The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-15
GREAT NORTHERN MEMS APPEAL.
The story Of Wage Reductions Told the
Chamber OF Commerce.


The Chamber of Commerce trustees
have taken up the case of the Great North
ern car cleaners and repairers which was
brought before them on Tuesday after
noon, and appointed Jacob Fu-th, James
Gosh and ). l.. Crawford . committee to
thoroughly investigate the matter
In his address to the meeting W. c. 2.
Adams, the secretary of the American
Railway UnioH explained the mems posi-
ton fully. He gave the record of each
man while in the service of the road. J.
Schroeder, citizen. voter. with a wife and
two children. he described as frugal, in
dustrious, skilled Car builder, who had
followed the trade for fifteen years He
began work for the Great Northern last
May at $50 a day; was reduced in July
TO va. later in that month to Ss) a
month: in the latter part Of August, after
having worked twenty-five days, to ST.
month. 10 take effect August /
thus losing $50 through the retro
active effect of the cut, aud was
required TO work on Sundays without
extra pay. All the men affected by this
last cut quit, and after one dav were of
iered SO a month without Sunday work
which they accepted. Shortly afterwards
they were again required 10 work on sun
DAYS and overtime without extra pay
Bat. looking the condition of business
squarely IN the face, they accepted the cut
Now their wages have been cut to $40 n
month. though they must he skilled me.
chanics and must furnish tools, on which
the wear and loss is estimated a. - a
month. so that they work thirty to thirty
one days for s3G The much cursed aim
gauge pays s. - 10 IS for this class nj
workmen. Two such men are e.uuIovsd
on different shifts. and if one needs ,ba
others he. =, he must maui his voks.m,,s
out OF bed. " but the latter gets nothin.
extra for this. They are hired bv tn
month. and are liable to lie r.ouiret -
WORK all the - hours in the month
though among free civilized nations thor,
are tweuty-six work days. or sgS IN %,
working hours. In month. tthis noi,t
Mr.. Adams said:
II cannot ind chat the slaves who hnl,
the pyramids, or dag the cana!s around
ami raised the walls %. Babylon. or con-
strucied the roads and agQeducts OF Rome
so' any extra pay tor extra time
Those nations are all - they shouf3 ~.
dead Unfortunately, the precedent they
established has aeeu allow e.! TO live f,1r
tae heneHt of } IN tiill for has vse II, his
slave making processes against oar frl.nu,.
citizens 81 Seattle.
Then he gave the cases % the car-cEean.
eFs. whIeA may be summarized TIM.
Henry Clark. has wife and three children
lives on UTeen street ahcra he Dan.
home. began work July /. i>.3. a. g.,
mouth. required 10 oe GA hand eyerv .fav
aud liable 10 be called out az any time az
day hAr.y ia lQ!v he worked thtrtr..y
honss continuously. except tor meals an.
h5s foreman. J, II. NeMauus. only sue.
efedea ~ getting han tso days wage. for
shat tme. Bat when trains failed to
arrive last Dece ia beF. the men were aetke.t
'~o DAYS time >tlu they did net com.
plain Nes Mr. Clark mass work for
i".4sF lay. Then came this appeal.
Any II son who has wife ana .brs.
x""Sftn - support kuoWs Why he quit.
NSfr q t"T ourselves. gentlemen. 81 Ter
4@s 'of 4aloty 81 tive. - ceais each for
AN"' ana tae!. light aad clothing. tAxYs
ana doctor t.As. Mr. Banker. a he's so
''' aSg-'s4l' ID your esn& come IN %
he thea cantSastel tie affection. ~
da2@hieF, Fa.Eei IN breach If ,iss
eSse a. ) so slsA thu rag and rAnrs of
h@Hs sf % t&5se ch.iIrea
J." = 7-aiias STRAIN Nj Adams we,t ~,
Ia ie'. at the other car e.eane.x 80
pAh.siso1a aaa JACOB Wassoner. Mr.