New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-07
NAY STRIKE ON THE READING
A COMMITTEE SEES PRESIDENT M'LEoD

THE TROUBLE SAID TO BE DUE TO THE FAILURE
OF THE BENEFICIAL ORGANIZATION con-
NECTED WITH THE sYsTEM-EMPLoYES
SAY THEY ARE ~ EARNEST.
There Is danger OF a general strike on the READING
Railroad system. Several months ago there were many
rumors Of u strike all the roads In the Readih8
system There some impoi tant meetings OF rail'
road employees at the time, and then the trouble was
apparently forgotten Yesterday the story OF PROB
able strike on the Reading system WAS revived Early
in the morning grievance committee composed Oh,
engineers, fremen, conductors ana ralhineh ieit INC
Jersey Central station I'm Jersey City for Phiisdepma'
TO Law before President A. A. Mcleod and other ocers
of the Reading system Its grievances. Mr.. A. Clapp'
an engineer OH the Central Railroad OF NewJersey was
chairman Of the committee All knowledge OF the
existence OF such q committee was denieo oy tue
officers OF the Central Railroad OF NewJersey and the
Reading system yesterday forenoon. Late In the day.
however, 1t leaked out IN several railrad offices In tbs
city that Mr.. Clapp and his committee lad aetanS'
begun work.
In one railroad Office the statement was inadver-
tently made that Mr. Clapp's committee had begun
serious business that would result In EMBARRASSING
considerations very soOn.p A special request was
made that the authorship OF the remark be withpeo.
Mr. Ciapps committee comprised twelve representa-,
atives OF all the broherhoods Of railroad employees
Tie formation Of the committee and its sudden ana
the result Of secret meeting Of railroad employees
held at EastOn, Penn, on Sunday afternoon Az
that meeting the alleged unjust discharge OF ave
engineers on the NewJersey division OF the ReadnS
was discussed. The alleged proposed discharge OF all
union men from the service OF the road was also
discussed The discussion resulted IN the grievance
committee receiving instructions to at once TO New.
York and Philadelphia for the purpose OF securing ex'
plantations and concessions. II the desired con-
cessons were not forthcoming II understood tiao
general strike, directly affecting 1000 miles OF
railroad 800 locomotives. $4,000 cars and many
thousands OF employees would be ordered
AT the Offices " the Reading Railroad In the
Central Building at Liberty and West sts, yesterday
complete ignorance profcssed as to the existence
and movements Of the Grievance Committee. b.
w. Williams the second vice president, was not In his
office. An officer Of one OF tile roads was found, whe
spoke freely about the situation. lie said u
rribune reprter: THE present trouble has been
brewing for i've years. Five years ago Mr.. Mcleod
organized the beneficial organization OF the Reading
Company The members OF the organizat on were
to receive certain amount OF money weekly In case
OF Illness, etc, In proportion to the amount 'hey
mid IN dues The one object Of the organization
was TO wipe out the unions and broheroods OF rail-
road employees. The scheme has never been suo-
CESS | saw the Grievance Committee this Iaorna
Ing There were abont twelve men in 1t. l gness.
They were employees OF the Jersey Central and thu
Philadelphia and Reading Railroads. Clapp, an en-
gincer With them He saii III my hearings
DO Won believe thai the visit OF the committee %
the officers IN Philadephia will amount TO anythngt
Wien the members of this grievance committeS
leave work seious business, that VIII resws
:" Mr. Mcleod could not be found YESTERDAY The
eneineers and hremen In the yards In Jersey lily sne
ccmmnnpsw were not In tsihave sa 70 SiscusS
them or say what they were