The morning call., 1894-02-16
GIVE THE MEN A CHANCE.
Union Pacific Receivers Must
Restore Old Wages.
DUNDY STANDS BY HIS GUNS.
The Men May Quit Work, but They
Must Not Attempt to Kick
Up Row.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 15.-Attorneys Thurs
ton and Cnrwn. representing The receivers
of the Union Pacific road, who came, here
to ask Judge Caldwell TO harmonic the
conflicting opinions Of Judges Dundy OF
Omaha and Hallett of Denver, had an in
formal conference with him to secure a
date for the hearing. and got decided set
back.
After listening to a statement OF the
case Judge Caldwell said: You have
been taking advantage of the employees
behind their backs. Go back to Omaha
and revoke your wages order; then will
take up your case. Prepare and advertise
your schedule and give the men notice. L
think sixty days might not be unreason-
able. L will come to Omaha and hold a
conference with your receivers and repre-
sentatves of the labor sOcieties. and we
will see if we cannot agree upon a
schedule that will be just to the employees.
and such as the receivers can afford TO
pay"
Concerning the contradictory orders
about the relations of the Union Pacihc
and the Gulf systems, Judge Caldwell said
he would consult with Judge Sanborn as
10 jurisdiction and reply later.
LINCOLN, Nebr.. Feb. 15.-Judge DundY
said this evening: Yes, l have just been
reading the dispatches from ST. Louis de-
falling the little conversation be ween
Judge Caldwell and General Solicitor
Thurston. in which the latter was told to
revoke the order recently made by the
Union Pacific receivers touching the mat
ter of employees wages. The impression
hot Ind To- uun ad
orders of this court is wrong. The wages
question has not been brought out before
Judge Caldwell, and his somewhat per-
emptory order to Thurston does not In The
least affect the status quo of the wage
question. My order still stands and will
stand until reversed.
"The whole situation can be expressed in
a few brief sentences TIE receivers made
an order reducing wages on certain sched-
ules. They brought the order 10 me and
l approved it. There was nothing in my
approval of the rider to prevent the re-
ceivers restoring the old wages if they
saw f, to do so. They can do so now if
they choose. Judge CaldwelPs action is
unusual in this, that in private conversa-
tion with the general solicitor he orders
the receivers to restore the old rates. he
does not make the order 10 the shape of a
decision announced from tine bench. All
Judge Caldwell has done Is TO order the
receivers temporarily to restore the old
wages pending settlement. His order
places no new aspect upon the situation
as far as this court Is concerned. OF course
l cannot tell what the receivers will do in
the matter"
Suppose they do not consider Judge
CsldwelPs decision mandatory and leave
the wages where they are, under the
schedules approved by yourself, will the
employees have a right to strike?"
why, certainly" replied Judge Dundy,
with a significant twinKle in his eye. "Of
course they have the right to striks in the
sense that they have the right to quit work
and go Eome, but if they atiempt-well, if
they attempt to raise row they will find
the orders of this court very much in force,
to-day's order of Judge Caldwell to the
contrary notwithstanding"
DENVER, Feb. 15.-George L. Hodges.
counsel for the Union Pacific employees,
to-day received the following dispatch
from Judge Caldwell:
''No action will be taken that will affect
the employees on the Union Pacific system
without notice."