The morning call., 1894-03-27
GAGE LEAVES THE CENTRAL.

Southern Pacific Company, for on that
date, it is unders to0d. a wholesale dis
charge of men will occur, and a general
cut will also be made in the wages of GER
tain of the employees.
The whole proposition has been kept
profound secret by the officials in the big
offices at Fourth and Townsend streets,
but it leaked out yesterday. There has
been vigorous internal war among Ger
tain heads of the coast division. and as a
result one of the individuals concerned
gave the whole scheme away.
As TO the coast division trouble it arose
In this way: Superintendent Wider's
powers, 1t seems, have been in a measure
curtalled since the narrow-gau road was
added to the Southern Pacific system. At
least, there were one or two men under
him whom he found non persona grata,
but whom, because Of influence possessed
by these men in certain quarters, he was
unable to discharge.
One of these is a man named Morley Tor
similar name). who has charge of all the
workers on the docks. The feeling be-
tween Mr. Wilder and this man finally
became so intense that the former went to
T. I. huntington and stated that if he
(Wilder) was TO retain his present position
he proposed to have control of all the men
under him, and if he was given full sway
lie could make saving of at least $1,000
month in wages.
The proposition seemed to strike Mr..
huntington favorsbIy, and at a meeting
held yesterday Mr.. Wilder was instructed
or authorized to go ahead
Now as to The other divisions: The head
ofhclals yesterday, in most instances,
refused to discuss the matter of reduction
Of wages. but Vice. President Crocker con-
seated to say that 1t was the unanimous
opinion OF the board of directors that
wages on the Southern Pacific road were
entirely too high.
1t has been the boast of the managers
OF this road for years that better wages
were paid on the Southern Pacific than on
any other in the country.
Another high official said that when
cut did come il would not only take in the
men but would strike every official from
the president down.
There is still another phase In the situ
atien in this report which should have
given the men an inkling of what is about
TO occur.
Recently the grievance committee of the
whole system held prOtTacted meeting in
tneTeOf
upon General Superintendent Fillmore in
body several times and asked consdera-
tion of certain matters which they claimed
should be rectifed. Among others were
several distinct claims for an advance in
wages At all OF these meetings the gen.
era superintendent informed the men that
nothing could be done for them and that
when any change was made in the agree
hos~x fhA
entered into in 1891, there would be several
features knocked out of it instead of add
ing any more to the document.
From all of this it Will be seen that
change has been under consideration for
some time past, and il is said that the
present is looked upon as being favorable
opportunity.
The contract spoken OF, it is said, will
lapse before long and the application of
the reduction in wages will not be made
10 these men until that document is void.
But all the others who are 10 suffer will
meet the impending discharge or reduction
on April l.
But the wage question and a reduction
OF expenses is not the only problem with
which the authorities of the Southern
Pacific are at present wrestling. NEST
was held last week. and at the same the
resignation Of Stephen T. Gage, the official
representative of Mrs. Stanford. was pre-
sented and accepted. 1t is rumored that
at the same time Messrs. q. n. Towne and
I. II. Hubbard also requested that their
names be dropped from the board.
Just what this means 1t is not difficult
for person to conjecture who has care
I'm iltyV of nh ri fe of
the past few weeks in connection with
Southern Pacific affairs and the estate Of
the late Senator Stanford. 1t would seem
TO indicate that that interest is to pass into
the hands of others, and the statements of
President Hun gton, made from time to
time, are confrmatory of that pres ump-
ton.
Not very long ago that gentleman said
that it would robably be good thing for
the Southern Pacific if some young blood
was injected into ii, and yesterdays de-
yeIopments point strongly toward an ac-
ceptance of Mr.. Huntington's suggestion,
for it is eurmised that il the holding of the
Stanford estate passes into other hands
the purchasers will bs the other big stock
holders, but that the change will bring to
the front at least one gentleman who at
present has little If anything to do with
the company's affairs, although a heavy
holder Of stock.
The annual meeting of the board of d.
rectors OF the Southern Pacific road occurs
during the first week in April, and until
after the proceedings of that session shall
have been made public the exact status Of
this rumored nteresting change will prob
ably not become known.
When a CALL reporter asked President
Huntington yesterday If there would be
any changes In the management or man.
ayers of the road made at the annual meet
ing soon to be held that gentleman eva
sively remarked that there might or there
might not be.
The secretary OF the local Passenger AS
sociation is again after the Union Pacific
with a sharp tick, and it must be confessed
that the latest developments will require
pretty strong testimony to refute the evil
dence of peculiar work. to say the least.
upon the part OF that road.
En-L n -