The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-09
IN FAVOROF THE ENGINEERS
Judge Speer Directs a Receiver to Carry
Out Certain Labor Contracts.
Membership in the Brotherhood No Disquali-
fication 10 Seryice-Nonunionists May Be
EmplOyed-Strise on the AtchisOn.

MACON. Ca, April s.-Judge Emery
Speer to-day rendered a decision In the
United States Circuit Court here upon q
petition brought By members of the Broth
erbood of Locomotive Engineers through
X. w. Patterson, of the Macon bar. pray
ing the court to direct the receiver of the
Georgia Central railroad to carry out the
contract with the brotherhood which was
In force when the receiver was appointed.
Following are extracts from the opinion of
Judge Speer:
Gases are frequent where persons in
trusted with corporate properties have APP
piled To the courts for the prevention of
grievances threatened or inflicted by labor
organizations. This is the first instance
members of such Rn association have, 10y
concerted action. in an orderly way.
aought the arbitrament of O court to have
settled a controversy relative TO
wages and conditions OF their employment.
Ii will be observed that much of the re-
ceiver's answer is an argument against the
prOpriety and policy of contracts of any
character between the officers of railway
corporations and the preventative of
labor organizations. Tho gravity and I'M
portance of the considerations TINS present.
ed are exceedingly great. The control.
under any circumstances. by the
COURTS Vi COutTRCC5 DctWeeU representatives
of immense values invested with corpora
tions engaged in the public duty of trans
portatiOn and the lsborers employed In the
same service Will doubtless appear to many
as novel and dangerous. 1t Is well. how
ever, TO consider IL q proper provision by
appeal to the courts In the frequent and
destructive conflicts between organized
capital and organized labor will not afford
the simplest. most satisfactory and effective
method for the settlement of such cOntrO-
versies. 1t Is not the only method by
which the public. and, indeed, the parties
themselves. can be protected from the in
evitable hardship and loss which all must
endure from the MISUNDERSTANDING
strikes.
The power of the court has always. ON
proper occasions. been exercised to protect
the properties under it's control from the
damaging and unlawful results of a strike
OF the labOrers and employees. Certainly
it follows then that it il In the power of
the court, In the interest of public order.
and for the protection OF the property
under Its control. to direct q suitable ar
rangement with its employees and officers
to provide con pensation and conditions
of their employ ment and to avoid, If possl-
bic, an interruption of their labor and
duty. which will be disastrous TO the trust
and Injurious to the public.
There is no reason why the receivership
In this respect should be conducted In q
manner differing from the large p~reponder-
ance OF the successful and prosperous meth
DDS OF the country. Many of these con-
tracts. or schedules. are in evidence. We
are satisfied. from these facts, that such
arrangements. under proper restrictions.
are praise worthy and beneficial to both
parties. and we therefore shall not longer
hesitate to direct the receiver to enter into
an appropriate contract. or schedule of
rates and regulations with the engineers.
| This contract, however, will not be restrict
ed TO members of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers. although membership of
that order is. and will be. no disqualified
ton to service on railroads under the con-
troll of this court. so long as the rules and
regulations of the order are treated as sub
ordinate to the law of the land. The con-
tract will comprehend all engineers en-
ployed by the receiver. whether members
or nonmembers OF the brotherhood"
Strike of Machinists.
Topeka, Kan, April 8.-The LOO ma
chinists, boiler makers. blacksmiths and
their helpers employed in the shops of the
Atchison, Topeka d Santa Fe railroad. at
this place, quit work this afternoon, and,
acting with their fellow-workmen in the
same departments along the line of the en-
tire system. are on u strike for better wages
and other demands. They ask that the pay
shall be increased % cents per day; that In-
experienced men, who get less than regular
rates. shall not be required to do the work
of skilled men. and that when the company
deems it necessary TO reduce expenses gangs
of men be not discharged or laid off. but
that the hours be reduced. The pay of ma
chinists. boiler makers and blacksmIths is
now S2.5O per day. and of helpers $3.50. The
demand is that il be increased to 81 rs and
S1.75. respectively. The demands were pre-
sented to the management In writing and
by it rejected.
FORT MADISON. Ia, April a-One hun
dred and twenty employees of the Santa Fe
boiler. machine and blacksmith shops here
left work at l o'clock this afternoon. In
RESPONSE TO a general order to strike for
a 10 per cent. advance In the schedule
Of wages.
Locked-Out Cutters Sue for Damages.
New YORK. April S.-Legal papers in the
civil suits brought by individual clothing
cutters against the trms of the Manufact-
urers' Association to recover $40. 600 each
for damages for the lockout were served
this afternoon on David L. Newborg. OF
ID. L. New borg N Son. and on Mr.. Bier
man, of Bierman, Heidelberg x Co. The
firm of i. l.. Newborg * Co. is reported as
the first firm to weaken. They are reported
to have complained to the manufacturers
that they have already lost too much money
throngh the lockout. that they do not feel
like losing any more. and are anxious TO
compromise with their cutters.
A mass meeting of cutters and garment
workers in Cooper Union tonight
adopted resolutions oondemning the
tlo VA tH6 SlOtHiDk nl6nuIacCr
urers' Association. censuring the decis-
ions of judges Kicks. Taft and Bill.
inRs. pledging individual and collective
sympathy and support to the locked.
ont cutters. and urging them to stand for
their rights and for justice.
Wages Raised Voluntarily.
MINNEAPOLIS. April S.-The Twin City
Rapid Transi Company. of which Thomas
Lowery IS president. controlling the street
railways of Minneapolis and st. Paul, has
issued an order voluntarily raising the
wages of all mot0rmen and conductors in
the two cities on June ]. Those who have
been in the employ of the company one
year or over are raised from II cents Der
hour to 90 cents per hour. Those who have
been In the service less than one year will
ne raised from IL to Is cents per hour. The
raise affects about ons thousand men and
involves an added expenditure of S15, QUO
per annum.