St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-16
A STATEMENT
or the Relations That Existed Be-
tween the Company and Strik-

ers.
Topeka, Kan, March 15.-The Asso-
Grated Press agent has been at the pains
to learn the facts concerning the rela-
tionship of the brotherhood engineers to
the Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa Fe COM
pany, and brief, diSpassionate state
ment of the facts concerning the rela-
tiOnShip, without commentary, will
probably place the railroad COM
pany and the brotherhood in a
proper light before the public, so that
the latter may fairly judge the merits
of this latest and most startling move
ment. For several years the Brother
hood of Engineers has been recognized
and fostered as a legitimate and reput-
able trade association by the Santa Fe
Railroad company. Fully 90 per
cent Of the engineers employed by the
company are and have been for years
brotherhood engineers. From time to
time the representatives of the
brotherhood have met with the
managers of the railroad com
pany and discussed grievances or en-
tered into q friendly consideration of
matters looking to the Improvement or
the condition and remuneration OF the
engineers. The company has done this
in pursuance of a policy, which, 1t is be-
lieved, it was its duty to the public to
pursue, viz: To have stability and eX
perience in its motive power depart
ment in the interest of the safety of the
life and property OF its patrons. No
just request which had ever
been made to the company by
the representatives of the brotherhood,
has ever been refused, and but very
fltr hn cnhnhnIn
which is the cause of the quarrel between
the brotherhood and the Chicago, Bur
lington e Quincy was submitted to the
Atchison, Topeka d Santa Fe Railroad
company, and in friendly conference
was accepted and put in force by the
company. The AtchiSon, Topeka q
Santa Fee Railroad company, through its
proper officers, thereupOn. about Feb.
l, entered into contract with the loco
motive engineers and firemen upon the
Santa Fe and Southern Kansas railway
system. BY this contract, large bene-
fits and advantages were given to this
class of employees. The very first pro-
vision of this written contract is in sub
stance as follows:
THAT no engineer or fireman should
be suspended or discharged upon any
charge whatever without first having a
lttll dIINl lhlJ6ti lCttl n DOulu VI
inquiry is established. composed of the
division superintendent, division mas
ter mechanics and diSintereSted engi-
neers from the division from which the
complaint may arise, who shall imves-
tigate the charges of misconduct, and a
right of appeal is in all cases
given from the local to the gen
eral officers. The right of fire
men and engineers as a committee
on conference are recognized and
leave of absence granted for that pur-
pose" Every item in this long con-
tract, consisting of twenty-siX articles,
the larger part of which looked to the
benefit of the employees, was carefully
gone over at Chicago by the representa-
tiveS of the Brotherhood Of Engineers
and the vice president of the company.
In consideration of the concessions
made and the large benefits and adj
vantage given, and the perfect conf
dence bestowed by the company upon
this class of its employees, the engineers
and firemen agreed through their repre-
sentatives that they would not fail to
perform their duties.