The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-16

paper il it any where came into conflict with
the secret rules Of this organization. This
same order, represented by the same COM
mlttee, presented contract to the officers
OF this company which had for one of its
most prominent features a condition that
the company should not promote more than
one fireman to the position Of engineer to
two brotherhood engineers from other roads
being hired. In other words, this provision
was intended to limit the increase of en-
gineers In order to more successfully control
the railroad aud In order to do this they were
ready to sacrifice their fellow workmen for
the benefit of strangers whose only uualih-
cation was belonging to their secret orRani-
cation. Another and equally Objectionable
article in the above named contract was,
what Is known AS the seniority CLAUSE, rule
by which length of time in the service of
the company should govern promotions,
that is: Should theresbe two men, one of
whom had served twelve years and the
other eleven years and nine months, the
last, known Co the officers Of the company
to be q drst-class workman and man Of
Judgment and the first as only very or
binary 10 every respect, the twelve-year
man would have the promotion, the COM
pany taking all the risk of his not being the
proper man for the place.
"A contract with the Brotherhood of lo-
cOmotiVe Engineers renders it impossible
for the officers of the company to come into
direc5 contact with the employees as muck
as the demands Of good service require
The Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
simply appoints committee composed of
seven or eight men, who have the privilege
Of adj usting all ditferen ces and tnvesti2at-
Ing all punishments which are made upon
any portion Of the road, and instead of per-
forming this In proper spirit OF moder-
alton it Is their custom to congregate in any
town on the system and there have what is
regarded as comfortable time, receiving
money from their brothers in this associ-
alton and rendering them absolutely no re-
turn for the same. What passes between
themselves aud the officers of the company
is not divulged, and the body of men upon
the road are kept in the greatest ignorance
of the actions and words Of their
superior officers. [ know from per
sonal experience that it is impossible
TO overcome the barrier which the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in
the shape of this committee raises between
the officer and the men and | am satisfied
that II the company had been free of its
present grievance com mittee. there would
have arisen hone of this discussion which
has come about between the company and
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
The question OF a contract has arisen be-
tween the company and the associations
known as the Order of Railroad Conduc-
tors and the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen. This was denied
both of these associations and believe the
experience had with them since has been
of character TO prove to the satisfaction
of any one investigating the matter that
this course vas the best. The men them
selves seem contented aud the company is
getting the best class OF work The rank |
and file Of the engineers on the road are not |
in sympathy with the present movement,
and if the matter were put to a popular
I hnl5 kI,,a
would be abolished
A careful reading Of Judge Speer's rul- !
ing of April shows that the following ex-
tract covers the issue raised aud affirms my |
ruling in December, 1892.
Il will direct the receiver to enter into |
schedule Of rates and regulations with the |
engineers. This contract. however, will |
not be restricted to members of the Brother |
hood OF Locomotive Engineers, although |
mem bershlp in that order is aud will be no |
disqualification to service on railroads |
under the control Of this court SO long as |
the rules and regulations of the order are |
treated as subor dinate to the law of the |
land. This will comprehend all engineers |
employed by the receiver whether mem |
berS or non-members of the brotherhood.n |
From the outset of this contention to the |
present it has never been my intention to
Cypress or injure any man in the service
OF the Central railroad. In what have
done Ia TINS matter, as IN all Others which
have come under my control since have
been general superintendent, the interests
of both the company and Its employees have
been treated with fairness and Justice.
| have been reported as an enemy to labor
organizations. This Is not true. | am,
however, opposed to these associations rul-
ing the property of their employers l am
equally against the oppression of labor by
corporations. and regard as the most inn
pOrGaDC dutV of q RUHCoSsfUl railroad man.
ager the maintenance of just relations be-
tween the forces, capital aud labor. In
Justice or oppression to either can but
mean loss to both and to the country at
large. GEORGE DOLE WADLEY.
Macon, Ga, AprH IA, 1898.