton,
Chicago and Northwestern, Milwaukee and
ST. Paul, and 80 per cent. in mileage of all
the railways in the United Statest This is
the main question, and, in fact, almost the
only question at issue between the parties
to the controversy For illuStra-
tion, Chief Arthur says, for
taking train from Chicago to
Streator and return the Burlington people
pay three prices TO engineers, 81 %, S8 10
and $3 IS. The other roads for the same
service pay all the engineers alike, 81 20.
Engineers of the third grade on the Burling-
ton road receive about the same pay as tho
iiremen on tho other roads. Identical
service is required of all the engineers on
the Burlington road, the grading being
regulated by the length of service.
ILLOGICAL AND UNJUST.
Thi grading system Chief Arthur holds
to be illogical and unjust. Under it man
must serve from eight to twelve years be-
fore he gets full pay, and he says: There
is no other trade in existence that IS asked
or would submit TO the injustice OF being a
candidate for the superannuated list before
becoming n full fedged master Of his trade.
There is practically no difference in the ser
vice rendered or the results to the railway
between an engineer of the first grade and
one of the third There IL no trade or call
ing in which the years of service
will determine a mans ability. An engi-
ueer Of one years service Is often better
qualified TO run an engine. than one with
twenty years experience. If you undertake
to gauge ability by yeaEs of service in any
calling, you will be pretty apt to run into a
big hole in the ground. There is one, and
only one, Just rule TO determine the ques-
ton, and that is equal pay for equal service.
CANNOT RECEDE.
"Iu the present controversy the engineers
and tiremen can afford to lose the fight,
but there is no possible way in which they
can recede from their demands on the ques-
ton of wages except at "A sacrifice OF their
entire organization. 1t would not be ex-
pected and would not be Just to expect the
other roads leading into Chicago would con
| tinue to pay higher wages than
the o. If the engineers should
accede TO the present wages
offered by that road it would have another
fight on its hands within twenty-four hours
aud they would have to submit or abandon
their organization. There is no other way
out of the difficulty but by a concession Oh
the part of the company on the question OF
wages, or fight to the bitter end. do moi
speak by authority, but | speak with knowl'
adpp