The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-31

the Union Pacific wage schedule, Mas
ter Mechanic Mcconnell testified that
the rules proposed by the receivers
were equitable and should have been
adopted long ago.
why were they not adopted long
lago?" interrupted Judge Caldwell.
Because we would have had trouble
all along the line" replied Mcconnell
DO you mean to say you come be-
| fore this court, asking it do something
the managers of the road never dared
Ido?" asked Judge Caldwell.
Later, the judge referred to the fact
that one of the receivers was a mer-
chant in Chicago, another lawyer in
New York, and added: 81 don't see
why these receivers should come into
this court and ask changes in the rules
they don't know anything about, when
it is conceded that practical men who
managed the road did not dare to make
the changes"
Proper Notice Not Given.
After the recess, Mr.. McConnelI's ex-
Iamination was continued 1t was most
ly on the cost of engine service.
Mr.. Mcconnell, in answer to queS-
ltions from the attorneys and the court
admitted that the cut in wages had
Ibeen made without giving the men
lproper notice
General Manager Dickinson was put
lon the stand and subjected to a long
and searching examination, in which
the court took an active part. He adj
United that the reduction in wages had
Ibeen ordered without sufficient notice
Having been given the men. 1t was
lmade because the earnings of the road
had fallen off greatly during the year,
land the managers thought something
must be done. There was an agreement
THAT notice should be given the men
lof any pending reduction. When the
monthly salaried men were reduced in
August, the company had invited all
1.-THE employees into conference on the
matter. Later, the enginemen and
ttrainmen had sent replies that they
would not agree to reduction in pay.
when the cut was made in the form OF
Ian order given from the court, it was
considered the men had sufficient no
Itice.
Judge Caldwell pressed Mr.. Dickin-
son on this point, and he admitted that
sufficient notice had not been given.
| 1t was the intention to make reduc-
Ition in wages, anyhow, although the
!; receivership matter interviewed and 10: for
la time delayed the intended scaling
down The Union Pacific had always
, aimed to pay as high, and in some
cases higher, wages than on neighbor-
, ling roads.
Judge Caldwell went into the details
of the work, and drew from Mr.. Dick
linson much information in regard to
, the practical operation of a railroad.
Oliver w. Mink, comptroller, and one
, of the receivers, followed Mr.. Dickin-
son on the stand. His testimony was
in regard to the financial condition OF
: the road. He said the Union Pacific
! had not paid dividend in ten years
: I,o = 0F
, in net earnings of 1898 from those OF
1892 In 1893 the company operated
1880 miles of road; total earnings, $780,
. I652 066; operating expenses including
taxes, $14,474, 14S: net earnings, $6,177,-
:. 91S. In 1892, the mileage 1878; earn
ings, $27, los $50; expenses, $17,357, 7O8
/, earnings, $3.50, 941.
. Pattison's Report Erroneous.
n Judge Caldwell inquired concerning
e Governor Pattison's report, which
e showed that the bonds of the company
Y were secured and mortgages covering
the property were not worth two cent:
|. lon the dollar.
L Mr. Mink said Mr.. Pattison had beer
a misled.
n The court read Pattisons report
: which showed that of the 500 900, 00
S of debt covering the system, $73, 000, 00
o was profit of construction.
n Mr. Mink said the report of Cover
s NOR Pattison's conferees in the investi
+ CATION which placed the profit at $43,
100000, was not correct
The court said he would rather tn,
government lost every dollar it hat
Invested than that the men SHOULD
suffer He would see that the EN-
r Iployees of the company were properl!
: compensated, and that their wage
e would not be cut to admit of paymen
V lof dividends.
. President Clark followed Mr. Mink
: He was not sworn, Judge Caldwell say
q ling it was unnecessary. He was OIL
: the stand but few moments hi
+ Health being so feeble that he coul,
not stand the strain. The examination
threw but little or no light on tn
question.
In conclusion the court peremptoril,
ordered that Mr.. Clark take a vacation
= of several months.
you shall not commit suicide in tn
service of the court" said Judge Cald
lie well. 1--WE need you and the countr
d needs you. For six months we wi
IS manage the line without you"
- When court adjourned it was tn
- impression that the hearing would b