The Washington times., 1895-02-14
Southern Railway C0mpany's Re-
ply to Its Employees.
BETTER WAGES ARE OFFERED
Men Are Given Until Nay to Consider the
New Schedule, Which Is in Excess of the
Present Rate of Pay-Confsrence Between
Representatives Of Both Sides-Another
Keeting To-day-More Delegates Here.

The Southern Railway Company, through
President Spencer and Third Vice President
Baldwin, made its reply yesterday to its en-
ployes' representatives. now in session here,
whose effort is to obtain an increase pay for
engineers. conductors and fremen.
reduction in the wages of employees was
made by the receivers of the Old Richmond
and Danvilie and East Tennessee, Virginia
ana Georgia companies in November, 1888,
on the former line OF per cent on salaries
over $50. and less than SOS; 10 per cent. on
salaries from 500 to S20S.S IS per month. On
the latter line reduction was made OF per
cent. on salaries less than $50 month. and
10 per cent. on salaries from $50 TO $500 Il
month. The 10 per cent. cut affected prin-
cipaily conductors engineers, and firemen.
ASKING A RESTORATION.
Since 1888 the employees have been asking a
restoration OF rates to the old standard
The delegates now in session are urging the
railroad to the increase, and the reply of the
railroad is an argument 10 why this cannot
be done. Among the reasons stated are that
The net earnings OF all lines now compos-
ing the Southern Railway system On June 80,
1898, the year preceding the reduction, which
was accepted by the employees, were S5. 255,-
11u- anu Ou Juuc 1851. lDtN Nbto g1.OEU.-
0S5, falling OF in net revenue OF SS55.355.
Tho decrease in gross earnings for the Same
period was nearly 81. 100000.
The company proposes to equalize the pay
CT the employees of the East Tennessee. Vir-
ginia and Georgia lines with those of the old
Richmond and Danville Railroad the i'm
portant inequalities being on the former lines
The company has reduced its mortgage in
debtedness by over $40, 600. .000 and has put
IN sl2, 900, GOO new money, from which il re-
ceives no income.
The new schedules of pay submitted, the
company claims, are in excess, in the average.
OF the rates at present paid to the employees.
Tho new average rates are:
For passenger engineers. SIG a month;
through freight engineers. SI20 10: local
freight, 800. Firemen, passenger service,
S58; through freight, $50 05: local freight,
$1,000 Conductors, passenger. $50 10 lfor
main lines, 500; for other lines 563 TO $50;
average. $50. TO-: through freight conductors,
S7G.6l; local freight. S77.S0. Brakemen and
flagmen, passenger. s42; through freight,
$3S. 80: local freight, S3S.65-
GIVEN TILL MAY 70 CONSIDER.
The employees are given until May next to
onsider these propositions of the company
Mr. Baldwin was called on last night. but
did not thinh it necessary. he sad. to say
anything further than what is contained in
lut 5lditiiituI Vi ltS CO-ti HtluF mere WAS no
secret whatever in the relations of the COM
pany to its emoloyes. and he had advised
them that publication would be made OF the
statement 10 them from the company.
Capt. Moore, who presided over the meet
ing of the employees, to whom the statement
and schedules had been submitted, said last
night that he could not discuss the matter
for publication. He was asked ii it would be
necessary to send again for the chiefs OF the
various orders interested. to which he re-
piled that be hoped not.
1t was ascertained. however, that the men
are not going homo and will hold another
meeting to-day. The delegates were in ses-
sion yesterday from $3.50 p. N. until $50
p. m.
Delegates present. In addition to those given
in The TIMES yesterday are G. X. Rabb. Col
umbia. S. c.: r. a. Brooks, Knoxville, Tenn
E. W. Toorney, Scranton; Ii. L. Lambert
and o. w. Loving, Charlottesville, Va.