The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-09-01
Manager St. John Before the
Strike Commission.
NO UNIFORM SCALE ADOPTED
Egan Thinks All Railroad Employees
should BE Licensed and Made
to Wear Uniforms.

CHICAGO, Aug. 24-General Man
ager -. John Of the Rock Island rail-
road was recalled today by the strike
commissioners.
You nave said" said Commissioner
Herman, that your road has no black
LIST Now Is it not fact that the
General Managers Association has "a
blacklisl?" 'No such thing as a real
blacklist exists among the railroads to
my knowledge. 7" was the reply. "There
was, however, / believe, list of names
prepared for the General Managers
Association. IL contained the names
of most of the active strikers and has
been, / think, submitted to the various
rondS by the association. 1t eau not
properly be called a blacklist, how
ever.
St. John was asked to tell what he
knew of the story that all of the Fail
roads had adopted uniform scale of
wages.
1.-The rumor is untrue" he said. al
believe something of the sort WAS SUBJ
United to the General Managers Asso-
citation but was not universally
adopted. In fact, it was rejected by all
but one road, and on that line put into
only partial effect"
John M. Egan, strike manager OF the
General Managers Association, was
questioned regarding bis duties during
the strike. He said it was his duty to
receive reports from the various roads
of the progress of their troubles and
submit the same to the association.
After the preliminary questions,
Commissioner Wright asked Mr.. Egan
if, in his official capacity, he had made
any effort To settle the strike peaceably.
II did not" answered the strike man
ager.
rs it the purpose of the railroads to
settle such troubles by force?" "In
this case at least, 1t was,n witness re-
piled hankly.
The ommissioner asked witness for
his views regarding measures for the
prevention OF strikes. X gan said he
thought all railroad employees above
common iaborers should be licensed
and be compelled to wear uniforms
plainly indicating the positions thew
held. Such means, he believed, would
tend to put reliable, level-headed men
in the service and would prevent such
troubles Us those of the present sum-
mer.
Commissioner Herman, by due ques-
tioning, succeeded In badly mixing up
witness and his theories and Egan
finally admitted that even with a sys-
tenn of license trouble might arise that
would necessitate outside assistance or
arbitration.
INDICATED the Managers.
"Mr. Egan," said Wright, "a wit
ness has stated before us that you used
railroad men and employed men to
burn and otherwise destroy property
during the strike. Is this true?" The
witness grew angry and STRENGTHENING
up in his seat, said emphatically,
Considering the source from which
the testimony came, it seems to me
that it should be apparently almost
foolish. | will, however, make gen.
eral denial TO any and all such stories.
/ never employed men for such work.
and | can state authoritatively that no
one else conspired with the General
Managers Association or commanded
anyone 10 burn or destroy railroad
property"
Want the Charter Revoked.
Attorney General Maloney appeared
before Judge Hancy and asked leave ia
nle an Information in quo warranto
against the Pullman car company,
-ANtOi NY NAL hAl Sdlu - - 16uunelS,
the cnmpany's counsel, was out of town
and would wish to contest the motion.
Judge Hancy decided that he could
not take up the motion. The attorney
general said lie would try and fine
another Judge 10 hear motion for the
revocation Of the Pullman company,
charter.
OUT OF WORK FOR GOOD.