The morning call., 1894-07-29
REDUCED WAGES.
Poor Prospect for Santa
Fe Employees.
NO STRIKE Is EXPECTED.
Combinations Made and Broken
in the North.
MAY AFFECT FREIGHT RATES.
The Oregon Railway and Naviga-
tion Company Makes Radical
Change-lts Local Aspect.

The rumor that the AtchisoD, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railway may be involved
presently in another strike over proposed
reduction of wages in all departments re-
ceiyed little attention from the officials of
that company in this city. 1t was stated
that the engineers, firemen and conductors
would refuse to work rather than submit
to the circular issued last week by the
Santa Fe announcing that existing COLI
tracts would be abrogated.
The Santa Fe system has gone in seri-
ously for TetrenchmeDt. Before the A. h.
.. strike was declared the receiver had
issued instructions to reduce service OF
freight and passenger trains wherever 1t
was possible TO do so. New time schedules
on all divisions were in preparation to take
effect July /. The strike, however, inter
fered with this plan, though after two
weeks delay the Santa Fe train service
was compie tely changed. Thousands of
miles in the running service have thus
been saved and an important step toward
retrenchment taken, a large number OF
employees being dispensed with.
The next step was 10 reduce salaries.
and circulars wrre distributed. among the
men telling them that contracts would be
broken and less money paid for their ser
vices. In Kansas City, so il is said, engi-
neers, conductors and tremen have threat
ened to strike if an attempt to cut wages
be made and that within day or two.
Passenger Agent Spears in this city said
yesterday he does not believe the men will
refuse to work. The memory OF the A. R.
L. strike is still fresh in their minds and
possibly may deter them.
I'VE have received no notification of an
ri 10 q fhnra w
any serious talk of striking orders would
be sent to this office not to take perishab Bile
freight. But we have not received such
information, and that leads me 10 believe
that no trouble is feared. We are receiv-
ing all classes Of freight without reserve,
which would not be the case were strike
imuendIng."
The Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company has parted company with the
Union Pacific and hereafter will seek
freight and passenger business Oh lis own
account in San Francisco. w. H. Hurt
butt, who was general local agent of the
Union Pacific here and in Portland, has
been appointed general passenger and
ticket agent of the Oregon company.
He appointed Fred +. COnnOr general
agent in this city. Mr.. C0nnor is still city
passenger agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul Railway and was general
agent of the Great Northern until year
ago in San Francisco. His knowledge of
this cOmpaDv's business will prove valu-
able to the Oregon company, as the Great
Northern will act in conjunction with the
Independent concern. Both Hurlburt and
CnnnOr are looking for centrally situated
off e in this city, with the Intention OF be-
ginning active work at once.
Southern Pacific officials deny that there
will be a war of rates through the new
combination. Assistant General Freight
Agent Sproule claims that the Union Pa
cihc and Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company remain on friendly terms. Should
the freight com bination be broken he said
the Southern Pacific would reialiate in
such a determined manner that business
rivalry w0uld become wearsome for the
Oregon company. This means that if
freight was delivered in San Francisco by
the Oregon company's steamers at re-
duced rate the Southern Pacific Company
would lay down freight in Portland. Or,
at rate that would ruin its competitors.