Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-24
Will ARRIVE TODAY,
The Supreme Council Must
Settle the Difficulty.
SWITCHMEN REMAIN FIRM.
A PittSburger Has a Scheme for Max
ing Gas for Fuel.
MUSICIANS TO PUT UP STAKES.

1--WE will say what we have to say to
morrow" said Grand Master Wilkinson,
yesterday afternoon, in speaking of the
railway troubles. Taking everything into
consideration Mr.. Wilkinson's remark
seems to indicate that to-day will decide
whether there will be strike, or whether
the men will weaken and accept the PROPOSE
tions of the companies. Matters pro-
gressed yesterday about as rapidly as
a snail goes to a funeral. 1t would be hard
10 find a parallel for the officials on both
sides, when it comes to sizing up their
knowledge of things. 'T don't know a
thing" was almost the universal expression
with which the reporters were greeted every
where they went. The railway officials,
those who could be found, had evidently
been to an ice cream supper the previous
night, and the Federation officials must have
frozen the cream for them.
WILL NOT ACCEPT THE TERMS.
However, it was learned that the COM
panIes had answered the demands of the
trainmen, and that the answers were the
same as those made to the switchmen. They
offer the day conductors "a cents per hour,
and night conductors %; day brakemen Is
and night brakemen 10. The men will not
accept the terms for the same reason that
Switchmen refused to accept them. They
have added a new feature to their
objections to the propositions made
by the companies. They object
to being paid any figure per hour. They
demand pay by the day and 25 cents per
hour for overtime. If they accept a rate
per hour they claim the companies will
draw the line on them, and refuse to
pay them for all the time that thev are on
duty and perform no work. Answers were
received from the companies by o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
The General Grievance Committee met and
heard the reports of the committees. They
considered the propositions made by the COM
panies, but although they were in session for
two hours. they did nothing.
THE SUPERINTENDENT CONFER.
The superintendents had a conference in
Superintendent Taylors Office in the afternoon,
but nothing was done" Mr.. Pitcairn was
seen after the usual two hours wait. He re-
fused TO say whether or not the companies
would make any further concessions. I'VE
it remains for the men to say if they are ac-
ceptable or not"
But they have already said they would not
accept them," suggested the reporter
Have they? Well that is their business"
Mr.. Pitcairn refused to say what, if anything,
had been done by the superintendents. He
also refused to say whether or not the demands
CT the repairmen car cleaners and other yard
employees would be granted Il have nothing
to say" is all that Superintendent Turner could
be induced to give as a reply to all questions.
1t was reported last night that the members
of the Supreme Council will arrive in the city
this morning and Immediately go into execu-
tive session with Messrs. Downey, Wilkinson
and Glenn.
THE COMMITTEE NOT IN IT.
The local committee is apparently mot in it,
any longer. the business being all left in the
hands of the Federation officials. Nothing
definite will be done until after the Supreme
Council has made an attempt TO effect a COM
promise with the railway companies. When
they take this step aud make their final de-
mands it is limited that something will drop
that has not yet been brought TO the surface.
1t is claimed that if strike is ordered the
companies will discover that they have made
mistakes in estimating the strength of the or
ganiZation.
1t leaked out last night that plan had been
laid to tie up traffic in all of the large cities on
the entire system of roads centering IN Pitts
bvrg within five hours after the strike is or
dered in Pittsburg in case it becomes necessary
TO strike at all. The outcome of the difficulty
lies entirely with the head officials, and the ex-
asperated public must muster together all of
the patience they had saved for the baseball
season, and simply wait for developments.