St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-09
Chairman Walkers Contract
for $4,000 Expires This
Month.
The Advisory Board Must at
Once Consider a Renewal
or Lose Walker.
Only $4,000 Per Year Pro-
vided for by the Presi-
dents Agreement,
While Two Of His Subordi-
mates Draw More Money
for Their Work.

CHICAGO, Jan. S.-Chairman Walker
and Commissioner Midgley, of the
Western Traffic association, are both in
New York, where they will remain I'M
til after the meeting of the advisory
board, to be held in that city next Tues
day. Mr.. Walker is especially inter-
ested in the forthcoming meeting. His
contract with the presidents of the
Western roads, whereby he was to re-
ceive salary of $4,000 year for three
years, expires this month.
When the new agreement was adopted
year ago 1t provided for the election
OF six commissioners, fixing the salary
of the chairman at $4,000, and that of
the other five at $4,000 each per an
mum. Furthermore, it provided that
commissioners should be chosen for one
year only, and that an election must be
held at the first quarterly meeting of
each year. 1t appears, therefore, that
the most important business before the
advisory board at its meeting next week
will be the election of commissioners.
Even If Chairman Walker is reelected,
his salary, by the terms of the preSi-
dents agreement. will be less than half
what it has heretofore been, and there
is question as to whether he will ac-
cept it. According to general report,
he has good offer from large railroad
corporation, which desires his services
as general counsel for the company,
and there is little doubt that such pO-
sitlon would be more lucrative, and
fully as much to his liking.
But there is another reason why MIR.
Walker might decline the craftsmanship
at the salary fixed for that office. AL
though it was decided that the salaries
of the other five commissioners should
be but $1,000 each, it will be remem-
bered that Commissioner Faithorn. as
chairman of the Southwestern Railway
and Steamship association, has con-
tract with that organization by which
he receives $4,000 per annum. and Will
continue to do So for some years to
come. Commissioner Midgley, whether
by contract or not, is allowed $l2, 800 by
the Western Freight association.
If these two men are retained, land cer-
tainly Mr.. Faithorn must be, in order to
keep his organization in the Western
Traffic association, Chairman Walker
cannot accept reelection at $4,000
year without being placed in the posi-
ton of receiving lower salary than
two of his subordinates. This matter is
Just now causing some speculation in
Western railroad circles. Mr.. Walker
is popular with the presidents of the
roads, and it is generally predicted that
they will solve the problem by allow
ing him much higher salary than
that provided by the agreement. 1t is
even believed in some quarters that
the 5000 contract will be renewed, If
necessary, to keep Mr.. Walker at the
head of the association. No doubt is
expressed of the reelection of Midgley,
Finley, FaithOrn and Vining. Whether
James Smith will be returned as chair
man of the TranS-MiSsOuri association
is supposed to depend somewhat on the
strength OF the Gould Influence.