The Dickinson press., 1890-09-06
ARBlTRATINe THE STRIKE.
Troubles of the knights and Central 1

"o Ao " u
NEW YORK, Sept. Sat 10 a. m. the
state board of mediation and arbitration
began its investigation into the strike on
the New York Central railroad. The
sessions of the committee are being held
in an unoccupied room of the court of
common pleas, in the court house. Vice
President Webb was present, attended
by Mr.. Loomis, general counsel of the
road, and MI. Powderly was on hand,
accompanied by his legal adviser,
Gen. Roger A. Pryor. More than fifty
witnesses have already been supenaed
by the X. of L.
Vice President Webb Was Called
and said: "The company has no con-
troversy, o has it had any with its
employees. On August 8 a number of
our employees voluntarily left our SER
vice. Since then their places have been
filled and the road is operated success
fully. The cause alleged for these men
leaving was because seventy-eight of
the $4,000 on the road had been dis
charged because they were knights of
Labor. These men were discharged by
my order for good and sufficient cause.
The company had Alright to discharge
any of these men without giving causes
for so doing. On the 9th Of August Mr..
j. j. Holland called upon me as a rep
resentative of the knights of Labor to
talk the matter over. I refused and
have done so each time a proposition
has been made to me since"
William A. Valentine,
master workman of Assembly 10, $50
and one of the discharged employees.
was the first witness for the knights.
The witness received IL written commu-
nication from the assistant superinten-
dent which stated that his service would
not be required after August 4. Then
in a rambling way the witness told how
he had been cautioned not to appear too
prominently as a Knight of Labor, as it
would interfere with his promotion.
Dennis Mccarthy.
train baggageman, testified that he was
discharged on July 81. On Aug, 1 he
asked Mr.. Toucey if his discharge was
final. Then Mr.. Toucey accused him of
being n of "the kickers, and a Knight
of Labor. The witness appealed to MI.
Toucey to remember his twenty years of
faithful service, and the latter revoked
the discharge, but when witness reported
for duty afterwards he was ordered to
give up his badge and keys by a subor-
dinate of MI. Toucey's and was then
discharged.
E. j. Lee,
master workman of d. A. 246, testified
that District 246 ordered the strike be-
cause the company had violated an
agreement with the men in which it was
agreed to give the reasons for all dis
charges. Witness had always performed
duty faithfully, and at the time of his
discharge was an extra hand, and was
on leave until he was ready to report
for work. On Aug. 8 Mr.. Toucey told
the witness that he was an agitator and
would not be taken back, but that he
would not be black-listed, and if he
could get a situation on the New Haven
road he (Toucey) would give him a rec
ommendation.
Mr.. Voorhees, was called. Gen. PRYOR
said he had no questions to ask him,
neither had the counsel for the com
pany, SO the chairman of the board, az
in the case Of Mr.. Toucey, asked him d
few questions. MI. Voorhees, said he
had nothing to do with the discharge OF
employees. He corroborated the testi
mony Of MI. Webb as to the refusal Of
the company to arbitrate with outsider.
about anything connected with the road
MI. Buchanan testified that he re
ceived orders from Mr.. Webb to dis
charge Lee, and he did not ask him ar
questions as to the cause therefor
Malloy was dismissed for obtaining
pass under false representations, an,
Conlin for neglect of duty.
No other parties interested nor tn
board had any more witnesses of import
ance to call, and the inquiry was the
adjourned until Friday at 10 o'clock, il
Albany.