Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-21
MEETING HALF WAY.
A Settlement of the Yard
mems Trouble Expected.
ELECTIVE NORRIS HERE.
Has Hooking Valley Hen to Offer
TO the Roads.
ELECTIVE NORRIS HERE
UNISON YARDMEN ORGANIZED

Ieyy~ of the Switchmen's Assembly, to a
DISPATCH reporter last night. Everything
vas remarkably quiet yesterday in the
Yards, and the meeting of railroad men held
at Al Fifth avenue. in the afternoon, was at
tended by less than 100 men. While not
stated positively by the committee, it is
probable that propositions will be made to
the superintendents to-day by the commit
tees of their respective roads. These propo-
sitions will contain the yardmen's ulti-
matum. There will be some concessions
made The men regard it their duty to meet
the companies half way, as the latter have
made concessions.
The important event of yesterday was the
arrival of John I. Norris, the well-known
detective of Springfield, o. He is here in
connection with the work which Detect
i've Perkins was employed to do. Mr.. Per-
kins states that he has only been partially
successful in securing men. In many places
non-union men are afraid to come to Pitts
burg in case strike should occur. How
ever, he has engaged large number.
HIS SPECIAL BUSINESS.
Mr. Norris has Just come from a number
OF Western and Northwestern cities, where
AuSu HdNS DSCu SnSdSSN. 41S odiu ldob III lSHts
SCI am here on special business. 1 will
probably have something interesting for you
in dav or two"
Mr.. Norris will meet the superintendents
this morning and inform them that he can
produce every man now idle in the Hooking
Valley for duty here in case of an emer-
gency. This will give the companies con-
siderable advantage should a tie-up be or
dered.
& laNa %l,3y L..
panies have made all necessary preparations
for strike, and in case one is yet ordered
they will be able to fill the mems places in
side of "a hours, and the cessation in the
freight traffic would be of but small mo-
ment.
"Do the railroad employees know" asked
an official yesterday, that the roads of the
country are leagued 10 fight strikes? If
they do not they should, and the local en-
ployes have big job on their hands. 1 hope
they won't strike.
THEY HELP THEIR RIVALS.
"When the Reading engineers went ont
about year ago, much as the Pennsylvania
hates its rival, the trunk line turned in
and loaned to the Reading all the spare
men they had. The Western roads also
helped the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
to down their employees"
The Press Committee absolutely refused
to give out any information Yesterday or
last night. They said thre was nothing to
give out. Mr.. Downev said he did not
know what the programme for to-day would
be, but he thought the men were not as
anxious for a strike as they were three or
four days ago, and that compromise will
In all probability be agreed to to-day or to-
morrow.
The two points upon which the matter
hinpno fha tba
There are only about five or six points out
OF the 10 that the companies have not con-
ceded. But if the men could get the wages
and the time they demand they would not
insist on the others. Mr.. Downey reiterated
his former statement that the men will not
accept the propositions made to them on
Saturday. 1t was learned that the figures
offered simply give the Panhandle em-
ployes the same wages as the Pennsylyapia
Railroad men have been receiving, and will
not advance the Pennsylvania Railroad to
the amount asked for. The Panhandle
Company has only paid 50 30 and 50 40 to
conductors, and 81 80 and 81 so to brake
men.
MUST BE RECTIFIED.
A grievance on the Valley that the men
say must be rectihed is the docking of
the men cents for meals. The men are
paid 81 90, and if they take half an hour for
meals cents are deducted from their wages
The Ft. Wayne men are paid the same as the
Panhandle employee.
Word was received in the city yesterday that
the non-union men of Dennison had organized.
BY this the strength of the Federation is in
creased, as Dennison is a big freight center.
All Chicago and 81. Louis freight IS separated
at pennlston. thereby increasing the work. All
wanna system passes through the Dennison
yards, and yet the men are paid even less than
the Plttsourg men The switchmen are paid
81 IS for day work and 81 IS night
The men still say the companies will not
have such an easy time as they think running
tne roads aiter strike is ordered. Here is the
way one Of the PennsylvaniaRairoad yardmen
put IL yesterday: Suppose" said he ''that
strike 10 ordered in Pittsburg tonight To-
morrow morning Chicago is tied up; IN the
afternoon the men go out on strike in Buff
falo. and at night New YORK will follow suit
The following day the men in Cumberland and
Columbus will be ordered out, and what could
you get in Pittsburg7 The Federation stands
shoulder to shoulder, all over the country and
when strike is ordered for the benefit Of the
men of one city, the men in the other cities
support them. The companies must make no
mistake in saying that strike would only af-
iect PIttsburg. Neither must they think they
because it could not be done"
JUST HOW IT WORKS.
There has been good deal of talk about the
impracticability of a ten-hour system being
adopted here. 1t could not be demonstrated
four hours each day could be avoided. Mr.
Downey gave the following explanation of how
1t Is worked in Chicago: The day men 90 to
work at o'clock in the morning, and are al
lowed an hour for dinner; but all do not take
the same hour. The quit at o'clock and the
night men begin at Z. The business is only sus- |
pended for two hours each day. and both hours
come a: time when the yards are not rushed. |
The traffic is not hindered nor are more crews
required by reason of the two hours' idleness |
Superintendent McCargo, of the Valley road, |
was seen last night. but said there was nothing |
new on the part of the officials. Chief Clerk |
Mc1lwaine, of the Baltimore and Ohio said |
everything was quiet in their yards. Superln-
tendeDt Holbrook, Of the Pittsburg and Lake |
Erie, is home. Master of Transportation
IOhe, of the Lake Erie, said they are getting |
all their freight out cn time The various |
yards were in little better condition last even.
ing. The men had worked all day. clearing |
them up. and many switches were emptled.
Now that both sides have agreed to ATTEMPT |
q compromise, the shippers may rest easy with |
the expectation of seeing the difficulty ar |
ranged amicably, although the men intimate |
that if the propositions they submit to-day are |
not accepted, there will be interesting develop
ments within the next two days.