Morning journal and courier., 1890-12-13
PRES. .oLAnKE,s pnomRr ACTION

The Trouble With the. Seventeen Brakemen on the Northampton Division Sett1ed-The Men to be
 Paid for All Overtime.
 The seventeen brakemen who man the freight trains of the Northampton divis- ion of the Consolidated railroad refused to
 go to their work yesterday morning and
 the freights stood idle in the yards. In
 the absence of Superintendent c. N. Yea mons, Assistant Superintendent Curtiss endeayored to ascertain the cause of the mems grievance against the company and to arrange some settlement. The. men complained they had been overworked and wanted extra pay for overtime. The men had been receiving $1.95 per day or for a round trip over the line. While days work in this capacity was considered about twelve hours, some days the men would work an hour or so over and at another time an hour less. The men demanded $1.95 for ten hours and twenty cents an hour for overtime. There has been no dissatisfaction before on the line. The as- sistant superintendent held several confer ences with the men during the forenoon, but was unable to prevail upon them to man the trains, which stood idle in the yard. The conductors of the trains stood round on the depot platform awaiting or ders. They took no part in the strike and were ready to join their trains when crews sufficient to man them could be had.
 Superintendent Yeamans arrived from Springfield yesterday afternoon and found the following letter from President Clark awaiting him:
 MT. c. N. Yeamans, Superintendent Northamp-
 Dear Sir-In the absence of the general mana ger you advise me, that certain of the freight crews upon your division have refused to work, claiming thatthey have been worked overtime for several weeks, owing to the pressure in the movement .o of freight, and that they have not that any application has been made by the men to you, or by you to the general manager for au- thoriiy to pay for this overtime.
 In view of these circumstances, you are direct ed to pay these men reasonably for their over time and will notify them that their services are no longer required by this company. Let them understand that refusing to do duty without appeal to the representatives of the corporation is sufficient cause for the discharge of any man from it's service. This company will deal justly with every em- p1oye and will not allow any, one of them ill., right to prompt obedience.
 copy of this letter is sent to the general turn as to pay for overtime by other crews
 cHaaIzsP. fe CLARK, President.
 This prompt and decisive action by Pres ident Clark will probably end the whole matter. New men will be put on to take the places of the old men, and every train is expected to be run on time to-day.
 Vice President Reed states that while he did not know about the case in hand, he knew that the company did not wish it's men overworked. It was necessary for them to have proper rest and sleep He believed that had the men stated their complaints the matter could have been ar ranged without strike.
 The men are averse to discussing the matter. They thought they should be paid overtime, and that was what they were out for. They wanted twenty cents an hour for their extra hours.
 Part of the delayed cars were sent out last night