The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
C.,B.GQ. AND IT'S ENGINEMEN
Everything Running and the Threat
ened Strike Postponed Till Monday.
The Company Declines to Change Its Present
Schedule of Wages. but Is Ready to Cor
rect Any Inequalities That May Exist.

this morning, everything is running usual,
and it is stated that the threatened strike
of the engineers and fremen, if it occurs at all,
will not take place for several days yet The
delegates, who have been here presenting the
mems demands to the officers of the road, left
for their homes yesterday without having ac-
co.npished their mission. but before strike
can occur their report will nave to be heard.
and adopted by the different lodges. One of tho
delegates is from Colorado, and win not reach
Denver before tonight The officers of the
Burlington road have drawn up elaborate
reply to the mems demands embodying
their reasons for refusing the changes asked by
the committee in the schedule of wages paid
by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. This re-
ply says that, in substance, the demands made
by the men were:
First-Pay to be governed solely by miles rum
without regard to other conditions or circum-
stances.
Second-An average increase of pay.
Third-The abolition OF classification based
upon length of service. age or experience.
Fourth-No more examinations or tests, ex-
eept such as are agreed upon by the general
manager and the general grievance committee.
To these the road says:
'.First-That the present system is in force
upon many important roads in this country and
is preferred because it is the best one to fairly
provide for differences in the amount of
responsibility
by enginemen upon different runs.
The trip basis, in view of all the varying condl-
tons, value received An arbitrary
mileage basis cisregards the value of the service
rendered. and in the long run, we fear, would be
unsatisfactory to the men and to the company.
For example, on the Galesburg division of the
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy an engineer on a
light passenger run of two cars, between Buda
and Vermont, under the present schedule, earns
in twenty-sx days $l23 so, and the fireman
$74. 10; under the schedule which is proposed the
&rs~, 1a~Ixyn sd he
$I02 "a"
A number of examples like the above are next
given in the company's answer, which then con-
tinues:
'Second-Owing to the existing State and in.
tersrate laws, poor crops, and extremely low
rates. as well as great multiplication OF lines.
the Western roads are passing through a critical
period. 1t is present impracticable to main
tain rates that cover the cost of transportation.
Railroad construction has almost entirely ceased.
The rail-mils and other factories ind their bust
decreasing. the demand for labor is de-
creasing. and wages are likely to decrease. AT
time when wages are tending down ward, en-
giuemen can not expect more pay, unless they
underpad now 10 comparison with other
workingmen.
'.Third-At present we have one rate Of pay
for engineers just promoted from hremen. which
continues one year. In the second year of
service engineer advance in ray is given.
On the expiration of his second year further
advance to full engineers pay is given The
schedule proposed by the committee does away
with this class hcatiou and insists upon full pay
for every man soon as he runs an engine. To
properly conduct its business. the company must
be the judge of what the most economical
runs for it's engines. and any claim by its en-
ployes to decide where division terminals shall
be made cannot De allowed The company must
reserve absolutely the right to ascertain. by
whatever examinations it may think advisable.
whether its employees of all classes are CAPABLE
of fulfilling the duties they undertake, and the
public also demand that the railroad company
ShaE talk d
men who can safely perform the work Entrusted
to them.
SIN conclusion. we would say that while
NO cannot way 60 accepting your COM
mittee's proposals, We expect TO pay as mach as
our neighbors for similar service, and we are
ready at any time to take up the question OF
wages, and adjust any inequalities in our
schedule that may be shown to exist We can
not however, attempt to adopt a basis which
same another l00mle run, regardless of the
effort and the ability required and the dihl-
cu!ties to be overcome on EACH"
This report is signed by Henry B. Stone. gen
eral man ager of the Burlington G. L. Holdridge,
general manager of the Burlington & Missouri
River road w. F. Morrill,, general manager OF
the Hannibal & St Joe, and by IL D. Judson.
general superintendent of the Chicago & Iowa
railway.
Chief Arthur was asked, this morning. about
the proposed strike of the locomotive engineers
and firemen on the Burlington system. He said
that he had given his consent to a general strike,
but that the men would not leave their posts
to-day. He added that unless the differences
between the men and the officials were adjusted
before Monday the locomotive engineers and
fire1nen would leave their posts
General Manager Stone made the following
statement this afternoon: THE c.. B. q @.
has told it's men that they would pay on its main
line, from Chicago to Council Bluffs, and its
main line from Chicago to Kansas City, via
Quincy. much other roads paying for
similar service. but to ask it to pay az much on
its side lines ana branches, where the work is
light, as it does on it's main lines, where the
traffic is heavy, and where greater amount of
labor aud ability is required of engineer, is
aud unfair and not at all In
cordance with true business principles" Mr..
Stone claims that any parallel between the Alton
and the Burlington a whole In the matter of
wages is unfair. The Alton, he says. is vir-
tually all main line, which is not the ca3e with
the Burlington.
S. C. Wilkinson, of Peoria. grand master of
the Brotherhood Of Railroad Brakemen. reached
the city this afternoon, and had consultation
With Chief Arthur, of the Engineers Brother
hood. and Grand Master Sargent, of the fire.
mems organization. To reporter Mr.. Wilkin-
son said the brakemen on the Chicago. Burling-
ton q Quincy system would stand by the engi-
neers and iremen in the contemplated strike.
In connection with the threatened strike,
there are reports that the knights of Labor
waiting for just such an opportunity to crafty
an old grudge against the Brotherhood. and the
fact that the engineer Knights the Reading
1877 there strike of the Brotherhood en-
zineers on the Reading. The organization was
not as powerful at that time as it is at present
Its men worked together with Knights of Labor
and when they went ont the Knights
remained work and the strike was lost
When the present Reading strike COM
nenced there were only few of
the Knights there who worked on that
inc in 1877, but it at once noised
abont that the Brotherhood would furnish all
The men necessary TO run the Reading and defeat
the knights. and thus s'get even with them for
heir offense of ten years ago. Knights of La
Dor in this city now claim that there are some
Brotherhood engineers working the Reading.
Chief Arthur denies this statement. He saws
hat went to work in place
If the striking Knights with the knowl-
,dge and consent of the officers of
he brotherhood However an impression
,xists that thew did, and officer of district
assembly No. "a of the Knights of Labor in this
ty said that he would not he surprised if the
Knights of Labor engineers of the Reading
should decide to continue the fight with the
Brotherhood and attempt to defeat it by taking
ne places of the strikers on the Burlinpton