The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-04-13
EMPLoYEs WIN.



Pacific Controversy-No Lowering d
Wages Without Proper Notice.
OMAHA, Neh, April Omitted States
Circuit Judge Caldwell's decision in the
Union Pacific wage schedule case was
rendered yesterday morning and was
complete victory for the employees
ownership. Judge Caldwell said:
The relation OF these men to the company ana
theif rate Of wages were determined in the
main by certain written rules. regulations and
schedules, some of which had been in force for
more than quarter OF century and all OF
which had been in force substantially as they
stand to- day for period Of eight years and
more These rules, regulations and schedules
were the fesiit OF free and voluntary
Conferences. held from time to time be-
tween the managers OF the railroad
and the officers and representatives of
the several labor organizations representing
The men in the different subdivisions or
hood Of Locomotive Engineers, the Broth.
erhood of Locomotive Firemen the Order
Of Railway Conductors, tn Order OF
Railway TeIegtaphers. the Union Pacific
Employees association and the Brotherhood
OF Railway Trainmen. These labor orzaniz1-
tions, like the rules. regulations and SEIZED.
ues. had become established Institutions
on the system many years before the appoint.
ment the receivers Two Of the ablest rail.
roa i managers ever in the service of this sys-
tenn, and prob bly, as able as anv this country
has ever produced-Mr. S n II. Clark and Mr..
Edward Dickinson. now genera manager Of the
road, testify that these labor organic Itious on
this system had improved the morals and eft.
hc;ency of the men and had rendered valuable
aid to the company in perfectlng and putting
into force the rules and regulations governing
tine operation OF the Union Pacific railway
which, confessedly, have made it one Of the
best managed and conducted roads in the
country
Among the rules and regulations in
operate when the receivers were APP
pointed was one that no change should
be made in the rules and regulations
and the rate of wages without giving
to the la Dor organizations, whose men,
bers would be affected by such change,
thirty days notice. or other reasona BILE
notice. This the judge declared just
and fair.
Judge Caldwell then recited how the
receivers went into court last January
to force reduction on the schedule of
wages and all the legal steps taken
down to and including the hearing just
ended and continued:
AT this conference an agreement was reached
as o the rules, regulations and schedules re.
lating to the train diSpatchers and opera tors,
which have been reported to the court and con:
hrnicd This was one OF the fnost difficult
schedules in the whole list to adjust and the
satisfactory agreement reached by the confer
ence shows the great value of good tempered.
calm and intelligent inquiry in which both
sides learned, peehars for the first time
the ground on which the demand is
made By the one and resisted
b. the other. The receivers had declared to
@I,o ,f,or aS,lOo idaro of he
matter and consultation with the managing of
fcials OF the Union Pacific system they were
OF the opinion that the so'ca1led rules, regula
ttoss and schedules OF pay Tor train dispatch
ers and operators were entirely unnecessary.
And yet at the conference held under the or
der of the circuit judges the position assumed
by the receivers in their petition to the court
was found to be untenab'e and was abandoned
and rules and regulations governing tele
graphers' wages adopted.
Judge Caldwell then said that when
court of equity took upon itself the
aotiduet and operation Of a great line
of railroad, the men engaged in COIL
Quoting the business and operating the
| road became the employees of the court,
and were subject to its orders in all
matters relating to the discharge OF
their duties, and entitled to it's protec-
ton. An essential and indispensable
requisite to the safe and successful
operation of the road is the employ
ment of sober, intelligent, expert
enced and capable men for that
purpose. When a road comes under
the management Of court in
which the employees are conceded to
possess all these publications.
| that Concession is made in the fullest
manner here-the court will not upon
| light or trivial grounds, dispense with
| their services or reduce their wages.
And when the schedule or wages in
force at the time the court assumes
| the management of the road is the re-
| suit of mutual agreement between
| the company and the employees which
has been in force for years, the court
will presume the schedule is reason.
| able and any one disputing that pre-
| sumption will be required to overthrow
it by satisfactory proofs. This the
| court contends has not been done by
the receivers, although they all recon-
mended that the cut be made.
The recommendations of the receiv-
ers to adopt their schedule cannot be
accepted by the court for another rea.
| son. ndC SCncOulc was duOpCco WlGH-
out affording to the men or their rep.
resentatives any opportunity to be
heard. This was in violation of the
agreement existing between the com.
pany and the men.
| The system of rules and regulations
by which the company has been able
to bring into service and retain for
twenty-five years, in some instances.
the class of men who have appeared
before the court at this hearing is GER
tainly commendable. and meets the en-
tire approval of this court In the
opinion of the court the allowance
made by the schedules now in force are
just and equitable. The employees, un-
der the present system, share the bur
dens of diminished business.
| In conclusion Judge Cald we'll said:
| We may be INDUCED in giving expression to
| the hope that in future differences about wages
| between courts and their employees, at least
| and we would fatn hope that between all EN-
| p.oyers and employees, resort may be had to
| reason and not to passion, to the law and moi
10 violence, to the courts and not to a strike
1t IL reproach to civilization that such
| differences should result as they often have, in
| personal violence, loss of life, destruction OF
property, loss OF wages to The men and loss OF
| earnings to the emplover, and, when they oc-
, cur on great lines of railroad, great damage
and Inconvenience to the public.
| Cut the Officers Salaries
CHICAGO, April Gas a measure OF