The morning call., 1894-12-14
Railroad Men Are in Very
Hard Lines.
ENGINEERS AND FIREMEN.
Those Employed in the Yards
Scaled Down.
TALK OF A POSSIBLE STRIKE.
OVertures Said to Have Been Made
in. That Direction to Former
Employees.

The Southern Pacific officials state tina
there is to be an adjustment OF wages 10
some cases among the employees OF that
company. The employees assert that there
is to be a general cut and the rumors
which arise from what is Known and what
apprehended are sufficient to revive IN
manner the talk which led up to tue
troubles eliminating 10 July last
Over in West Oakland the effect OF all
this talk is most apparent, because it is
there that most of the men who were let
out after the late strike are to be found,
and they eagerly discuss each rumor that
comes to the surface and offer suggestions
as TO the probable outcome of the matter if
a cut is enforced, especially among the fire.
men and engineers.
All the information o5tainable as ye;
would indicate that thus far there is no
substantial ground for belief that any of
the engineers or iremen will be affected
outside of those who run The switch
engines and those who are employed on
the mountain divisions. where the pay is
very high, averaging from $3.50 to $500 per
month. The statement that the latter
class will suffer comes from an engineer in
the employ Of The company. who claims to
have tangible proof that what he says is
correct.
With regard TO the switch engineers and
fremen the situation is said TO be about
as follows: There has been marked dis
parity in the wages paid this class of
employees over the system. As an Illus
fration, IN the Oakland yards it has been
the custom to pay the engineers from S75
to SS5 per month. while in San Francisco
the rate paid is 500. 1t is now proposed,
go it is said. to make the scale Of wages
paid the engineers IS per day. to apply
generally over the entire system. 1t will
be seen from this that il such an order
goes into effect il will reduce the wages Of
those who have been receiving 500 about
90 per cent. In the case of those who
have been paid $40 per month it would
result. of course, in a small increase, but
as one of the engineers said yesterday. the
proportion of men who receive the smaller
sum is Insignificant compared with those
who have hitherto been paid over the IS
per day, nearly all centers on the system
paying the higher amount
In San Francisco and some Of the other
yards the fremen have been drawing a
rate OF 81 10 per day. while in most of the
yards on the system they are paid. it is
said, but 81 % per day. and it is proposed
TO equalize these wages also, the equaliza-
tion taking the form of a reduction of the
highly paid men to the basis of their less
favored fellows.
The freight-handlers also have been
made to feel the uncomfortable effects of
equalization. Some of them have been
earning from So to $50 per month and in
a few instances as high as $1o0. These
wages will be reduced in all cases, but it
was not learned to what extent.
There is some talk of trouble in West
Oakland. confined, however. principally to
the men who were iden titled with the late
strike. If the engineers are contemplate
ing the movements which ara attributed to
them by rumor, they discreetly keep ST.
lent about the matter when reporters are
among them.
The element which talks about trouble
have il that there is going to be a general
reduction approximating 20 Ter cent all
along the line, but that it will only apply
to employees who are making over stipu-
lated sum, and not to section men and
others who are chiefly paid small wages.
"The engineers are in the very position
now that we were in when the strike was
on" said one of the movers in that trou-
Bile, yesterday "They would be willing
to strike in minute if they thought thai
their jobs would be safe, but there is th q
difficulty. Their attitude toward our boys
last summer was such that they cannot
expect much sympathy from US if they do
get into trouble; and unless they can gel
our boys to unite with them they might az
we'll throw up Their hands at the start as
TO attempt to strike and gain anything by
1t.
Il heard to-day that the engineers had
addressed letter to the American Rail
way Union here, asking if the boys would
stand in with the engineers if they went
out, but don't know whether there is any
truth in the report or not. But this much
do know, and that is that they are sound
ing the boys to see what the feeling is
They now say that if they strike aud the
boys will stand by them they will
stay out until all the old men are re-
instated; but that if the boys refuse to
AXE friendly attitude there is no use iu
their attempting anything"
Another late striker of more conserva.
tive temperament did not place any faith
in the rumors of a strike.
You may put it down as foregone
conclusion" said he, shat if a reduction
is made the engineers will take their med.
icine with as much grace as possible.
believe This because the engineers know
that Oakland and any town of any conse.
QueDce along the line OF the South ern Pa
cifc is full of men who are competent to rur
an engine. / beliaye I cOnld on into Oaly
land alone to-day if there was genera
strike among the engineers and get enough
men to do the work who are now idle. The
engineers now employed by the company
know that the late strikers are still very
bitter toward them. and that many Of
them would eagerly embrace an opDortu
nifty to get even by taking position
with the com pany if strike occurred
Don't you worry about strike. 1t will