The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-15
COMPULSORY INSURANCE.
Baltimore & Ohio Employees May Cease Work
Unless the Insurance Plan Is Dropped.

CHICAGO, April 1S.-Several hundred en-
ployes of the Baltimore q Ohio railroad
were called to the company's Office at South
Chicago and asked by the officials to- sign
papers giving the company the right to re-
serve certain per cent. of wages. The os-
tensible object of keeping back the money
is to defray the cost of insuring the en-
ployes against loss by sickness, accident.
etc., while in the service of the road. There
has been much dissatiafaction with the
workings of the scheme for some time past,
the men claiming that they received prac-
tically no benefit from the payments, and
that the arrangement was a very one-sided
affair. resulting chiefly in substantial ad-
dition to the company's exchequer. This
feeling manifested itself in q unanimous
refusal, to-day, by the men to sign the
company's documents. The refusal includ-
ed engineers, firemen, switchmen, brake
men. conductors and section hands operat-
ing the division of the road commencing
with Chicago and ending with Garrett,
Ind. All were gwen to understand that
unless the papers were signed by Monday
discharge would ensue. The only effect of
this notice apparent was the issuance of
call by the men for mass-meeting. which
was held tonight at South Chicago, as
protest against the company's action. There
were over 200 employees present at the meet
Ing. representing all branches affected.
referred to above, and In addition COM
planning that the insurance company had
no charter for insurance purposes 1t was
decided that should any wages be retained
ennevss 1he Sh apr the
Every emplOye In the service of the COM
pany, and there are 90, 900 of them, has been
given to understand that he must sign the
contract or be discharged. A determined
and + P2sanze to anS the S p%
persisted in, strike may result. Mr..
Frank, B. Clark, life and accident
insurance broker, has examined the Balti-
more IL Ohio system of insurance or bene-
average twice as large as those of other ac-
cldent and life insurance companies carry
ing similar risks. The contract which the
employees are asked to sign contains a
clause making the insurance re-
lease of all claims for damages
AT the meeting in South Chicago last night,
an employe in the company's shops at Gar
rett, Ind, reported that tifty-seven machin-
lists had been laid off for refusing to sign.
cried a voice. The feeling among the men
seemed very bitter. One engineer shouted
as the meeting was adjourning: 1--WE will
make it another case of the 'Q.'"
PITTSBURG, April 14.-The new insurance
feature of the Baltimore & Ohio road has
produced general dissatisfaction in this sec
ti0n. Last week three night crews in the
yard and one day man quit work rather
than sign the policies. A number of shop
and yard employees at Glenwood have
also given up their jobs, and at
least ten of the employees at Con-
nellsville declined to sign. and were told
to go. Some of the men have gone into the
association under protest. A Pittsburg en-
gineer, in speaking of the matter, said the
men are thoroughly aroused and it would
not take much to produce a strike. "If the
Chicago employees stand firm" said he, II
should not be surprised to see the men on
the eastern divisions stick to them. This
is matter for the various brotherhoods to
consider; but, so far as know. no action
has yet been taken by any of them"