The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-10
THE JENKINS INQUIRY
Mr.. BOatner's Committee Begins
Its Work at Milwaukee.
Grand Chief Clark of the Order of Con-
ductOrs Testifies Concerning the
Method of 0rderinga Strike.

MILWAUKEE,. Wis, April The spec
tacle Of a United States judge on trial
before a congressional committee is now
being presented in Milwaukee. At 3 o'clock
this afternoon Representatives Boatner of
Louisiana, Terry Of Arkansas and Stone OF
Pennsylvania, composing a subcommittee
OF the judiciary committee of the House OF
Representatives, began the investigation OF
Judge Jenkins's famous Northern Pacific
strike injunction. During the afternoon +.
l.. Clark, representing the order of Rail
road Conductors, and T. p. Sargent, rep
resenting the order of Railway Firemen,
were sworn. Attorney Harper, represent
ing a railway employees organization. at
torney Curtis. OF New York. representing
the receivers, and attorney Miller, of this
city. who assisted him, were present. Re
ceivers Payne and Cakes and ex-senator
John c. Spooner were also interested spec
tators. as were Messrs. Arthur. Sargent.
Wilkinson. Ramsay and Clark, chiefs of
the various brotherhoods Of railway en-
ployes.
Chairman Boatner opened the session by
giving a simple outline OF what the COM
mittee had been instructed TO do, its au-
thOrity, etc. He said the committee wished
especially to ascertain how far and in
what respects the order had oppressed the
employees and just now the men construed
Grand Chief Clark. of the Order of Con
ductors, was sworn. He said his organt-
cation provided that a committee representa-
tive OF all the conductors an a particular
line shall look into a grievance and report
TO him. He continued: II also look into the
natter, and II L think the facts warrant
whatever action the committee may decide
to take, i give my sanction. III the commit
cause, and two-thirds of the employees on
the road affected want a strike. they SO re-
port TO me. 1 can then investigate, and If ]
- AkAN hAn - ~ u NO for nIf 20 a
L can sanction the committees report and
a legal strike is on" Without this sane
ton, he said, the strike would be Illegal. lie
said that in the case Of the Northern Pa
cihc road our committee went to st. Paul
Dec. 16 TO see what could be done to
in the schedule. TIE officials of the road
and the committee arranged for a meeting
Dec. 10. on that date the committee called
and was informed by General Manager
Kendrick that slings were not then in shape
for a conference. but that they would be
.Dec. 10 is the date upon which the injunc-
ton was granted, is y not?' asked Mr.
yes. the first injunction. Dec. p the com
mittee called at the office of MIR. Kendrick
and a conference was held"
'And is IL not a fact" put in attorney
Harper, that a secret injunction was is
sued the day before?'
mo. A supplemental injunction was
granted Dec. %. At the conference held Dec.
u, however, the Representatives OF the road
withheld their answer until Dec. 26."
Then; before the answer was given"
junction was issuedY'
Eyes, sir"
Mr.. Clark said the road had given the
employees notice some time before it was
proposed to reduce wages that such action
had been taken. He had not been served
with the injunction, although a United
States marshal had hunted for him. Mr..
Clark felt bound by the order. however,
and would not have sanctioned a strike I'M
der the circumstances. He said also tina
the men felt bound by the order not to quit
the employ of the road and could not strike
He did not think the Injunction had done
any harm so far as the Northern Pacific
employees were concerned, but 1t had been
harmful in a general way TO wOrkmen. Mr.
Sargent's testimony was practically 10 the
800 affanf