The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-02


American Railway Union. or any other
than their respective duly authorized rep
Eeseutasives; and, whereas. the CON pays
rolls do not SHOW that the COMMITTEES heFe
present represents the men ON il pay rolls
On the various divisions: and, whereas.
men Who havs hsresofors represented
sc<ne Of the different organisations on the
various parts OF the railway being here.
under the authority Of their organixsticns.
prepared 10 speak for the men ghey ciaam
70 represent. the company desires to avosd
unnecessary delay and loss 70 the pubic,
70 the men and 20 Itself growing out OF
the claims Of rival 0rgauixatioua The
company proposes that il viii submit 10
its employees, for immediate reply. the fol-
lowing:
"Any class Of men in It's services Who have
any grievances or complaint ~ TO thar
rstes OF pay shall either personally or
Through Representatives chosen by them
pany, and Ia case il cannot be easily
adjusted between snch representatives and
the company the matter shall be at once
referred 70 board Of arbitration. COM
posed Of three disin tsrested msn, Who
have knoviedge Of railway services. ono 20
be chosen BY the men or their representa-
tsvss, one by the company and che third
by the two % chosen and In case they
cannot agree, the third member Of such
board TO BE- named by either the Hon. r
r. Nelson or the Hon. A. d. Thomas,
judges Of the United States court. or both
Of them together, and the finding of the
majority Of such board of arbitration. on
matters submitted TO them. shall DO final
and shall bind the men and the company.
The position Of agents and dispatchers.
being places Of trust, the company desires
TO deal With these men individually. As
regards the shopmen, car inspectors,
bridge carpenters, etc. the company ex-
poets to pay wages in accordance with the
service rendered, and At rates that average
- high ~ the same service receives on
neighboring roads. As TO sec.ion and
ployed, and are mainly composed OF float
ing men who are here today and gone to-
morrow. and cannot be bound by any rep
resentatives or organization. An agreement
with them would bind the company and
would not bind the men. In regard TO
these men IL has always been the com.
pany's custom to reduce both the number
Of such men and their rates of pay during
the winter months while there is little
work for them to do beyond patroliing
their sectionA On the opening of spring
the wages Of these men have been adj
vanced in the past. and the company ex-
poets 70 follow this course a. heretofore.
This proposition 10 made on the condi-
ton that the men Immediately return to
work In their various places. and that the
business Of the company nth the public
Be no longer delayed and further loss OF
time to the men b avoided.
ANY changes in the rates Of nay made
BY such conference or arbitration shall
take effect - Of the date when work 10 re-
sumed."
Mr.. Debs announced the rejection Of the
arbitration proposal - soon ~ il was sub
mittsd. and warned Mr.. Hill that. il the
demands Of the men were not granted
every man in his employ would quit work
aud the strike would be fought out to the
end. The committee finally agreed to
consider the proposal. and on the follow
Ing day. April q. the following reply was
sent by President Dsbs and Vice President
Howard:
I'VE are authorized by the committee
representing the employees of the Great
Northern railway in the pending contro-
versy 70 advise you Of the action Of said
vote. ~ follows:
'WHERrAs. The proposition submitted
by J. J. Hill, president Of the Great North
ern Railway Company, under date of April
Is, for the consideration Of the committee
representing the employees in the contro-
versy now pending between them and the
management, II manifestiy unfair In that
IL aims to divide and disorganixs said en-
pioyes, and
"WHEREAs, The grievance which the
employees have presented effects alike all
classes. and 10 therefore general I'm its
character, and demands for its correction
concerted and harmonious action: and
"WHERRAs, The committee in charge are
the authorized representatives of q ma
jority Of the employees in each and every
department, and Of at least ninety (0D) per
cent. OF all the employees in the service Of
the company; and
WHEREAS. The wages Of the employees
in many departments have suffered sweep
ing reductions, and the assumption il
reasonable that in due course of time SINH
lar reductions will be made n ell other de-
partments: and
"WHKREAs The employees have in the
past rendered faithful aud efficient service
to the company, and stand ready to guar
antee that similar service shall be rendered
in the future, provided that their wages
shall be maintained at . fair and reason
able standard; and
.WHEREAs. The standard of wages in
effect prior to August l. 1898. 10 regarded
as reasonabic, equitable and Just, and that
any concession in the line Of reduction
would deprive the employees not only of
what r'ghuuily belongs to them as the
fruit OF their toll, but would involve the
sacrifice of their manliness, their indie
pendence and self-respect; therefore. be il
Resolved. That the proposition sub
mitted by President James ]. Hill. above
referred to. Do and the same is hereby de-
c!ined. and that We agree to settle the
pending difficulties and declare the strike
OF upon the acceptance by the companv
Of the terms oiled with President Hill on
the 18th inst. the full text of which has
appeared in the current issues of the daily
papers.
I'VE are further directed to say that
this action OF the committee 10 final and
they respectfully request that you advise
Them by o'clock this afternoon If YOU
WI accept the terms proposed by them
Tor tue adjustment Of existing difficulties
Inc men are impressed with the abso-
lutte justice of their position, and trus,
that you may ind it consistent and In
consonance with the spirit of fair MAY 70
accept .heir proposition and end the
trouble"
To this Mr.. HUI replied on the same dav.
"lonr communication OF this date re-
eeived Al $3.50 this afternoon. in which
you decline the written offer made by me
on oeaait OIL this company 10 submit any
Inference as TO rates or paw that cannot
be promptly adjusted between the cam.
psny and the men in its employ TO fuII
ana maj settlement by arbitration. Your
conclusion that the proposition 10 unfair
and that u aims to divide and di.orsanize
vie employees, II neither the intention of
'he COM pany nor the effect of the offer as
made. You do not saw in your Iat.er
whether the objection is to arbitration As
q method Of settlement. or whether there
Is objection made TO the plan proposed for
Organizing the beard of arbitration. The
oHer vas made by this company with a
siew 10 place within the reach of ali OF
It's employees . simple ard effective
n'etoed OF adjusting any question rs TO
haf