Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-04

The Night Switchmen
Leave Their Posts.
CAUSE OF THE DISTURBANCE
Nothing Passing Through the
Yards but Passenger
Trains.

money, which originates as follows
Night switchmen here are paid 81
per month, and this is supposed to b
for ten hours work. The men EN-
ployed by the Southern Pacific go on
5 however, at 6 P. NJ, and ar
not relieved until o'clock tn,
next morning, thus giving then
shift OF thirteen hours. or, after de
dicting the customary luncheon hour
two hours in excess of what is du,
from them. On the Santa Fe roat
this is arranged by compensating tn,
men for the extra two hours labor
but the South rn Pacific has steadily
refused to do this. The switchmer
have been complaining for some tint
past, and on the 10Th of last month 8
committee representing them wait
ed on Mr.. Muir and demanded
to be either relieved of the extra two
hours, or to be renumerated therefor
Mr.. Muir told them that he would lay
the matter before headquarters, and
it Is doubtless in connection with this
that his visit to San Francisco was
made last week. On his return the
committee again waited on him, but
he said that the matter would have tc
be deferred short time
longer. The switchmen de.
cided, however, not to await the
company's pleasure and gave notice
early yesterday morning that unless
their demands were granted they
would 20 out on strike at GIN. An
attempt was made during the day to
induce them to remain at work until
further communication could be made
with San Francisco, but this they de-
clined to do and when the hour fixed
by them arrived they walked out,
declining to throw another switch.
AT THE DEPOT.
When q HERALD reporter visited
the depot at IL o'clock last night he
found instead of the usual hustle and
activity, everything as quiet as tomb.
Not car was moving, and the Gus.
tornary bobbing of lantern lights was
noticeably absent. Vending his way
to the "bull-ring," at the north end Of
the platform, he found number OF
men in and about the car Office, and
addressing himself to one of them he
endeavored to obtain further particu-
lars Of the affair.
ut Just amounts to this" said the
man the scribe addressed: eve are
out and we intend to stay out. We
gave the company plenty of notice OF
this affair, SO they cannot pretend to
be surprised at the action we have
taken. All that we want to know Is
why we are asked to work two addi-
tional hours without pay, any more
than men employed by other COM
panies."
.sHow many Of you are there on
strike queried the HERALD man?
"Well, there are forty-nine men on
the night shift, ten OF whom may be
called officers, thus leaving thirty
nine of us who have declined to
work. OF course You understand
that it is only the night men who
have struck, for the day men have no
grievance to complain OF.
"It is probable. though, that they
will quit also, is it not?" suggested
the reporter.
Eyes, very likely" was the reply.
Tin fact they offered to 20 out at IL
O'Clock to-day, but we decided that it
was not advisable to get them to do
this. Whether or not they will go to
work tomorrow morning has not yet
been settled, nor will it be until the
near approach Of the hour for COM
mencing their labors, as we expect to
have some Communication from the
authorities before then"
"Have you absolutely refused to do
anything?" asked the scribe.
Anything but handling the pas
eenger trains, and these we
will send through. A committee
OF six has been appointed to attend to
them and we Will get them in and out
of the yards as usual. Ii they want to
get any freight out though, they will
have to impress the trainmen, for we
will not throw lever"
IN THE OFFICES.
The HERALD man then proceeded
to the depot offices to ascertain what
action the company was taking. No
excitement was manifested there
though, and the general impression
appeared to be that the strike would
soon be settled.
Il do not think J" said one of the
officials, "that the day men will join
the ranks of the deserters. They
have nothing to complain Of, and
then again, this is not a union strike
and they will not be effected on that
gruund. Most of the men who have
gone out belong to no organization
and the few with them who do belong
to the union will not, / think, call
upon their brethren to help them. /
anticipate" concluded the speaker,
THAT by this time to morrow night
everything will be running as usual. y
The strike certainly comes at q bad
time, and however slight the delay
may be it will cause great inconveni-
ence. When it is remembered that
about 400 cars pass in and out of the
yards every "a hours, it can be inn
agined that few hours stoppage oil
proceedings means q good deal. The
fact must also be borne in mind that
the company has scarcely recovered
from it's freight blockade. aud that il
will take but very little to crowd up
the lines again.
As the reporter was leaving the
depot at midnight, passenger train No.
20 was Just pulling in and true to
their engagement the committee Of
six switchmen were waiting to receive
her. As soon as the passengers were
all aboard and all the usual proceed
ing concluded she steamed out with.
out losing a minute and then the
switchmen retired to their temporary
committeeman and all was quiet
again.
The Gaines Case.
The Gaines burglary case occupied
the attention of Judge O,Melyeney