The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-18
CONFERENCE WILL
BE HELD TODAY
LACKAWANNA MEN TO RE-
cEIvE ANSWER TO REQUESTS
President Truesdale and the Local
Heads of Departments Were in
Consultation All of Yesterday Pre-
pairing for Today's Meeting with
the Men-Engineers Will Have a
Separate Session First and the
General Conference Will Take
Place-Features of Schedule.

All day yesterday, President Trues-
dale. General Superintendent Russell,
Superintendent of Motive Power Fitz-
Gibbon and superintendent Of Trans
portation Daily of the Lackawanna
road were in consultation over the new
schedule of rules submitted by the EN-
ployes and on which General Manager
Russell is to render a decision today
The members of the grievance COM
mlttec of the different branches of the
service began arriving last night from
all parts of the system. Many of them
reached here and are quartered at the
different hotels. but the most of them
will come on the early morni q trains.
The conference is to begin at 10
o'clock this morning. and it will likely
last all day, if not several days, as
there are some points that will doubt
lessly bring on disputes and require
lengthy arguments before being finally
settled The men hope for a definite
answer and will be greatly disappont-
ed if a further delay occurs. SO far
everything has been very amicable and
both sides confidently trust that moth
ing will trauspire to disturb the exist
ing friendly relations.
There was a mutual understanding
that nothing should be given out con-
cerning the subject matter Of the con-
ference until a final conclusion was
reached. For this reason the requests
of the men and the manner in which
the company is disposed to view them
have been kept from the public.
WANT THE MILEAGE SYSTEM.
II - hnv Of hl
the men have asked that the mileage
system of pay be substituted for the
per diem and that the company favors
the idea. 1t is also said that the rate
per mile has been practically agreed
upon, the schedule prevailing on many
western roads being adopted with only
slight changes. The only point in dis
pute in this regard. it is understood, is
the mileage allowance per hour for the
time a crew is engaged in switching.
The rules regarding the length of
runs will, il is thought. be another
cause Of much discussion. 1t is the
wish of the men that the runs he ar
ranged so that the old hands who have
earned regular trains will be excepted
from the list of those subject to the
first in. first out" system. which it is
uHueESlOOu VIII De EXTENDED on All lnt
divisions of the road, and that ii shall
be so arranged that crews will not be
kept away from home an unreasonable
length Of time. In a word, the men
will ask that their convenience be con-
sidered in the arrangement of the runs
Although the conductors and brake
men have submitted one set of rules.
the engineers another and the firemen
another. it is the intention to have
them all considered together, though
the engineers will have a separate con-
ference before the general one. because
of their being alone concerned in some
of the matters contained in the rules
making up the schedule they SUBJ
mittcd.
NO TALK OF STRIKE.
The matter Of strike is not even re-
mOtely mentioned in connection with
the conference. In fact, it is an affair
| that could hardly generate a strike.
| There are no demands being made by
| the men. and the company has done
nothing that would form the basis OF
| a grievance.
The affair is simply a meeting be-
tween the representatives of the COM
pany and committee of the men to
| amicably arrange a schedule of rules
| to fit the changed conditions resultant
from the change in the management
of he road and the resultant change