The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-16
Medal
And Diploma
At Worlds Fair.
THE WAGE SCHEDULE
Some Mutterings Of Discomfort
on the Great Northern.
NUMBERS OF MEN QUIT WORK.
II the 1rainmen Are Scaled Down the
Road VIII Be Tied Up-An Open
Revolt at Butte.

VIII James J. Hill, president OF the
Great Northern. De able 10 hold his en-
ployes 10 the reduced schedules. or will the
cut in salaries result in the road being
tied up? These questions were asked
many times yesterday by railroad men
IN this city. but no one was able 10 give
satisfactory answer. The impression
Is widespread that the employees would not
hesitate TO strike II they saw any prospect
whatever Of forcing Mr.. Hill back to his
agreement with the St Paul board OF
arbitration. The Equalization OF wages
was great surprise. and seems to have
been put into effect all along the line. Thu
only employees who are unaffected are
the :rainmen. that is. engineers, fremen
conductors and brakemen. and they still
receive wages based on a restoration of
% per cent of the cut made in August,
lss2. IL Is said that Mr.. Hill believes the
road must be run at less expense and, it
being necessary to reduce the wages Of
all his employees, he has decided to make
reductions successfully.
Although the employees in Washington
have made no movement otherwise than
TO hand in a few designations. they are
dissatisfied; and on other parts OF the
road the jispleasure has become so mark
ed that men have dropped out OF the en-
ploy OF the company. At Butte there
have been two small strikes and the affairs
on the road are said to be in a much more
unsettled and unsatisfactory condition, so
far as the men are concerned. than at any
time since the great strike OF two years
ago. The Anaconda Standard says that
the new order which was received Satur-
day evening purported 20 be an adjust
ment Of wages. but 1t was really reduc-
ton all around. The salary of NJ. Fisher
the rounihouse foreman. was reduced
from slls75 10 SHOTS a month. The car re-
ftSe- s-oy, % {
and the coal beavers were cut from SIS TO
$50 a month. The pay of car inspectors
was raised ahcut SC cents a day. and they
are the only branch of employees mem
tioned in the new order who did not have
cause to regret its issuance.
The car repairers were formerly paid by
the day at a rate which was equivalent 20
$50 a month. The Great Northern employs
ten car repaircrs in Butte, and when they
were notified Sunday morning that their
pay had been cut s. a month they quilt
work in . body. Ten new men were Sc
cured to take their places and they went
to work at the s55 rate. They supposed
that SIS a month was the wages that had
been paid all along. and when they learned
OF their mistake. they also quit work,
They had worked just two hours. and each
man was given a time check for b cents
At last accounts the car foreman was
endaavorlng 20 ind men 10 take their
places and was meeting with very poor
success. The railroad men do not believe
that the company will he able 10 secure
any car repairers In Butte AT the redu,ed
rate. For the present. car inspectors are
doing the car repalrers' work. Seven or
eight Of the coal beavers quit work on
Sunday morning on being told that they
had been cut from So - 81 month. hut
their places were allied without any trou-
BIZ
The rev order has been the cause Of
creat deal OF discussion among all Of the
Great Northern employees and has hoe1
condemned by all tire men. II IS plainly
aprarent that there Is feeling Of the
greatest discomfort prevalent and that Sc
r.ous trouble s not At all improbable The
men believe that the CompanTs motives
N making those petty rednct tons Is % FEEL
Of the,r temper and see how much they
VIII stand Notwii hstanii1g the wage
schedules o. .he traiEmea and switohmcn
have nor been iatcrferei with. they expect
hat theHr turn Viii come next. ard hay
are not In n particularly pleasant frame
~ mind
The ~ Il charge the road With violating
the s0irit II their agreement with them
a-i tNs-- say that Il fhis g continued il
viii ~ siod w IN a. bal shape u was
before Thov sav that the 4 Il. L Is
row STRONGER along tho Great Northern
th1a - has eve~ been. hi. the greatest
secrecy is maintained m regard % the
order n, holds r., meetings. and memhs-s
viii MT speak - their connection with Il
w Ter any circumstances
"If his thing Is Kept w saws an ola
railroad man ~ The STANDARD ''iherc viii
I've ansther strike in JUST about Two
months We are getting ready fc- traI-
Pie. ans it NAV come inside - that time
TIE tendency fs 20 cat wages 81 low that
rnsa cana0f make enough - 1--we on. The
coal beavers at Clancy were c1t 20 s. 70
2 d. AMI il costs thcr' 70 cents fo- ev y
-,esf hey eat They have either got -
- along on tva meals a day - 'hey
WI. - sleep un1er cover. or ca three
meas arH sleep IN ar e11D'v rcai bunker
TEow thev are roi0E ~ Clathe fheFnse} VrS
is res-a than can 'cN You don't hear
- ar \ * e. IN Euffe e~v more -;
have reason - believe ths' /. IS here
stsef fre -arna''