Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-16
THEY MAY STRIKE.
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The Trouble on the Wabash
With Its Operators.
THE WESTERN AGREEMENT.
Railroad Dangers The Commission Problem.
The Engineers Not Concerned on ihs
Pennsylvania Comb ThroNles.
Other Railroad News.
TIE WABASH rRnl,R1r

THE WABASH TROUBLE.
Tho officials of the Wabash nre ex-
pccting the chiefs Of the Order of Rail-
way Photographers TO order a strike ON
that road within the next forty.eieht
| hours, says the Kansas City Star. An
intimatiun 10 that effect has been receiy-
ed by the management aud all precau-
tons thought necessary have been taken
by the railroad 80 successful has the
| management been IN fOrestalling the tel.
| egmphers at least on the western diyis-
ion, that II the strike is ordered there
viii be telegraph offices open every
twenty miles along the division. even vi
the entire force OF Operators goes ont
General Manager Hayes replied today
10 the committee which waited upon
SuperintcI dent of Telegraph Kinsman
last mouth and upon the general manager
jan .. The answer Is addressed 20 all
agents aud operators on the Wabash
railroad aud not TO the committee, Ia the
form Of circular letter The letter,
| after rphoaring the preliminary action
and stating that az II has developed that
% Lumber of agents aud operators had
not authorized the committee to act for
them, snys:
The fght Of appeal through the proper
heads of DEPARTMENTS and to final
hearing before the general manager, has
never lecn denied any cmploye Of this
company.
The many promotions from the ranks
in all departments confirm the nnnOunc-
cd policy ~ the management 90 advance
it, employees az opportunity offers, and
experience, capabiity and fidelity TO the
interests of the company warrant.
\ reasonable allowance for services and
expenses while attending court, or other
wise ahscuting themselves on other BUSH
ness for the company, is customary in
all branches Of the service.
lt is understood. however, that there
is no grievance or cause for complaint
OF unjust treatment on the part of any
officer of the company. the committee
having expressly 80 stated Mt both inter
Views. IL is. therefore, those articles of
the schedule affecting the question OF
compensation which it * evidently de-
sired i should particularly consider
1t has been the aim Of the present
management to do al consistent with the
obligations of the company TO It's sccur-
ity holders To content It's employees aud
render their positions satisfactory To
them. The efficient and loyal service,
80 generally the rule OF this system, at
tests the success met with In this dircc-
ton.
When the existing componsations and
general regulations in effect with us are
equally OF more favorable 10 our en-
plOyCs than those In effect vim the ma
iorityEof railway lines in the country, it
cannot be reasonably claimed that n re-
fusnl 20 make any churge works hard
ship on anyone.
The schedule presented contemplatcs an
increase IN the present pay of agents aud
operators Of many thousands of dollars
annually. A careful examination OF the
ratios az pny in the positions under dis
suf ~ o.
discloses the fact that the average pay
of this system Is Ia DO instance less than
that paid on other lines, while in many
cases 10 Is much higher
The company has within the past year
transacted is business al lower rates
than during any previous year OF It's eN-
istence, while cildnuiug To- pay wages
In excess OF thusc paid when its rates
were double what they are at the present
time. The situation does net. therefore,
Justify the general increase set forth in
the schedule
There may be some particular In
stances, owing TO unreasonable hours
and more arduous duties than elsewhere,
the rates of pay should be on a higher
scale than at ordinary points, These
cases the superintendent will take up and
cndeavor TO 0dipst ON basis of fair
ness, with due consideration 10 the con
dtions under which the service Is per-
formed
Further action than this cannot be
taken nc the present lime, and IL Is hop
cd that this decision viii be accepted
cheerfully and with determination to
strive, as heretOfOre, TO win the desired
increase in compensation by qualifying
for filing advanced positions as they
may offer themselves.
Nearly fifteen years ago n letter was
sent to each operator on the western
division asking him what course he would
take IN ease Of trouble aud whether lac
would obey an order from the committcc
to strike, Thirty operators out OF loe
answered that they, would strike II or
dered 10 do so. The company imlned-
iately began filing the plnccs Of these
men and by tonight there viii not be
Ton men on The entire division 10 90 out
In case the strike IS ordered as expected.
An Of the would be strikers are being
replaced with new men, and with tie
force of agents who arc hrst class oper-
ntors, the company does, not expect 20
suffer in the leGst from the s,rlse'
Superintendent Michigan said today
IN n reporter for the Star that there was
not the slightesi truth In the report that
his men were forced TO take an oath OF
niieginpee Rt the meeting at Moberiy
Sntnrdav. lie exhibited this morning
tbe original resolutions adopted by the
agents and which bore the signatures Of
ffty-four men, hity-one OF whom aFe
first class operators ana nave nEIceu 70
10 Tho work in case OF strike, MI.
NcCuipan Is confident that there VIII he
mo- trouble on his division and that ne
win be able 10 run along without a hitch
of any kind.
THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION.
IL the Western Passenger association