Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-08-17
SUIT TO RESTORE WAGES.
UNION PACIFIC OPERATORS APPEAL
TO THE FEDERAL COURT.
Charge Receivers With Violating Or
ders and observation-disclosures.
other suit About Hospital
Fees-LOcal Employees.

Omaha, Neb, Aug. 16.-(Special0 What
bids fair to be a serious rupture has oc-
Cured between the receivers of the Union
Pacific road and the executive officers OF
the Order of Railway TeleSraphers. and
has resulted in the latter organization
filing in the federal court OF this city
bill praying the court to correct the
troubles and Determinations of which they
complain, and restore and enforce the
scale of wages agreed upon at the famous
conference between Judge Caldwell and
the representatives of the labor organiza-
tions of the line in March, 1891.
Not only is there a serious disagreement
as to the matters spoken of, but there is
another feature-the collection of hospital
fees-that forms a basis for another suit
ises to add to the discord already threat
ened. The two matters combined bid fair
70 make a very interesting contest when
y hhe i issues ,sos, are joined in the courts and
ton have made full preparations for a
stubborn battle in the matter. The situa-
line is in the hands of the federal court,
and the men will take their matter directly
to the court rather than by a strike, or
other means, to force matters to a climax.
Just what the outcome may be is as yet
proDlematica!. The organization charges
specifically that the receivers have disre-
court. Altogether. 1t is one of the most
novel labor contests ever presented to the
public ar and one in the settlement Of which
pany has deep interest.
1t will be remembered that shortly after
the receiver took charge of the line an eff
wage scale. The various labor organiza-
tions protested and to settle the matter all
the interested orders chose representatives
to meet Judges Caldwell and Riner at
Omaha in conference in March. 1884.
Among the matters agreed upon was the
adoption of a fixed schedule of wages. not
IN hn ha code oavnth hryS SNpdA <Hf fha
and a provision that no man was to be
discharged except for lust cause. 1t is
oyer these rules the trouble has come
of the service alleged that both of these
provisions Iri ion. a have been violated ed, and m make
and n. A. Smith. members of the joint
protective board of the employees of the
Union Pacific system.
The petition recites the order entered
by Judges Caldwell and Riner at the con-
clusion of the hearing in March. 1884. and
states that the following rates Of pay for
telegraph operators were fixed by the Or
der: Rogers. So per month; Benton. S61:
Aida, $62; Boone. 45; Rockville. s45. With
out notice to the men or to the court. the
petitioners claim, the wages at these sta
tfonS have been reduced as follows: Rogers.
to sS5: Benton, s25: Aida, s35; Boone. SIS;
Rockville. S26. They ask the court to de-
restored to the amount named in the
schedule and the difference between that
and the amount they have received since
the reduction be paid to them.
The petition alleges that the officers of
the company are hostile to organized labor
and have particular dislike for the Order
of Railway Telegraphers, and have been
making systematic effort to weed out
the leaders in the order by discharsinG
them without cause. Among these are cited
F: E. Gilliland and F.. r. Dresback.
The telegraphers have another grievance
which will be brought to the attention of
the court in a petition to be filed to-mor-
row. The petition will claim 1t has been
the. custom of the Union Pacific for a long
time to deduct from the pay Of each man
tho sum of 40 cents per month for the
maintenance of hospitals. The telegraph
ers allege they receive no benefit from the
hospitals except in case of a few. They
complain they are not given any account
ing of the expenditure of the money col
lected for this purpose, which they a1lege
amounts to about 100000 per year. They
claim, If they must pay, they are entitled
to know what becomes of the money.
They will also allege in the petition that
at the present time the Union Pacific does
not maintain hospitals, simply having the
use OF small number of cots in hospitals
conducted by private parties or aseocia.
tiens. and that the expense attached there,
to is not sufficient to warrant the collec
tion of the amount Of money that is al
present taken from the employees.