The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-11
PLANT TO SEE THE ENGINEERS.
A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD THE
LAST OF THE MONTH.

IL Might Have Been Held To-day. But
for the Fact That supt. Durham
Has Not Yet Recovered From His
UIness-Mr. Plant on His Way TO
Florida, Where He VIII spend Two
Weeks-He VIII Name Date for
a Conference at savannah Before
His Return Here.
Considerable interest attaches TO the
VISIT to Savannah OF President Plant Of
the Plant system, on account Of the exist
ing differences between the system and the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Mr..
Plant, when seen by Morning News re-
porter, talked pleasantly. but guardedly
OF this matter. He was asked If he had
appointed the date for the conference
with the engineers committee in accord
ance with the request made by Chief Ar
thur and the committee about ten days
ago and to which he had agreed.
Il would probably have arranged for a
conference with the engineers to-day or
Sunday" said Mr. Plant. but on arriv-
ing here / found that Mr.. Durham had
not yet recovered from his illness. and
so was unprepared TO take up the matter.
/ would, Of course, not think Of going into
a conference of this kind without the pres
ence OF the general superintendent, whose
duty it is to attend to these matters. and
who is naturally more familiar with the
details. Had Mr.. Durham been ready
to take up the matter the conference
would probably have been called for Sun
day, as most of the engineers can more
conveniently leave their work on that
day than on any other.
Mr. Plant is on his way to Tampa. He
said he did not know exactly how long he
would be in Florida, but he expected to re-
turn north in about two weeks and will
arrange conference with the engineers
IN savannah on his return. This Will make
the date of the conference some time the
latter part of the month
Il shall be glad to meet the engineers
committee" said Mr.. Plant, land to give
give them a full and fair hearing. l have
investigated this subject and | have my
opinion, which however, l do not care TO
express. | am not one of those
men, however. who, when they
have once formed an opinion, are in
capable of changing l am al
ways ready to listen TO reason, and per-
haps the engineers committee may throw
some new light on the subject. l have no
anticipation that this matter will cause
US any trouble believe that a man should
always receive a full days pay for full
days work, and that he should be encour-
aged to earn it,
Mr.. Plant was told that the engineers
are sticking for contract on principle,
the matter not being a question of pay,
and that they feel disgruntled with SUI
perintendent Durham because he annulled
the old contract without consulting them.
MIR Durham had perfect right to do
as he did" said Mr.. Plant. "A clause i'm
the contract provided that II might be
annulled by either party on certain num-
Der of days notice being given. There
might be good many reasons why con-
tract, which was satisfactory to us a
year ago, would not be satisfactory now.
Our business is considerably cut off on
account for the loss of the fruit crop in
Florida, due to last years freeze. The
financial condition of the country is un-
settled, and there are rumOrs of war.
This being the case, it would be very un-
wise TO bind ourselves to the employment
of a certain number of men at certain
wages. We might find them on our hands
with nothing for them to do"
Mr.. Plant did not express any disposition
in favor of a contract, though he avoided
saying anything against one
II is said that contract with the engi-
neers is considered a recognition of the
order and to a great extent 1t interferes
with the control of the employees by the
system. For instance, without the con-
tract the superintendent of motive power
has the direction of the engineers looks
after their runs and such matters, where
as under contract this is all directed
by the local council of the brotherhood.
According to the contract when a man is
put down for a run and is not wanted
by the railroad officials, or when one is
must be paid the same as if he made his
trip or trips as the case may be.
The railroad people, 1T is understood
object especially to this feature of a CON
tract, and believe they should have the
management and control of their own
employees. There are a good many roads
in the United States which put the uues-
ton on practically the same basis. but
the brotherhood makes a demand on all
of them for a contract. In some instances
they get 1t and in others they do not
! The contract is said to be the one big thing
that holds the organization so strongly
together and keeps it's officers constantly
in employment.