The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-07
AT WORK On 1T.
Trainmen Tinkering With the
Schedule of Wages.
DIVISION Superintendents of the Southern Pa
eihc Called to the City-Return of the
Commission.

The subcommittee appointed by the Gen.
erai Grievance Committee of the Brother
nood OF Railway Trainmen and Conductors
lor the purpose of laying certain demands
before the officials of the Southern Pacific
was IN session all day yesterday at Academy
Hall, on Mission street. 1t was at work on
revision OF the late schedule, which, it
claims, has been violated by the company.
and IL approved by the General Committee
the grievance will be submitted for the con-
sideration OF the company on Monday next.
Whether Messrs. Fillmore and Towne
will look into the matter at that time is not
known. They, as representatives of the
company, demand two days in which to re-
view the work of the committee before they
will consent to give an answer or in any
way discuss the matter with the trainmen in
meeting assembled. The committeeman
went on Thursday to the railroad offices,
fully expecting to present and discuss their
grievances. They were disappointed, how
ever, and sent back with request that
their troubles be reduced ID writing, and
that the company be given twenty-four
hours in which to examine the proposed re-
vision, and detect the points therein where
assault would be most effective, before hold
ing any discussion.
AT WORK IN COMPLIANCE.
In compliance with this request or de-
mand the subcommittee is at work. With
conclusion Of this work will come meet
Ing at Fourth and Townsend streets, and I'M
less something is done to cool the ire of Mr..
Fillmore it will be meeting long to be re-
membered by both Irainmen and officials,
for the General Superintendent of the
Southern Pacific is waxing exceeding wroth
at the prospect of changing the present
wage schedule, which, he says, has not been
violated by the company in any particular.
" The trouble" he says, all comes from
the Western Division Oakland TO Lathropl
where We have refused to pay men Tor over
time when the extra work was not Occasioned
by WaSnOuts, etc. III crew should be de-
talned on the ruad from a broken bridge,
landslide, or any one of the unforeseen and
unexpected events which often hold our
trains, they would get extra time, but if
crew running between here and Lathrop
choose to stretch day from seven to twelve
aud thirteen hours they daily on the road at
their own loss-we shall not pay for any
such overtime.
"a short time after the adoption of the
schedule Which they claim we have violated
and which expressly provides for the pay
ment OF overtime only in the manner which
have explained the Western Division train
men commenced TO howl for extra pay. In
their reports the freight conductors were in
the habit of charging time which they had
not made and we informed them that if this
practice continued their designations would
be acceptable. This is the real cause Of the
Grievance Committee coming here.
ABSURD DEMANDS MADE
" In order to swell the list of alleged in
fractions they are adding some of the most
absurd demands imaginable. For instance,
they desire to chat with us concerning pro-
motions, how they shall be made, etc, and
they would have them according to the
length of service with the company, which
Is entirely out of the question in many cases.
A man may be in The employ of the COM
pany for twenty-five years and still be in
competent to run train. Ii he is good
mau be will be promoted in his turn if not
he Will stay at the brake, and the trainmen's
committee Will have its hands full when it
attempts to dictate to us in this matter.
The men employed on many sections of
the system had no grievance at all. Es-
peeially is this true of the ella and Tucson,
humboldt, Los Angeles and Visalia divi
slons. They protested against coming here,
but were Induced to do SO by Brotherhood
order"
The Superintendent of the division on
the Pacific system have been summoned to
appear in connection with an adjustment of
this difficulty, aud several have already ar
rived. j. Ii. Whited, Superintendent of the
humboldt Division, is at the Grand. and in
the absence OF A. ID. Wilder If the Western,
who IS in Mexico, Assistant Superintendent
j. L. Thompson will represent that division
at the conference on Monday, or whenever
1t may take place"
BACK FROM THE VALLEY.
The Railroad Commissioners returned YES
terday from their visit TO San Joaquin Val
ley, whittier they journeyed a day or two
since to Inves tigate complaints of freight
shippers against the Southern Pacific Com
panY. Witnesses were examined and from
the testimony of the grangerS the Commits
sioners concluded that the company had not
always furnished shippers with grain boxes.
especially during the wheat season, when
every side track on the system is filled with
loaded cars.
John Kearns testified that some of the
wheat had been stolen last season, ard i.
w. Gilmer. who owns warehouse near the
Southern Pacific main line at Porteryille.
told the Commissioners that the COMPANY
had refused to build a spur from the main
track.
Freight Agent Smurr testified that new
seal lock for hox-cars had been adopted by
his company, and that now no more wheat
could be stolen. The Commissioners then
nd tnurna1 1900