The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-09
MEN ARE DELIBERATE.
Show No Disposition to Make
Unreasonable Demands.
Simply Refuse to Suffer From
Imposition.
Indications That Railroad Com
pany Will Correct Schedule.

The worknen who are employed in
the car sheds at the Santa F'e shops,
met in secret session again last even
ing. The object of the meeting was to
talk over the piece work situation
Nearly two hundred of the car men
were present, and they received the re
port OF the committee appointed at the
meeting Tuesday evening with that at
tentiOn, and they transacted the Dusl-
ness of the evening with that GOODNESS
and deliberatiOn, which showed that
they fully realized the gravity of the
situation The men are cool and de
termined and earnestly desire a settle
ment of their troubles with the com
pany without being compelled to adopt
extreme measures
The committee is composed of b c
Vail. Geo. T. Cole and James NJ. Smith,
and was appointed to confer with
the officials OF the road, and lay before
them the demands of the car men and
advise with them as to what the rail
road company would do to relieve the
strained situation which existed pc
tween the workmen in the car sheds
and the company on account of the IN
PRODUCTION of the piece work system IN
the shops at a schedule of wages entire
" too low for the men to make Nv
ing. The committee made the follow
ing report.
''GentIemen-Your committee ap-
pointed TO confer with the officials of
the Santa F'e road with regard to the
relief of the differences existing be
tween the men and the company, and
to seek adjustment of the piece work
system grievances, which have been
caused by the introduction of the piece
work system in the car sheds of the
Santa Fe shops, called on Mr.. Geo
Hancock. assistant superintendent of
machinery of the Santa F'e system, and
laid our grievances before him.
Mr.. Hancock received the committee
in gentlemanly way. and listened to
our business attentlVeIy- he SAID that
he was unaware that such a condition
of affairs existed, as We brought out.
and that he would assist the men in
wrongs if any had been made. The
committee also called upon Mr. John
Hodge, master car builder, and he said
substantially the same to the commit
tee Following out the suggestions Of
fered for the relief of the trouble, by
both Mr. Hancock and Mr.. Hodge we
believe that all the differences viii be
wiped out and that the company Will
and treat them fairly and justly.
The committee had four grievances
which it laid before the officials of the
road They are, an unfair schedule,
which did not permit the men to make
living wages; bad treatment of the men
in the car sheds. by the foremen. and
the various changes which the foremen
made in the cOmpany's schedule of
wages, without the consent and know
ledge of the officials; the order from
the company to the effect that the men
day afternoon and clean up the car
scraps and refuse, accumulated during
the week. and this work to be done free
of all charge to the company; and the
starting in of green men to work on
piece work, before they knew anything
about car building, and which was an
injustice to the old wOrlSmen.
Mr.. Hancock and Mr.. Hodge have
taken the four grievances under adj
Visement, and will offer such relief to
the car men as it is possible for the Of
fiCials to cOncede For the last three
bility what the committee asked, could
be granted. but that they would look
into the matter and soon as posi-
bic. suggest such remedies as would re-
ieve these troubles. As to the first
grievance, that of an unfair schedule
it was a pretty big job to tackle. but
that the Santa E'e company in the in
PRODUCTION of the piece work system
had aimed to make out a schedule that
was fair and Just to every man and at
the same time. fair to the company.
AS a relief of this unfair schedule
which the men had proven to be too low
in many places to make fair living
wages and too high in some places. the
following remedy was offered: The
men in the car sheds to appoint a COM
mittee of competent WOrkmen. who
thoroughly understood the building of
a car. and the time which would be con-
sumcd in its repair and erection, and
that this committee should go over the
cOmpany's schedule. and mark every
item. just what they thought would be
a fair and equitable price for the work
to be done. If the company's schedule /
was too low, then put the price up. and /
If the cOmpany'S schedule was too high Z
and the men thought that they could ]
do the work lower, and still make /
wages. then put the price down.
This revised schedule is to be de- I