The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-24
WASHINGTON. WEDNESDAY, "a

Tor them TO do. and they were sent beck
nome. The switchmen. of whom there
are fifteen IN this city, are all idle today.
CHICAGO, Aug. 23-E. L. Clark, of Cedar
hapids, Ia, grand master of the railway
conductors, arrived in this city this morn
ing. He said:
am on NY way to Buffalo in response to the
invitation OF Grand Master Sweeney OF the
awitchmen's Union. SO far as know the order
mas no grievances to right l think the de-
mands OF the switchmen were just but
strongly condemn the recent lawlessness.
Clark was joined here by Grand Master
Wilkinson of the order of railway train
men, OF Gaiesburg, and both left for Buff
falo at 3 oclock
NIAGARA FALLS, n. Y, Aug. 23.--One of
ne most treacherous acts yet committed
by the strikers or their sympathizers took
place last night. A loaded freight train
was pulling out, bound for Buffalo, when
the switch just east of Lewiston avenue
was thrown. The engine and four cars had
already passed, SO the train broke in two
and the rear and greater portion sped
towards the bridge on the Michigan Cen
tral track. AS soon as the gate man saw
the train coming he made hurried effort
to open the gate, but before he could do SO
the cars dashed into il and he was struck
and two of his ribs were broken,
his hand hurt and he was other
wise injured. The train was running
eighteen miles an hours, and when it
came to standstill it was all on the
bridge. After the collision Il switchman
had his lantern kicked out of his hand by
bystander. The collision of the train
with the the gate might have resulted in
its precipitation Off the bridge approaches.
Grand Master Sweeney, in a recent interview,
gave this statement OF the cause of the strike:
This trouble dates back for some time, when
the Lehigh Valley posted bulletin that In
order TO comply with the state law it would be
necessary TO pay the men on al hourly basis The
men took the matter up as il was found
taat the new arrangement was unsatisfactory
TO them. They were satisfied with the old scale.
which was 500 and s65 month for day work ana
200 and so Tor night work. Perhaps should ex-
pain that the work is graded. The man ia.
charge OF the engine who is called the yard con-
ductor, got $65 for day work and $50 for night
worx, while his helpers. or sWitchmen, get $50
Tor day work and S65 for night work, and they
worked eleven hours q day. Now the men want
the old scale aud ten hours a day. They made
conditional request. They asked for the old
scale and ten hours on condition that if they
worked ten and half hours they should
celve only ten hours pay. but If they worked
receive an hours wages, at the rate OF %, 25 and
q cents an hour, and less than half an hour
was to count for nothing. This condition was
in favor of the road because the yardmasters
had the matter in their own hands and could
work the men half an hour over time righ along
and not pay them for it However, the men
were willing to stand this. The adjustment
asked by the men was a very reasonable one.
They simply asked to be put on the same basis
as the men in three of the largest
yards in the city, the Delaware,
Lackawana g. Western, the Nickel Plate
aud the Lake Shore. committee
was appointed, and every means possible
adopted to have the trouble settled without
sorting to extreme measures. The Erie and
Buffalo Creek roads were included in the re-
quest. Nothing could be done with the officials,
however. though the committee went to the
highest of them.