Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-01-12
PEACE ONCE MORE.

A Reliable Resume of the Late Differ |
ences-The Contract In Vogue on the
Main Line Extended to the other
Divisions.MattersR Running Smooth
ly-Cause of the Differences and the
Effect.
Chief Arthur and Grand Master Sargent
have left for Cleveland. The engineers
and firemen on the branch divisions of the
N. Y, N. 81. & Il. R. R. have indicated
their willingness to accept the contract
which was made between the company and
the men of the Main line in 1886 and ex-
tended to the other branches by Manager
Tuttle about year ago.
When the Northampton, Naugatuck and
Valley divisions were independent roads
the engineers and fremen were paid by
the day, and many engineers, possibly
most of them, got no more than $75 a
month. Since these roads have become a
part of the N. Y, N. H. & II. R. R. the
| wages of the men have been frequently
raised until now they get practically the
| same wages as the men on the main division,
although on the latter the pay is on the
basis Of the number of miles run and on
the former by the day. Since, now, the
men have agreed to accept the contract
which is in vogue on the main line, the
basis of payment will be the same over the
whole road.
The passenger engineers get 81 cents a
mile, the freight engineers cents mile,
and the firemen half the price of the re
spective engineers. hundred miles is
extra run Of only five miles, or only thirty
miles, this amount is considered as a run
of 100 miles.
To illustrate the hours required of an
engineer and his compensation, the train
that leaves Springfield at 7:50 arrives in
New York at 11:35 leaves at 4 o'clock and
arrives in Springfield at 7:45, and this con-
stitutes two days work and 81 is paid fol
| it. A trip of this kind is only required on
every alternate day. The train that leaves
New Haven at 7:30 O'Clock runs to New
| York in two hours and five minutes, leaves
| at p. m. and is back at New Haven al
4:4O. The men, in this case, can take theil
breakfast and supper and spend their even
ings at home. In many western roads thu
men are away from home for three days q
time.
els it fair" was asked on authority il
railroad matters, "that the men on tn,
main line should be paid for delayed ser
vice and not the men on the divisions.
l
clause was made for the main line becaus
} freight train through lack of system wa
often delayed six hours at Harlem Rive
J to have their trains made up. This wa
clearly the fault of the road and it was tn
duty of the road to compensate for it
, Now the men have to wait scarcely NOR
than half an hour for their trains and n
delayed service of the sort has been pai'
for on tho main line for months an
months. On the Northampton division
! the one about which this mat
I trains are sent through SO tn
! men can be at home nights. When
ever, and I think the experience of a.
r railroad men will bear me out, compenss
: ton is made for delays there is an incen
| tive for the men, if they are a few minute
late, to make that delay more than thirt
i minutes and receive pay for an hour. An
: this very practice is costing western road
n a great deal of money, and more than this
the public gets poorer service. If th
delayed service amounts to much the con
, pany pays for it on the branch lines, to-
i What is the cause of the late unpleat
q | antness? The conservative men in til
brotherhood have stayed away from til
meetings, and the men who did not VI
a derstand the situation have stirred up tn
e | matter. The men on the road are we
paid, loyal, quiet, conservative men. The
are reliable men, and well-used, and the
know it, too. Most of them have the
n houses here.
: What effect have these late confereIc,
regarding the mutterings of a strike ha
l. ON the relations of the men to the comp
Q ny! think harmony and better feelir
It has been promoted by the interchange (
% | opinions among the men and the emplo.
r ers Matters seem to be running smooth
10 and satisfaction seems to be felt by al
10 now that the thing is settled and bett'
10 understanding prevails.
9 Various of the employees who were int
viewed expressed satisfaction with the r
If suits. Although they did not get all the
r. asked for, still the concession made was
le important one.
d ave have obtained an extension of Il
r pay contract of 1885 to the branche
A which was one of the chief things whit
N we contended for. We now have a p,
to standard for the whole system, which
y very important. An engineer or fremt
?, leaving one division for another kno1
r. that he will be paid on the same standar
q, This is very important and very satisfa
q tory to the men,"