The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-03
THREATEN TO STRIKE
Locomotive Engineers Re-
sent a Grievance.
CHIEF ARTHUR IS AT WORK.
Secret Sessions by the Grievance
Committee.
NEXT MONDAY WILL SETTLE IL.
II the Conference With Southern Pacific
Managers Fails There Will
Be Trouble.
CHIEF ARTHUR is AT WORK.
NEXT MONDAY WILL SETTLE II.

P. NJ. Arthur, chief of the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Engineers, was in consulta-
ton with his fellow-craftsmen yesterday
in one of the lodgerooms of the Alcazar
building on O'Farrel street.
Mr.. Arthur arrived in this city Thursday
afternoon and registered at the Baldwin.
He came in response to a request from the
grievance committee of the engineers en-
ployed by the Southern Pacific Company,
who have had.the matter of wage reduc-
ton under consideration ever since the
sweeping cut of two months ago took
place.
F. V. Meyer, chairman of the engineers
committee, has been indefatigable in his
efforts to adjust the difference between the
railroad company and the engineers. But
as the matter is one of dollars and cents
and of considerable consequence to the
payroll of the railroad company, all efforts
to reach a compromise have so far failed.
1t is now matter of only two days when
the difference will have to come to some
kind of focus.
Mr.. Meyer, in speaking of the matter
yesterday, said
"The trouble between the engineers and
the Southern Pacific Company will be
definitely adjusted next Monday. 1t will
be either concession by the railroad COM
pany or strike. There has been nothing
definite done thus far. We have simply
talked the matter over with the chief"
els it a fact that Chief Arthur and Gov
ernor Budd have held consultation about
the impending trouble?'' was asked.
81 will neither deny nor affirm that
statement" was Mr.. Meyers answer.
'There may have been some such consul
tation, and If there was l guess it was
timely"
Mr.. Arthur was seen in Federation Hall,
Alcazar building, yesterday evening. In
reference to the matter under discussion
he said:
''The engineers have a grievance, and
very serious one. 1t would be impossible
for me to say how the thing will end.
There has been a sweeping reduction of
wages without any good reason for it. All
efforts to restore the standard of wages
have proved fruitless. The engineers,
through their regularly delegated repre-
sentatives, have made all reasonable efforts
to adjust matters with the railroad mana
gers. Well, they have failed. Next Mon
day will settle it one way or another.
There will be Joint conference of South
ern Pacific officials and engineers next
Monday. If the railroad company does
not make the concession which we think is
right and just in the premises, there will
be a strike ordered. That is all there is to
De Sd1Q Just now.
In speaking of the attitude of the Ameri-
can Railway Union to the Brotherhood of
Engineers, Mr.. Arthur said:
Perhaps the American Railway Union
feels resentment against the Brotherhood
of Engineers because of the stand in the
great strike of last year. But whatever
stand might be taken by that organization
it could not in any way affect the work of
the brotherhood. Whatever is done by
our organization will be done effectually.
We know what we can do and do not pro-
pose to make any false moves. If strike
is ordered it will mean that locomotive
wheels will not move on the Southern Pa
cific while the strike is on. However, this
is all problematical. 1t is possible that
matters will be so adjusted next Monday
that no strike will be necessary"
Southern Pacific officials when asked
about the probabilities of strike scoffed at
the idea and expressed themselves as con-
fident that all grievances would be salts
factoriIy adjusted within few days.
General Superintendent Fillmore said
last night that all the information in his
possession was to the effect that there
would be no trouble.
II believe most of our men are disposed |
to look at the readjustment to which ex-
ception is taken as matter which, while |
it may be in some cases a seeming hard |
ship, is nevertheless an action on the part |
of the company necessitated and justified |
by prevailing conditions"
''Will you say whether the company
will recede from its present position in the |
matter, Mr.. Fillmore?"
''Our position has already been fully ex-
planned to the men," was the somewhat |
equivocal answer.
The agreement entered into between the |
engineers and the company several years
ago and which is still binding, it is now
claimed, has been Indirectly if not directly |
violated, and this is the light in which the |
matter has been set before Chief Arthur |
by the local order of engineers.