The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-01
CALDWELL WRITES.
Has Heard RumOrs Of Trouble
on the Santa Fe.
Saws He viii Not Consent to
Any Controversy
WITH THE EMPLOYEES
While the Road is in the Courts
Hands
Judge J. B. Johnson Wires
Judge Caldwell
THERE'S NO TRUTH
In the Reports Of Cut in
Wages
Judge J. B. Johnson wires
Judge Caldwell
In the Reports Of a Cut in
Wages
Or That Any AbrOgatiOn of
Contracts is Intended.

Judge j. B. Johnson, special master in
chancery in the Santa Fe foreclosure
suit, has returned from Arkansas City
where he has been to hear the complaints
of.the strikers who were not taken back
to work when the road resumed busi-
ness after the late strike.
The judges shadow was a little less
than when he left and he looked tired
sThere were nearly twenty Of the cases"
he said 1T is surprising how many
railroad employees there were that were
sick and could not work just when the
strike began but who have recovered
since. / didn't get quite done and three
or four Of them will be here tomorrow to
tell their stories No decisions have
been rendered yet"
Judge J. B. Johnson received a letter
this morning from Judge Caldwell of the
United States circuit court, making in
quiries whether or not any action has
been taken by the receivers looking to
reduction of wages, or the abrogation of
existing contracts with employees.
Judge Caldwell writes that he ques-
tions the propriety Of any such action
during the tenn pOrary control of the rail-
road by the court, and Furthermore that
if any such is taken, he desires to be
present
Judge johnson wired Judge Caldwell
had taken no such action as that referred
to, and that no such steps had been con-
templated or would be taken.
Judge Caldwell, whose home is at Lit
tie Rock, Ark, is now at Wequetonsing,
Mich.
II desire to deny emphaticalIy all Of the
newspaper reports concerning the pro
posed abrogaUon of contracts existing
between old labor organizations and the
receivers, said Judge johnson to the Jour
NAL reporter. and to deny the proposed re-
ductiOn in the scale of wages under and
provided by existing contracts These
newspaper reports, having reached Judge
Caldwell. in Michigan, where he is spend
ing his vacation, he has written me let
ter of Inquiry upon the subject, asking
for an investigation and report, and ac-
cOrdingly 1 have thoroughly Investigated
the subject, and have made inquiry from
Vice President Robinson. Receiver VIII
son, General Manager Frey General Su-
perintendent Nudge, and other Of
ficers of the company and have re-
ported to Judge Caldwell that there is
absolutely no foundation for any reports
heretofore published in relation to this
matter, and that, at no time, has any OBJ
rogauon Of existing contracts or reduc-
ton of existing scales of wages been
contemplated
"The statements, which have been
published in the papers, that contracts
had been submitted, requiring parties to
abrogate their connection with existing 2
labor organizations in order to OBTAIN
employment, are absolutely false and no
such contracts were ever prepared or
submitted to anyone.
Statements that a new schedule Of
wages had been submitted to the loco
motive engineers and other organiza-
tiOns, and had been rejected by them are
also absolutely false, and nothing of the
kind has been submitted, and conse-
quently could not have been rejected as
stated in the reports Judge Caldwell is
known to all those who are acquainted
with him as the friend of the laborinp
man SO long as the laborer obeys the
laws of his country and lives up to his
contracts, Notwithstanding he can be
severe in cases where laborers or others
defy the laws and orders of the court. as
evidenced by his decision in the troubles
growing out Of the A. r u strike In
his letter of inquiry Judge Caldwell saws
In substance that, for the period during
which the road would probably remain
IN the hands Of the court the court could
scarcely be justified in bringing on a con
trOversy 9th the men over the present
schedules7e-@ wages and expresses the
desire that& in case any such action
Is contemplated, to be notified in or
der that be may be present tc
the road who have faithfully DISCHARGED
their duties, and the public in general
may rest assured Of the fact that nc
strike will be precipitated, or difficult,
caused Dy any action on the part of ths
receivers or officers acting under them
looking toward a cancellation of existinc
contracts with the labor organizations. o.
any reduction Of existing scales o
wages"