Omaha daily bee., 1894-03-04
Wage Schedule Arbitration.

Wage Schedule Arbitration.
The proposed arbitration between the en-
ployes of the Union Pacific railroad and the
receivers, which will begin in this city on
the 18th inst, will afford Omaha consider
able advertising, owing to the Importance of
the case to be considered. No such proceed
ings have ever taken place before and the
entire acts Of the receivers and employees
and their attorneys will be watched with
great interest by every reading citizen of
the country. What the result will be no
one presumes yet to guess, but that it will
be a long, hard struggle between as able
men as the country affords there can be no
question: The receivers, on their part,
maintain that the road is losing money
every day and that it is absolutely neces-
sary to reduce the wages of the employees,
while the workingmen maintain that they
cannot afford to accept a lower scale than
they now receive.
Both sides will necessarily fight hard to
win. but it is noticeable that no ill-feeling
to speak of exists between the employees and
the heads of the operating departments.
The employees of the Union Pacific have al
ways been regarded as loyal to their road
and the operators of the system have been
the least oppressive upon their workmen,
so it is claimed by the men themselves, of
any railroad corporation in the country.
One of the questions likely to be raised, "
says one of the shop men, lis that of the
stock being issued and the road bonded for
more than it is worth, and 1t does not seem
to me that any just court will hold that our
wages should be reduced to pay dividends
on what is commonly called watered stocks,
and l think this point will have great
weight in our favor"
Preparations are now being made for the
entertainment of the visitors, and besides
those directly interested 1t is said several
of the noted labor leaders of the country
will be present to witness the proceedings.
Carnegie's Latest Move.
"At the recent convention Of steel work.
ers some startling facts were brought out
in connection with the operations of Andrew
Carnegie says John Milton, a prominent
member of the A~malgamated Steel Workers
union. 1T appears that the great Penn
sylvania manufacturer has succeeded In sub
sidizing most of the large steel rail mills
in the country, and they have all closed
down, throwing thousands of workers out
of employment. Carnegie now having con-
troll of the market proceeds TO advance the
price of steel rails so that he will clear
81 per ton. lie expects to sell 1000, 900
tons during the present year, thereby clear
ing 1000, 600, With this enormous profit
he Will be enabled to sell structural iron at
such a price and for such a length of time
as to drive his competitors in the manufac-
ture of structural iron out Of the business.
"rhese startling operations, which, If sue
~cessful, will immensely increase the Car
negie millions, will at the same time paup-
erize thousands of workingmen and ruin
scores Of manufacturers and other interests
dependent upon them. Already the bad eff
fects of this gigantic operation are being
felt by the steel workers at Chicago and
other places, and while many appear TO
attribute to the tariff agitation the present
condition among steel workers there are
many who suspect that the real causes are
as | have stated"
knights OF Labor Extension.
The general officers OF the knights of
Labor are making preparations for a close