The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-25
SCOTS REPLY KEPT SECRET.
HE Is BELIEVED TO HAVE REFUSED
TO ARBITRATE.

AZ TUE NuictN OF the AaAAWAy OFuerm
i'm Augusta 20 Receive the General
Managers Answer, Bat He IL Not
ON Hnnd-.in Answer Supposed to
Have Been Made in MrItfng-The
Chiefs Anxious 10 Avoid "a strike
and willing 20 Accept Even IA
Small Concession.
Augusta. Ga. Jan. 2i-There Is no solu-
tion yet of the Georgia railroad matter.
The chiefs are iu Augusta, and to-day was
the date set for receiving General Man
ager scotts reply TO their proposition to
arbitrate. but General Manager Scott "a
not here and if he has given his reply
in writing the chiefs decline positively to
say so. Readers OF the Morning News
are familiar with the facts in the case.
The agitation is being made in the in
terest OF the freight crews OF the ROAD.
the passenger crews being satisfied with
the present arrangement. Under the sys-
tenn now In vogue the freight men re-
quire three days to make a trip 10 ana
from Atlanta, and on the average gee
only only two days pay for this. They
wish 1t 50 arranged that they will get the
three days, or else be put on the mileage
system.
After various conferences, Mr. Scott
would make no concessions and then the
la4or Leaders asked that the matter be
submitted to arbitration. Because OF the
pressure OF business and the newness %
the proposition, General Manager Scott
sald ne would require two weeks In which
70 consider 10. Thereupou the leaders iefh
Tor their homes, agreeing to meet here
again to-day. They are here in accord-
ance with their engagement, and It IL as
sumed that General Manager Scott would
not be unmindful Of his engagement IL
ls DeleVed that he has given his reply In
writing, and the refusal of the chiefs to
reply 10 any question indicates that the
reply Is not TO their liking. Had the re-
ply been "a compliance with their reaueea
they would have been only too happy 10
SO declare.
The chiefs have been visited by all the
reporters ana every effort employed 10
get some statement of the situation, but
5he stereoiyped reply has been. II must
matter at all"
There are the same rumors OF an i'm
pehdlhg strike that were current two
weeks ago, but there Is no authentic
source for them, ana nobody who will
talk TO be quoted
Ihe impression among the Georgia rail-
roaq onncials Is that there will be no
strike. A gentleman who Is In a position
70 know something of the matter saws
that General Manager Scott in his COM
munication refusing their first demand
went ON to give at length the reason for
ms refusal and TO argue the Justice OF his
course. lie pointed out that compliancs
Win their request would mean an in
crease IN pay that the road was not JUS
tined in making, and which would not
give satisfaction To all, for while A wouli
raise the wages OF some employees nearly
~ per cent, II would cut down the pay
or others more than 10 per cent. 1t waa
after the receipt OF thfs friendly argu-
mentatve, but firm refusal. that the
cnisls then came back with their propo-
sltion to arbitrate.
After two weeks consideration Il is be-
neved that Manager Scott has again re-
fused, and the chiefs and members of
HpFh0nH "A nh ohaf
be their next step. They do not Ike 10 re-
tire from the field without having ac-
complished anything nor do they favor
gong 70 the extreme OF a strike 1t is
probable that II General Manager Scott
would make any concession, however
small, 50 these chiefs could feel that thew
had accomplished something by their trim
ana conference, they would be glad to
accept IL and withdraw. General Manager
scott however. seems TO be firm in up
holding the equity of the present rates.
and not disposed to make compromised
Al any rate. nothing more positive can
be gotten tonight.
Atlanta, Ga, Jan. 24.-General Manager
Scott is as mum as the proverbial oyster
in regard to his reply to the brotherhood
chiefs who met I'm Augusta to-day 70 re-
ceiye It as well as the probability OK a
strike among the trainmen and engineers
OF the Georgia railroad.
When seen tonight at the Office OF the
Georgia railroad Mr.. Scott had the air
or man who has a serious situation "a
face but after weighing It carefully ia
satisfied OF his ability to cope with IL.
ana is ready for any emergency. His re-
ply to the brotherhood chiefs on their.
proposition to arbitrate the demands OF
the engineers, firemen and trainmen was
mailed to Augusta last night and was pre-.
sumably received by the chiefs some fime
to-day, although Mr.. Scott said ne aid
not know for a certainty that IL had been.
and, therefore, he would not discuss H.
II the representatives OF the brother.
nood DO not see flt to make the reply pub
lic,' said General Manager Scott s1 shall
not. Ny letter was a personal matter
between them and myself and YOU can
readily see that 1t would not be proper
Tor me to discuss 1t until the other side
speaks. The talking should come from the
other end of the line"
Mr.. Scott has evidently been expectinas
70 near from the brotherhood chiefs all
day lie had his berth made down in the
sleeper for Augusta leaving here at 1O:45
O'Clock tonight and then left the car for
the Georgia railroad office, telling the
porter that he would not get back until
the train was about to leave. When seen
at the office an hour before the train
left, in reply to a question, he said that
he would probably go to Augusta Tonight
During the day Mr.. Scott held Continuous
correspondence over the wires with Au-
gusta.
In the absence Of any information here
as TO the nature Of General Manager
Scotts reply to the engineers. the Infer
ence from his treatment of the subject il
that the Georgia road will refuse to arbi-
trate, though some concessions have,
been made on the original demands of the
employees which the road will insist upon
being accepted in settlement Of the
troubles. Until this is accepted or re-
jected neither side will give the matter
to the public.
General Manager Scott left for Angus
ia at 10:45 O'Clock tonight to meet the
brotherhood representatives there to-
morrow.