The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-03
WADLEY TO STAND FIRM.
THE CENTRAL WON'T RECOGNIZE
LABOR ORGANIC ATOMS.

Their Chiefs-Supt. Wadley's Letter
Challenged and Denied by the Tele-
Rraphers-Au Ready to Strike at the
word-1he Railroads Story Of the
Situation.
The armed neutrality between the Cen
trail railroad and the engineers, flremen and
photographers remains in the same condition
as reported yesterday morning.
The statement of Supt. Wadley, which
was published in the MORNING NEWS, was
eagerly read by all the men as being the
first authoritative statement from the rail-
road since the trouble began.
The operators, through their spokesman.
took occasion to deny the statement of
Supt. Wadley about the reduction of sala-
Fies. They still insist that salaries have not
only been reduced, but it has been done in
the face OF extra work put on the operators.
In substantiation of its claim the committee
of photographers has several letters bearing
on the subject. These letters are from
agents at different stations on the line,
showing what business is done, what duties
are performed by operators and what salary
they receive. They show that some are
paid anywhere from S35 TO $40 per month,
and do all Of the telsgraphiuR, all the work
OF a ticket agent and laborer, aud have to be
on duty from O'Clock in the morning until
Q o'clock at night.
GENERAL REDUCTION.
They contend that the reduction has been
more general than Supt. Wadley admits
But it is to be expected that in a case like
this charges and counter-charges will be
made, and every statement made by either
side will receive a reply. The public win
be kept thoroughly informed as TO the con-
dition Of affairs from this circumstance,
but what they are more interested in than
anything else is what Is to be the outcome |
OF the present agitation.
The MORNING NEWS has been careful to |
get full statements from the men as to their |
intentions, and no effort or plan has been |
left untouched which would be calculated |
to add any light on the situation. From these
efforts it may be confidently stated that
there will be strike unless Supt. Wadley
or the railroad officials recognize the diff
ferent organizations involved. This at pres
ent seems to be the turning point OF the sit
uation.
gentleman prominently connected with
the telegraphers' association ia talking on
the situation last night said the members
want their organization recognized and
treated with both for their own good and
that of the road.
DON'T LIKE DOMTNEERING.
He said further that the men want 90 be
freed from the domlneering disposition of
minor officers of the road who make il
point to browbeat and insult thsm whenever
an opportunity presents itself. The opera
tors don't like this ''insolence Of Office" as
they term it, aud this is one reason why the
organization was formed
On the other hand, he said, the authori-
ties could deal much better with men as a
body than as individuals. They could make
better terms and under a contract with the
order would not be subjected 20 the petty
whims and inclinntions of individual men
who are liable to cause trouble at any tune
unless curbed by some higher power.
"lf the organization lR reCORnizedn said
the operator, land its representatives
treated with common courtesy due from one
gentleman TO another and our demands con-
sidered in calm, impassionate aud bust
ness-lke way the trouble now pending will
cease"
wADLEY CAN SETTLE IT.
He concluded by saying the whole mat |
ter could be amicRbiy settled by Supt, |
Wadley coming down from his thigh |
horse" and treating them as gentlemen and |
men Of honor not as a band Of organized |
cut-throats ready 20 stab the railroad at |
any time.
These sentiments are those Of the mon now |
in the fight with the Central, but they are |
waiting until next week when the different |
chiefs arrive before action is taken. Moth /
ing was heard from them yesterday, and in |
the absence OF any communication il is ex-
pected they Will arrive here and take a /
hand in the fracas, as announced yesterday.
The Central railroad authorities and the |
tcieRTapH OpeTdLoTs appear 70 take an en- |
tirely opposite view Of the differences now
existing between the system and the labor |
organizations
A prominent official of the Central rail- |
road in speaking of the matter last night |
gave the railroads view Of the situation
The position Of the operators" said he,
us simply demand for more money and
less work. They cannot substantiate any
claims of overwork and poor pay as rule"
NONE GET LESS THAN $40 MONTH.
There are ninty-ive operators employed
upon the main line OF the Central railroad
and not one Of them receives less than $40
per month. 1t must be taken into consider
alton that the majority Of these are at
small stations where they act as agents and
operators and where the work is very light.
AT many stations the agents business
is SO light that the company would not
maintain an agency If the system of operat-
ing trains did not require a telegrapher.
Where a man is able to loaf, read or sleep
three-fourths Of his time it hardly looks
like hardship to require him to meet a
train as late as 9 o'clock at night or as early
as O'Clock in the morning.
1t Is true that often wreck on the road
require an operator to be in bis office all
night. but as a rule, this will not be required
OF each operator as often once a month.
From this you can see the Justice of the
demand for pay for overtime. In the small
towns $40 month is a very good salary for
young man.
MAKING UNREASONABLE DEMANDS.
"One thing the public should take into
consideration, and that is of the $50 tele-
graph operators employed on the Central
system, the great majority are young men
of Is. ~ and 20 years Of age. Having be-
come possessed with the idea OF an organi-
zation, and excited by the victories Of their
order on other systems, they are making de-
msnds without reason and without any res
gard for the conditions under which they
labor, or the circumstances by which the
system is at present surrounded.
"Older and more experienced men would
act differently under the circumstances
The operators on the Central are paid from
10 to Is per cent. more than upon any other
southern system. They are far better Off
than the operators on she Richmond aud
Danyile and the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia.
THE reason that nearly all the operators
are young men is that as soon as a man has
about eighteen months or two years expert
erce as a railroad operator he is in position
20 secure better position as a train dis