Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-28
LITTLE WORK DONE.
TIE EsarwEERs SPEED Tue EsTIRE
DAYIE aOuTIag AND TALK.
No Report Yet Made on the Federation
Scheme, Which Is the Business
OF the Body.

The Locomotive Engineers spent over SIX
hours Yesterday IN routine work and the In
formal discussion OF various matters calcn-
lated TO affect the future welfare aud pros
perity OF the Brotherhood. great portion
Of both the morning aud afternoon sessions
was taken up 10 the consideration oil sunury
reports Of special committees appointed TO
inquire into personal grievances and kim
bred affairs. Matters OF this character
always occupy large portion OF TIE
time OF the conventions. is GUS
tomary when member OF Inc bIO-
therhOod feels himself hgerieved or
any local trouble arises which the local
committee fails 10 adjusting satisfactorily ior
the snbiect 10 be brought before the cOnyer-
ton and there referred 10 a select committee'
Each railway eystem has committee com.
posed Of one member from each DIVISION OF
the Brotherhood on said system, and thls
committee passes on all cases or attempts
their adjustment before allowing them to go
into the convention.
ATAsTASp- STILL.
The body is practically at staDdstill, so
far as concerns The matters OF moment which
have 20 be heard and decided. The select
committee Of seventeen are wrestling with
the sIlisgice question, and they find IL quite
a tough one 70 handle. 1t has been before
them since soon after the assembling OF the
Brotherhood, and It Is not vel at all
certain when they will be able 10
arrive at conclusion TO be submitted
70 the general body. The question Is
one Of vital importance 10 tms ana
all other organizations Of railroad opera
tives IA well as 10 the corporations t1em-
selves, and TO the public service. Ii Is there-
fore wise 10 make haste slowly. and tho
roughly deliberate before arriving ut o deci-
sion. upon which so much depends. When
the delegates came here there was very
strong sentiment ~ favor OF adopting fede-
rytion. but there has since then been pro-
uotIDced change OF front, and there Is
strong likelihood that there will be no fede-
ration.
TIE OUTLOOK.
As was seen by an Associated Press dis
patch from Columbus, Ohio, published IN
this psprr yesterday the brotherhood OF bo-
connective Brakemen adjourned their conyen'
ton. "drOpping" this subject without
taking any action on it. When Chief 7. NJ.
ATtbur's attention was called TO this mater
last night be smiled and said he had read the
dispatch.
the Brakemen met in Columbus about
this matter was brought to the attention OF
both bodies almost simultaneously. Whether
the Brakemen did not care 10 take hold OF so
knottv a question or were opposed to such
an alliance has not yet been made to appear.
Mr.. Arthur said, In response 10 question,
that the Engineers had not communicated
with the BTakemen With reference 10 Nhat
action would he taken BY the Richmond
Convention. for not a man IN the body could
fOretell what the result would be. DIT.
Arthur, As stated yesterday, is OF the opinion
that there will be no federation unless Win
very broad SCOPE left to the different organl-
zaions, but that there will be some Kind OF
cooperative system adopted to embrace
only railway operatives.
OTHER IMPORTANT MEASURES.
This committee OF seventeen also has be-
fore it matters relating 10 the 40" strlke,
and it's expected that reports on this subject
and the federation will be presented about
the same time. il Is a foregOne conclusion
that IN this connection resolution will DC
adopted continuing the support OF the
striking engineers who, number about LOGO.
The question OF Increasing the Emergency
Fund, which now amounts 10 something over
5000, 600. Is claiming much attention at the
hands Of the delegates. Various PROPOSE
that this fund he made $4,000; but TO this
there seems 10 be some objection. Thl9
money is spent in case OF such troubles as
arose in connection with the 60" strike
and for similar purposes.
BEING DISCUSSED.
Much Of the time Of the last four days has
been occupied IN the discussion OF these
three subjects. which are OF leading in
portsnce. While they are not technically
before the convention the delegates are al
lowed 10 ventlate their views on them,
which Will doubtless have a tendency -
mould opinion so thst the decision OF tho
questions can be readily reached as soon rs
they are properly before the convention.
TO-DAY.
The Engineers will assemble at Fords
Hotel this morning at 1915 and march In
body to the Clay.Street Methodist church,
where Rev. w. III. Atwill will preach g spe-
cial sermon. This afternoon most o. the
delegates will attend the mems meeting at the
Young Mems Christian Association Hall,
where addresses viii be made by Messrs.
Arthur and Everett, OF the brotherhood,
and tonight they will attend services at the
First Baptist church-Rev. Or. Cooper
pastor.
The convention, It now appears, will adj
iouTn about Wednesday.