The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-09
OPPOSE TWO-CENT FARE
UNION MEETING OF RAILROAD EN-
PLOYEs' BROTHERHOODs HELD.
Fight to he Made in LegisIature-Ad-
dress by Grand Chief
Arthur.

At the union meeting of the railroad en-
ployes' brotherhoods, yesterday, resolutions
were adopted opposing reduction by the
Legislature of railroad fares to 2 cents a
MILE and the joint legislative board that is
TO be organized to-day was directed to urge
the General Assembly not to pass any such
law, believing that competition should reg
ulate this tariff, in the language of the
resolution. The men say that the reason
they oppose a reduction of fares is that they
believe it would have a tendency to reduce
wages, as. with revenues reduced, the rail-
roads would have to make reduction in all
expenses of operation and all fixed charges.
Labor. it is urged, is always the first to feel
any curtaillng Of earnings.
The meeting yesterday was largely at
tended, representatives from various parts
of the State of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, Order of Railway Con-
ductors, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen be-
ing in attendance. The representa- dives of
the various organizations viii meet sepa-
rately at English's Hotel to-day, to select
members of the joint legislative board,
which is to prepare bills and act as sort
of steering committee during the Legisla-
| lures sessions. The action of this board is
Endorsed in advance, there having been a
| full discussion of the views of individual
members of the organizations at the De-
cember meeting and the one held yesterday.
It is definitely settled that the board will
ask the Legislature to create railroad COM
mission similar to those of New York, Illi-
nois and Ohio. The duty of such a commits
sion would be to enforce all laws governing
railroad traffic. There is talk, also, of ask
| ing for amendments that will strengthen
the co-employes' liability law. Some por-
tons of 1t, under the constructions that have
Eeen placed on them by the courts arc re-
garded as weak: 1t will be the purpose to
remedy any defects.
P. NJ. Arthur, of Cleveland. o., grand chief
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers, was
at the meeting yesterday and just before
the adjournment made a speech that, al
though brief, aroused the enthusiasm of the
meeting. He discussed the benefits of or
ganization recalling conditions that existed
when the rairoaders had no organization.
In those days, he remembered, brakemen
were paid $50 a month; fireman. $50; en-
giHeers, $50; freight conductors, $40, and
passenger conductors $50, land sometimes a
little more" he added, to the amusement of
the audience, which appreciated the jab at
the od-time notion that passenger conduct
ors had a 'rake-off. - He told how rapidly
conditions improved after organizations
were formed. The first thingi he said,
wages were advanced 50 cents day, and in
the six years from 1863 to 1869 advanced $1.50
a day. Before the time of organization,
brakemen had no pleasant cabooses to ride
in and there was sleeping on duty, the men
being compelled to ride on top of box cars.
The speaker remembered when he had run
over an eighty-seven-mile route and back
without rest, the next day having to rub his
own engine. When conditions changed and
wages reached $3.50 a day, one hundred
miles was made the limit for a days run;
a counted
day. Sometimes they were able to make
forty-seven days in month. The increase
in the pay of locomotive engineers, he said,
amounted to 400 for service OF thirty
years. But it was not alone in a financial
way that railroad men prOfited by organ1za-
ton, he said. The fact that they were as
ISOLATED together gave them hold that
commanded respect and Low the most emf !
nent statesmen want to have the friend
ship and goodwill of railroad men. The
fact that they were organized gave them
tone and a standing in life that nothing else
could Mr.. Arthur was frequently APP
plauded.
Following are the resolutions that were
unanimously adopted by the representatives
of the four organizations:
Resolved. That we heartily indorse the
work done in the past by Mr.. Il. A Nose
lev secretary of the Interstate-commerce
Commission. especially his evidence given
before the Industrial Commission, as being
a true friend of railroad employees, having
their welfare at heart and working for their
interests Especially do we feel under obli-
cations to him for being their champion.
Resolved That we are opposed to any
measure looking to the reduction of railroad
fares to cents per mile by our Legislature
and request our joint legislative board TO
oppose the same. believing competition
should regulate this tariff.
Resolved, That we hereby pledge our
earnest support in all efforts put tortn py
our joint legislative board to secure laws
for railroad men and hereby indorse such
laws as they may ask at this session OF the
Legislature"