Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-20
DEMAND AN ANSWER.
The Engineers Ask an Immediate
Decision, and n Strike May Result.

The Engineers Ask an Immediate
Decision, and Strike May Result.
The controversy between the officials of
the Union Pacific and the grievance commit
tee of the Brotherhood of Locomotive eugin-
ers over the schedule of wages to apply on
the Kansas Central has grown desperate, and
unless the demand of the engineers for the
restoration of the former schedule is soon
granted, a general walk out may follow at all
points on the line. Yesterday forenoon the
committee conferred with the officials, and
General Manager kimball requested that II
board of arbitration be appointed, the said
board to be allowed to settle the matter
The engineers said that they had no
question 10 arbitrate, and that two wrongs
would not make right. Mr.. kimball
urged that the matter be settled in this city,
and suggested that the board be of three
members; one TO be appointed by the Union
Paciic, one by the committee, and the two
men selected to choose the third. Though
dissatisfied, the engineers adjourned to the
Arcade hotel, where they assembled to again
discuss the arbitration plan.
All the members of the committee re-
mained firm on the one point, that there
was nothing that the engineers had
to arbitrate, and this time made
their decision against arbitration final.
Accordingly, u subcommittee was appointed
for the purpose of notifying MIR. Kimball of
the action of the engineers. This committee
waited upon MIR. Kimball at 4 80 O'Clock. yes
terday afternoon. The general manager
then informed them that he had no authority
to go further, but assured them that he
would communicate with his superiors. Ac-
cordingly he dispatched a telegram to Vice
President Holcomb who is at Portland, Ore,
asking for further instructions, and notifying
him that the engineers had positively refused
to arbitrate. He informed the engineers
that he would do his utmost toward reaching
a settlement by this evening.
"Your answer must come by that time and
must be positive yes or no, said one of the
committee to the general manager. ~
think" he said, "thut this has dragged
along about far enough. We admit that such
things cannot be done in moments time,
but we feel as if our leuiency has been
tomorrow evening we will take the matter
in our own hands,"
The general manager was then left to medi-
tate on the situation. Last night it was
learned that the engineers, in case decision
is not reached to-day, will call upon Chief
Arthur to order the men out, and that gen.
eral walk-out will Immediately follow his
mandate.
Another important issue in connection with
the controversy has just came to light. IL is
that every employe of the Union Pacific,
aside from the engineers and firemen,
has been instructed to follow the engineers
in case strike is declared. District Orgaui-
ger Neesham, of the knights of Labor, who
has charge of all the branches of organized
labor on the Union Pacific system, came to
Omaha from Denver in response to sum-
mons by telegram, and has everything ar
ranged for prompt walk-out of all the
shopmen, switchmen and every laborer en-
ployed by the company. Inside of one
hour" said one of the individuals interested
in the transaction, "every locomotive, shovel
and all machinery would be brought to
STOP"
Mr.. Neesham could not be found, but that
he had been here for several days in con-
necton with the trouble was admitted by
Union Pacific stated that they were aware of
his presence in the city. The fight has re-
duced itself to this: Either the old scale Of
wages will be restored at once or general
strike, in which about 5000 men will walk
out will follow,