Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-25

and that the knights will probably refuse TO
do any work which might assist the railroad
in its efforts to dispose with the services of
brotherhood engineers. A combination of
this kind would take out three-fourths of the
employees of all the roads handling 20"
freight or passengers.
At Lincoln.
LINCOLN, Neb., March ~24-tSpecial Tele-
gram to the BEE. The news of the strik-
ing switchmen at Chicago and other points
awakened new enthusiasm to-day in the 300
Burlington engineers and iremen at this
point. The news was not unexpected and
the confidence of the men is as
strong that they will win as
when they left their engines. AT A
p. m. the report was received here that the
Burlington switchmen at Omaha were out
and inquiry AT this point revealed the fact
that an order was expected here at any time.
Throughout the day a feverish anxiety was
manifested in the Burlington yards and cars
were rapidly stored away on sidetracks anti
cipating a tie-up. The action of the state
league of knights of Labor that has been in
session several days will undoubtedly have
its effect, as their endorsement of the
brotherhood's action was unqualifiedly in
their favor. Since Tom Mann, the switch
man, was killed in the yards here, there has
been a feverish feeling among the switch
men that none of them were safe
working with the kind of men
who are now operating Burlington engines.
Many reports were received by the brother
hood men to-day from the different points on
the two systems. One statement from a
number of points was that the road was
rushing train loads of empty cars, sealed up,
over the line to impress the general public
with the fact that the company was doing a
heavy business, Other reports confirm the
fact that engines were daily meeting with in
iuries at different points. A report was re-
ceived from Aurora, ILL.,, citing that a large
number of engines were lying disabled at
that point.
The Rock Islands Answer.
CHICAGO, March 24.-The Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific railway filed in Judge
Gresham's court to-day an answer to the
petition of the Burlington asking that the
former road be compelled to handle 60"
cars. The answer states the relations exist
ing between the railroad systems in Illinois.
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri. Kan
sas, Nebraska and Colorado, and alleges that
in the month of July last the c., b. & @. in
augurated a war of rates, and prosecuted the
same so vigorously that on the 18th of the
present month the rates through these states
were reduced to about one-third Of the rates
which existed before the war commenced;
tnut IL HAS dNOWCu ~ ule ultnuSeUlGuJ VI
other railroad companies that the purpose of
the war was to COMPEL the roads in the
states named to place the exclusive and abso-
Lutte control of all rates in the hands of a trust
to be collected by three commissioners, who
should also nave power to pay compensation
to lines for losses sustained because of any
rates fixed by the trust. and to impose fines
and forfeiture for disobedience to orders. 1t
also alleges that the Chicago, Burlington 81
Quincy company permitted the strike which
10 NOUN IN - ~, 1Nnaat,nN q mould ~ tIn
rate war IN demoralizing business, reducing
revenues in bringing about a state of things
which would compel the railroads of the west
to submit to the Burlington's scheme for
placing the railroads under the contract of
the proposed trust.
1t sets out distinctly that it was the pur-
pose of the Burlington company by bringing
about a strike on its own line first
f ena a tissmen a Of Of 9be the neited eng stefes
who We're not members of the brother hood
and thereby render it impossible for its COM
petitors to man their roads; that its demand
for interchange of traffic with competing
lines has not been made in good faith, but for
the express purpose of bringing about a
strike on those lines, well knowing the
places of the striking engineers and firemen
could not be supplied.
The answer discloses that before this bill
was filed the Rock Island company had ar
ranged with its engineers and firemen to
raise the boycott, and that orders had been
issued before this suit was commenced
directing that business be lnterchanged with
all railroads as before the commencement of
the strike.
General Passenger Agent Morton, of the
Burlington road, when asked tonight as to
the truth of the trust and other allegations
on the Rock Island roads answer, asserted
that it was not only false, but ridiculous, and
that an affidavit to that effect would be filed
Monday.
Reporters Excluded.
When a reporter visited the b.. & M. yards
in the chilling ram last night he was met
with even a more cold reception from the
watchmen in their solitary vigils. They
were courteous but non-communicative, and
explained as their reason that they had re-
ceived orders from w. A. Austin, the local
freight agent, not to allow any reporters on
the grounds or permit them to interview any
of the employees in the yards. TIT BEE man
expressed great surprise at such an exclusive
edict and asked what harm would come from
allowing reporters to pursue their legitimate
business there.
st is on account Of an article published in
this mornings BEE that is very dissatisfac-
tory" replied the Welchman.
ITO whom is it dissatisfactoryw
"Well, to everybody, but particularly to
the company, and they have decided to ex-
clude reporters from these grounds. / am in
the employ of the company, sir, and it is my
bread and butter to obey their orders.'
The reporter, however, saw that switching
was going on as usual in the yards, with no
visible indication of a walk-out soon.
Still Working at st. Joseph.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo-, March 24-The switch
men of the Burlington at this point have not
yet struck, but the officials of the road are
very uneasy.
Incompetent Engineers.
WYMoRE, Neb., March A.-[Special to the
BEE. The following brief biographies of
the engineers now employed by the Burling-
ton road are given for the benaft of the trav-
cling public, Many more similar instances
might be cited:
Ed Hatch, a man with one eye, who has
worked in the shop at this place for about
two years, is now pulling a first-class passen-
ger train. Last Monday he killed a section
forman near Byron in broad daylight. He
said he didn't see him.
Frank Duyal, formerly night yardmaster
here, used TO run "a freight train out of this
place but was discharged for incompetency.
He is now running an engine. He left st.
Joe last Sunday night with a light freight
train. He was ~sixty-eight hours making the
trip TO Wymore, n distance of l27 miles.