Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-22
STILL IN SUSPENSE,
Another Day of Conferences
in the Railroad Muddle.
THE MEN STANDING FIRM,
And the Companies as Positive in
Their Position.
PENNSY OFFICIALS CONSULTING
THE MEN STANDING FIRM,
PENNSY OFFICIALS CONSULTING


may disperse all fears of experiencing the
disastrous effects of general tie-up.
As announced in yesterdays DISPATCH,
committees from the various roads called
upon their respective superintendents yes
terday, and discussed the situation in all
its phases, and endeavored to secure a state
ment of what the companies would do. They
were assured that the propositions made on
Friday, namely, % and "a cents for con-
ductors, and 10 and Is for brakemen, could
be secured on all of the roads.
The important move of the day was made
in the afternoon by the officials of the Psnn-
sylvania Railroad Company and the Penn
sylvsnia Company, who held a conference
at the office of Superintendent Pitcairn.
There were present Mr.. Pitcairn. General
Superintendent McCargo, of the Allegheny
Valley road; Superintendent Hutchinson,
of the West Penn; james McCrea, Second
Vice President of the Pennsylvania Com
pany, and General Manager Joseph Wood,
of the Pennsylvania Company.
SECRET CONFERENCE.
The conference was a secret one and lasted
until o'clock. 1t was denied by the clerks
in Mr.. Pitcairn's office that a conference
was held, but as a DISPATCH representa-
tive WdS leaving Tile OlllCe Tue SeCOnU LlLQe,
the door of Mr.. Pitcairn's Office opened, and
the officials filed out. They scattered,
and lett the depot in different directions
Mr. McCargo said he could not divulge the
result of the conference. He admitted that
the matter had been discussed, and added:
tfThere is no reason for this trouble
to be prolonged. The men ought
to be satisfied with the propositions that
have been made to them. The wages offered
Al. -.
in Youngstown and other points east and
west. 1t is not a fact that the offer only
places the employees of the other roads on an
equality with the Pennsylvania Railroad
men. 1t will give them from 20 to 80 cents
per day more than our men formerly re-
ceived, and will increase the wages OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad men,"
''Is it to be understood then that the COM
panies will make no further CONCESSIONS"
was asked.
81 cannot answer that question, but as 1
said before, think the proposition already
made to the men is fair one and ought to
be accepted, replied Mr.. McCargo.
EXPECT A SETTLEMENT.
Mr.. Hutchinson said he thought the indi-
cations pointed to an early settlement He
would not say anything about the conference.
Mr. Pitcairn was caught just as he was about
to step on the train to go home He declined
also to divulge the result of the conference.
He said he thought the wages offered the men
would be accepted, and he seemed to regard
the matter about settled, or at least in a
very fair way for a settlement. Mr.. Pitcairn
said he did not believe the statement made by
the men to the effect that they would not ac-
cept the propositions of the companies. BE
declined to say whether or not his company
would be willing to make further conces-
sions in case the offers were rejected.
He expects, however, to see a settlement
of the difficulty in a day two.
Superintendent Patton, of the Baltimore and
Ohio, said the committee who waited on him
said they merely wanted an increase of wages
and they have no other grievance. They were
granted an increase a week ago. Mr.. Patton
thinks the agitation for more wages and shorter
hours was precipitated by the younger men on
the roads, and says that the old employees are
not 'in it, at all. And that he says, is the rea-
son for the delay. The men are divided. The
men who have families to support are not back |
ing up the men in the movement
Superintendent Turner, of the Pittsburg
and Lake Erie Railroad had a conference with
his men. He received their statements and
assured them he would consider them, but did
not promise any further concessions.
S. E. Wilkinson, the Grand Master of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen; Vice
Grand Master Downey. of the Swltchmep's
Association and John C. Glenn one of the
Grand Trustees of the Switchmen's As /
sociation, also called on some of the
Superintendents and talked over the PROPOSE
tions made to the men. They went over the
figures very carefully and deliberately but no
concessions were offered by either side. The
Superintendents refused to concede the ten
hour demand, and the representatives of the
men refused to release their position on that |
point.
STANDING BY THEIR DEMANDS.
The result of this conference was reported to |
the General Committee at o'clock when |
meeting was held and it was decided to stand
firm for the demands in regard to the hours
The B. G. o. men are said to be considerably |
divided. but committee representing them
notified the General Committee that they will |
stand by the Federation in any move that they |
make.
The whole matter seems to hinge now on the |
action of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
If that company grants any advances the other |
roads will follow suit but If the Pennsylyania |
Railroad holds out against any increase over |
the propositions already made, the stubborn
ness of the fight will be made more intense. |
While there may not be any greater indications |
of strike than there were last week the attitude
of the men is still warlike. The matter has now |
been left in the hands of Grand Master Wilkip- |
son and Vice Grand Master Downey in con- |
junction with Grand Trustee Glenn. They |
will receive all future propositions from the |
companies and will have the power to |
say whether they will be accepted or not An |
effort was made TO see Grand Master VIII |
kinson, but he had gone to the house of a |
friend in the lower part of Allegheny, where |
he intends TO make his headquarters while in /
the city.
Mr. Downey was seen. He is surprised that
themselves in the matter. "Why" said he,
when we had the same kind of difficulty in
Kansas City il wasn't two days until the Board |
of Trade called special meeting and invited |
the railway companies and our men to be |
represented at that meeting and the whole |
thing was fixed up amicably at that |
meeting. Pittsburg stands about sixth or sew
enth as a clearing house center, and probably |
eighth or ninth as commercial center 1t is /
undoubtedly first as a manufacturing city.
Now, if the commercial and manufacturing |
interests involved If they WOuld ha aff tad
to such an extent, why don't they get up and |
help to settle the difhcultyf They could do it |
if they wished"
NOTHING FoREToLD.
MI. Downey declined to say what progress
had been made yesterday, or what the pro-
gramme is for to-day. He stated that The mat
ter is going along as rapidly as it can be |
pushed. and although it seems wearisome to |
the public, more rapid progress could not be
made. 1t is quite likely, however, that the next
"a hours will see either settlement or an order
TO tie up, as Mr.. Downey intimated that he
would leave the city tomorrow.
A meeting of the general committee was
held IN h. of L. Hall last night, but nothing of
importance H1lpo %% %% was a., gone; dhe BALTIMORE and
1ranmen, held a meeting at Glenwood last
night. 1t was regular meeting but Grand |
Master Wilkinson was present during the early
was discussed.
John T. Norris. the well-known Springfield.
o., detective who arrived in the city Sunday |
stated yesterday that he is not here on account |
of the trouble. He is on his way East and
stopped over to visit Assistant Superintendent |
of Police Roger O'Mars. He Will leave this
morning for the East. He said he was willing
to take hold of the police end of the matter If |
the railroad companies desired his services l.
but he has not been engaged to do any work
for them.
The painters employed by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, who went on a strike SAT-