The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-10
ENGINEERS IN A oUANDARY.
THE PLANT SYSTEM WILL NOT RE-
NEW ITS CONTRACT WITH
THEM.

brotherhood Here 10 Confer with
supts. Durham and Rutherford-AII
Contracts of the Plant system with
Its Employees 10 Expire To-day.
The Grievance Committee Has Lit
tie to say-supt. Durham out OF
the City.
The grievance committee Of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers or the
members employed on the Plant system
is in the city. The committee is here for
the purpose Of a conference with supt.
Durham and the other officials Of the mo-
tive department Of the Plant system. The
out-of-town members Of the committee
arrived yesterday morning.
General Superintendent Durham and
Superintendent OF Motive Power Ruther-
ford are both out Of the city, however.
and the committee accomplished nothing.
II is not expected that the officials viii
be here to-day, either.
A very interesting situation confron,s
the brotherhood engineers in the employ
OF the Plant system. Their contract with
the road expires to-day and Supt Dun
ham has announced that he will not renew
the contract with them. or with any
other labor organization in the employ
OF the system. A month ago Mr.. Dun
ham issued circular letter TO the em-
ployes notifying them that an contracts
with the system would expire within thir-
~ days from the date of the circular.
The reason for this was that the super
intendent did not care to be hampered In
the administration of his department 10y
conditions laid down by employees. Certain
sections Of the engineers contract speci-
fy the length OF runs to be made the
hours which the men are to be in service
and the rates of pay for such service.
Railway men. and particularly engi-
neers. are very much indisposed to airing
their differences with their employers.
Whenever a newspaper reporter appears
on the scene at such time they close up
like CLANS. Although they refuse to talk
they are often ready to declare that the
newspapers Will not give them fair show.
The railroad officials are generally ready
10 make statement Of their position and
hence it is very plain why the newspaper
reports often appear to incline TO their side.
Some of the engineers take the position
that il injuries their chances Of an agree
Inent with the officials to air their griev-
ances and doubtless there is something in
this
The engineers are not disposed to talk
in this instance. President Dick Walsh
of Myrtle division Of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers was seen yester-
day. just as he was mounting his engine
10 20 out on his run. lie promptly an
nounced that he had nothing 10 say and
declared that he was not posted.
THE grievance committee is here and
you had better see them he said Il
don't know what they have done nor
what they are going to do As you say
believe the contract expires tomorrow"
VIII the men demand a new contract?'
he was asked.
Il don't know what they will do"
Does Supt. Durham propose 10 make
any changes. to reduce the pay of the
men in any way?"
Il will get just as much as always
did" said Mr.. Walsh. That's all
know"
''WiH the grievance committee wait
here 10 see the superintendent
The committee as 1 understand IT,"
said Mr. Walsh, 'is here for the purpose
Of organizing the annual committees ac-
cording to the bylaws. Whether they will
take up this matter with Mr.. Durham l
don't know"
Engineer W. Z. Futch of Brunswick is
Mr. D. y Hall OF Montgomery is also a
member of the committees and so is Engi-
neer Michael Cahill of Savannah There
are other members Of the committee, each
branch Of the Plant system being repre-
scented.
Messrs. Futch & Hall were seen late last
night at the Pulaski When asked If any
arrangement had been made with the
railroad. Mr.. Futch replied that he had
nothing TO say.
But did you see Supt. Dunham% was
asked.
He is not In the city"
Have you had any consultation with
the men or any of the railroad ofiicialsY'
Il have nothing TO say for publication"
he replied with emphasis.
Did your committee not expect to see
the railroad officials and make some sat
isfactOry arrangements"
Mr.. Futch smiled. Il have said that we
have nothing TO say to the public about
this. We did not come here to see the rail-
road officials We are here. however"
added he. significantly, and the railroad
officials are all out of town"
What will be done in the matter? VIII
not the contracts expire tomorrow, and
If so, will the men 20 on as usual?"
Il don't know. We haven't seen the su-
perintendent and don't know what he
wants"
men or made them any propositions"
Il haven't seen anything Of the kind
He issued a circular thirty days ago say
ing that all contracts with employees
would expire within thirty days, and that
thirty days ends tomorrow" replied Mr..
Futch.
The committee did not get to the hotel
till nearly midnight. 1t is understood that
a conference of railroad employees was
held last night. and that the matter il still
in an unsettled shape.
1t is not known whether there are COM
mittees representing other railroad organ
izations in the city for the purpose Of
comforting with Supt. Durham but It
Is likely that there viii be to-day if they
are not here already. According TO the
statement by Mr. Futch the circular sent
cut by Supt. Durham annulled the con
tracts or agreements with all the or
ganlzations. The subject is being discu IS
ed in a very dispassionate manner by all
the employees of the Plant system here.
There is no excitement and it is evident
that ii is the disposition of the employees
to secure necessary protection to their
rights as they consider. with the least