Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-12-27
No TINE TO STRIKE Now.-Gen

been to Chicago ON business for the
road, returned last nigh at seven
O'Clock. A delegation ofrailroad men,
forming grievance committee, came
here Saturday., to confer with Mr..
Odell about an increase in wages.
When their presence here was known
it caused talk among the men, and, in
a quiet way, the subject was discussed
around Camden Station.
Mr.. Odell said last night: "Thert
is no strike Oh the Baltimore and Ohio.
nor is there likely to be one. / have
just returned from a meeting of rail-
road men in Chicago. They were as
sempled TO discuss petition present
ed to the different large railroads OF
the country, asking for an increase in
wages in all branches of the business.
"The requests came mostly. from
men in the transportation depart
ments, but it was generally under
stood that all hands desired an in
crease. Some Of the railroads gave
the increase. others did not. Iunder-
stand that delegation of railroad
men representing all branches OF the
service, both east and west of the
Ohio river, wiIlmait upon me to day
with request fOrans advance in the
wages of all hands, ii L do not know
the bottom figures,I but think the in
crease asked lis between ten and
fifteen per cent. All that l can say
now is that the Baltimore and Ohio
will do the best possible thing for the
men. l do not apprehend strike.
On the contrary. feel that the men
have too much sense, in view of the
depression in the rail market, aud the
late financial panic which swept the
country, to 80 on q strike. am sure
they would aut do it. Til tie vest
the Suffering anoug the working
classes is Worse than in the East. In
Kansas City al0He ten thousand men
are out of employment. So, in case
there was strike, the mems places
could be filled in a short time. | do
not anticipate a strike, and an conf
dent there will beinoue. We want to
keep our men, and everything will be
adjusted amicabiy:."
A gentleman, who is pretty we'll
posted on the affairs Of the railroad.
said last night: "If the railroad
company did not grant the men an
increase there would be general
strike along the line. the peliii"r.
which is to be presented to day l. il.
the form of request, and not Il per
emptory demand. The men have
been gradually reduced in wages Il d
numbers ever sin the great strikr
1877, when many of the old hand
were obliged to go back to W Tk at
considerably less money than hef,re
the strike. The force all along tie
line has been reduced, aud the wage
have shrunk proportinnat"ly. TheP'l-
icy of the late John w. Gtrrett, VIII
believed 10 the employment Il larg.
number of men at small wages, ha-
not been adhered to, aud the runar
quence is that the men left behind are
Obliged to work harder and longer,
and receive less pay than before.
1.-THE Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
pays smaller wages. 10 all their EN-
ployes than any other railroad in the
country. The Pennsylvania Railroad
pays half as much again AZ does the
Baltimore and Ohio. The passenger
conductors On the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad are paid from So to Sl25 per
month, aud only the best men max
ing the longest runs get the latter
sum. A passenger engineer gets
about 1925 to 81 per day, all depend
ing on the engines run. The freight
conductors are entitled to So per day
and all they make over tine. A first-
class fireman gets sl.75. aud a second
class 81 .55 per day. Machinists all do
piece work, and when they have little
work at Mount Glare and other shops,
things go hard with them. Laborers
average sl.25 per day. while track
hands get S5cents day. The wash
ing of the car windows. the cleaning
of the trucks and putting in bolts and
other small repair work are all done
by the piece.
"Tha transportation hands, conduc-
tors engineers an.i Graruga ou freights
are taa.,ing the lght, aud they say
their pay does net compare with the
Pennsylvania system. If the strike
starts on the Western division, it we'll
go all along the roads" p .Monddy
american.
Pucklen's Arniea Salve.
The Best Salve in the world for Cuts,
II