Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-14
SOUTHERN RAILWAY


 conference between the officers of the Southern Railroad company and their em- ployes In an endesvor to finally arrange their difficulties took place here today. Mir. Baldwin, third vice president, met the committee at 4:30 p. m. The meeting was entirely harmonious.
 In its answer 10 the request of the men for a restoration of the wages paid in 1891, the company has adopted method of treatment of this subject different, it is be- lieved, from any heretofore used, in 8 thorough and exhaustive analysis of the commercial and industrial conditions af- fecting the question of wages and the rela- tive position of railroad employees as conn., pared with those in other industries, pub fishing the result in pamphlet addressed to the engineers, firemen, conductors and train men, which contains the reasons why the com pany is unable to make general in- creases at present.
 This pamphlet was delivered to the em- ployes' committee today. The communl- Vice President Baldwin, and explains that inequalities of pay and service exist in con- sequence of the previous subsequent control and management of the several component parts of the system, and these are to be equaliZed. The changes made on this ac- count are increased in every case, and apply chiefly to employees receiving the small pay of S65 month, those receiving less than that amount on the East Tennes- see, Virginia and Georgia lines having had their wages reduced more than those on the Richmond and Danville. This inequality Is corrected by the new schedule.
 Until October, 1893, the rules and sched- ules of all wages on the system had been those adopted in 1890 and 1891. In order to partially meet the loss Of revenue after the road went into the hands of receivers reductions from 10 to 20 per cent were made in October and November, 1893, and Feb- ruary, 1894, on all salaries, and when the Southern Railway company took possession a further reduction of from 10 to 25 per cent was made in the salaries of the general of- icers. No further reduction was made, however, In the wages of the trainmen. The gross revenues for the year ending June 30, 1891, in which the old rates were established, were greater than for the year ending June 30, 1894, by nearly S3, 700 900, or 21 per cent.
 After showing in detail the loss of rev causes, the pamphlet takes up the subject of diminished profits from all industries. It cites ta3 great iall of the price of coal and the resulting decrease of revenue to the planter and the lower returns to the miners and manufacturers by reason or low prices of pig iron. All labor, skilled and unskilled, has had it's earning power materially reduced. New conditions, such as those, have resulted in severe loss of revenue to all railroads in. the south and in the bankruptcy of many. The owners of the properties now comprising the Sonth- ern railway have accepted their losses as permanent, having written off nearly So per cent of their investments reported Dy liens, and in addition contributed some $12, ,000, 900 in new money, on which they are not receiving cent of income.
 Attention is called to the general depres- sion existing in all branches of industry In the south and the consequent curtailmens of the earning power of all individuals an corporations, aud to the fact that amid this shrinkage, which is almost universal, railroad employees have borne smaller proportionate reduction than any olher class engaged in industrial pursuits. It is further said:
 s'From this depression and shrinkage nothing has been exempt. Every com modity has felt it, and the purchasing power of wages under the new schedule is greater now than was that of the wages re- ceived under the old schedule.
 ..Moreover the position Of other em. ployes Of the company must be considered. They have equal claims with you for 1n- crease to the former basis of pay. Many or them, in the organization of the new com pany, accepted positions at an agreed com- ben sation, with no expectation of increase, varying from 10 per cent to 40 per cent less than they were receiving when the general reduction was made.
 isManifes,ly it would be unjust for the company to increase the rates of pay for some classes and not for all. A general increase of expenses is out of the question, except in the event of general, continued and considerable increase in earnings. .'The reorganization has resulted In sol- vency only, not wealth to the new com pany. This prosperity has still to bs worked out, and 1t Is as much to the Interest of the employees as for the owners that l5 should be worked out successfully. That this will be done seems reasonably assured factors in the accomplishment of such result.'
 Ia conclusion it is stated that the old schedule required sixty days notice oi any proposed changes, and that, therefore, the new schedule will not take effect before May l, unless the men desire an earlier date. The committee of tho trainmen's as sociatiou took ths statement under col- aidaratinu