The morning call., 1894-03-26

secret organization of con 1u ctors. brake
men, engineers and operators does not
prove too powerful a body for the railroad
to fight. trouble may be looked for at an
early date
Circulars have been sent to trainmen
and funds have been raised TO carry on
long war.
Men IN nearly every department of the
transportation companies mentioned (and
other corporations perhaps) have decided
upon uniting AID creating one of the
strongest unions ever known in railroad
circles.
The most powerful branch of the organ
iZation Is that of the railway telegra pliers
and train-dis patchers. This organization
Is now raising money TO hire attorneys to
present their case against the railroad and
to give protection" to operators and their
helpers.
Under date of March II the following
confidential circuar-letter was sent out
from Chicago, Omaha and Council Bluffs ::
To DfspdtcheTs: We do not insist that you
join our order. but We do think III you should
help pay your share OF Ihe necessary expense.
ana also ask that you sign one OF the Inclosed
slips, that there may be no question as To our
right 10 represent your branch OF the service.
There is olhing unfair about this request
and unless you are heard from or this letter
returned within ten days IL will be taken for
granted that you are satisfied to take your
chances, and we Will not endeavor to represent
your particular position.
Our committee is composed OF nine members
and they are all In Omaha; and. besides this,
We have large attorneys fees that have TO be
linuidated. Yours fraiernally.
+. X. GILLILAND, Secretary.
Gilliland's communication referred more
TO the making OF the new wage schedule
which is proposed by the Union Pacific
than it does tn the contemplated reduction
all around. 1t is doubtful if the schedule
to be adopted will be in vogue for any
length of time if accepted by the different
railroad unions.
In explaining the situation among the
20. X. T." and going to details of the
greatly feared reduction of wages the or
der's secretary further says:
The chairman would also like TO have a letter
from each station giving the number of hours
required each day and The number OF night
trains yOu are required TO attend. and any 9TH
er item which might be OF Serv ice in arguing
for maintenance of present salary. compar.
alive statement of business might be of service
in some cases. Have you a helper, does lie do
teegrapEing and what is his salary? In most
cases these circulars Will be sent only 10 the
day operator. and he Is requested to see that
any others who wish may have chance to re-
mi with him. The total reduction in the teIe-
graph department amounts 10 over S25, 900
per year. au average of So % peI man per
month, ranging fro 81 so 10 SIT so. Note
that the assessment now called for is only about
half OF what one months average reduction
amounts 10.
quite sum in this manner iJ is stated.
From Chicago comes the following letter
to the conductors, brakemen and en- gineers,
which gives clew to the proposed move
among the big railroads:
Before many months several of the largest
systems of railroads In the United States VIII,
we understand, make an effort TO reduce wages
all around. Ii Is our intention OF organizing
into so powerful a body that our resistance
must be felt. IL necessary we will secure the
assistance of ibe Federated Trades and IN the
event OF big cut shall order strike The like OF
which has never before been heard of in this
country.
AT the present date we could order out nearly
10000 railroad men. and this number is being
augmented by hundreds OF signatures every day
Of the week.
We urge that you join our organization and
forward us a list OF eligible members In your
district.
In spite of the denial by railroad officials
that any general reduction of wages is
expected which will effect the entire coun-
try, a number or the members of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and
Firemen and the Order of Railway Con-
ductors say that they look forward to such
an occurrence as an event of the near
future.
All railroad hands are extremely reticent
over the immense consolidation of forces
which the unions are talking of and scarce
iy word regarding lis workin gs has been
permitted 10 be made public.