Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-16
THE CRITICAL TIME.
The B. & 0. Pay Car and Its Quota Of
Wages Watched for By
MEN WHO SIGNED UNDER PROTEST.
No Disguise for Shadows That Hover Over
Compulsory Insurance,
THOUGH THE COMPANY BLAMEs RIVALS

The local situation on the B. & o. is un-
changed. The men are quietly waiting for
developments, and there is no question that
trouble is brewing, as chat with any Of
the employees will soon demonstrate. The
new insurance relief feature is the bone Of
contention,
The local officials are inclined to laugh at
the threatened strike, and report that every
thing is lovely, notwithstanding the gravity
OF affairs in and about Chicago 1t is true
that last week the majority of the men here
signed the insurance blanks, but under pro-
test. Some of the officers denied that it
was matter of compulsion; but one of the
clerks, who assisted in the work of securing
signatures, said that the men were told
either to join or quit.
SIT is true" said the same clerk, "that
the Pennsylvania Road does not compel its
employees to join the Relief Association; but
every man who does not is marked, and he is
quietly discharged. The men know this, and
they take no chances"
Another officer, when told that insurance men
declare that the B. & o. rates are too high for
the benefits derived, excitedly replied: "Yes.
that is the secret of the trouble. These insur-
ance agents work among the men and
STIR UP STRIKES.
San insurance feature connected with road
is good thing, and if the employees were left
alone they would not object"
A number of the men were interviewed
yesterday afternoon. There is about them all
a dogged pertinaeity to resist an apparent
unCAff LII
denunciation of the new relief feature The
engineers are inclined to be a little wary; but
the others report that among themselves they
talk freely and are determined to have fair
treatment The insurance plan is the main
topic of conversation, and the more the men
talk about it the greater is the desire to make
an attempt to rectify the evil.
A brakeman had this to say: There is some
talk of holding general meeting: but nothing
will be done for day or two. The men on
the Pittsburg division will be paid tomorrow.
and we want to see how much money is kept
out Of our wages. If the amounts taken are
like those published in the printed circular,
there is bound to be trouble. The engineers
are as much interested as the other employees
and are willing to head the revolt. The leaders
of the various brotherhoods are in constant
communication with the men at Chicago, and,
if they decide to strike, we will join them"
"Tne men on the Pittsburg division, with a
few exceptions, signed the blanks last week;
but it is understood among them that they will
withdraw their names. was told that the
men on the Second and Wheeling divisions
REFUSED TO SIGN.
COMMITTEES from Baltimore and Martins
burg are going over the line, feeling the pulse
of the men. They were in ConnellsVille and
met some of the men from P!ttsburg.
"The men claim that after earning their
money it belongs to them, and they have a
right to do as they please with it. Even if they
were satisfied with the rates asked, we wouldn't
allow them to coerce us. In the circular an
nouncing the wind-up of the old association
the company says that it lost money, If that
is true, why does 1t continue? Good business
men do not continue in trade that is ruinous
and why should railroad companies insure
their employees at loss? 1t is certainly not out
of any philanthropic motives. That idea would
be preposterous. The employees feel sure there
is money in it, and they do object to being
gouged.
according to the new plan also, if a man is
sick for a week he gets nothing. He must be
laid up for two weeks, and then he is paid for
one week only. All the holidays and Sundays
are excluded; but they forget that many of the
men work on such days. feel pretty sure
that, rather than have general tie-up, the
road will withdraw the Objectionable insurance
features"
THE SITUATION IN CHICAGO.
The following, by Associated Press from
Chicago last evening, is of interest in connec-
ton with the above: In speaking of the trouble
among the Baltimore and Ohio employees to-
day, Mr.. Britton said it was fomented by out
side insurance agents. He continued: 'SThere
is scarcely month but what we expend more
than we receive, and the road has frequently
made up the deficit besides giving $4,000 a |
year to the association"
what object has the road in the further
"Simply that before the association was
formed, when employees were taken ILL., injured |
or killed. subscription papers by the score were
circulated along the road to raise the necessary
funds to defray expenses. and it was great |
deal of annoyance and very demoralizing un- |
deserving persons frequently getting great
deal, while those who really stood in need of |
help received nothing"
HE ANTICIPATES NO STRIKE.
"Then you don't anticipate striker
Nothing of the kind. There are not over 100 |
men out of the entire q, 900 of our employees |
who are dissatisfied"
Mr.. Britton explained that over 81 OOO, 900 had |
been paid out in benefits since the organization
of the old association in 1880.
Several of the employees of the company were |
then questioned in regard to the scheme. Some |
of the members of the association had, as they |
said, joined of their own accord, and were |
greatly pleased with it. Others were not men, |
bers, but had not heard of any order tn compel |
der had been issued. They had been asked to |
join, and might do so; but there had been no |
threats OF discharge in case they declined. |
They had not heard of any intended strike |
among the employees and did not believe any |
such move was contemplated.
Now comes the report that the Pennsylvania |
tenn that is obnoxious to the men. Some OF the |
employees were seen last evening, but they |
hadn't heard anything about it. They hope It |
isn't true to save trouble.