The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-17
RAILWAY MEMS SIDE
Of the Case Presented to the
Industrial Commission
AGAINST SUNDAY WORK
And voluntary" insurance
Courts Powers Too Great.

New York, March 16-Frank P. Sargent,
grand master Of the Locomotive Firemen
Brotherhood. was before the industrial
commission today. He presented a report
prepared by himself and other chiefs Of
railroad brothe1hoods, replying 10 the
printed questions Of the commission. This
statement was suggested by Chiefs Arthur.
Of the engineers. Sargent, Of the fremen:
Clark. OF the conductors; Morrissey. Of the
trainmen, and Powell. Of the telegraphers.
1t covered ali the points involved in the
relationship Of employees 10 the transporta-
zion companies in a general way. The
statement gave scale of wages paid 10
railroad men in all branches Of the ser
vice and It was stated that the scale was
determined by conference with the rail-
road managers. 1t was contended that
while 5lacklisting was no longer followed
by the railroad companies. they have adop-
ted a system Of inquiries which has about
the same effect as the blacklist Some
instances of apparent attempts on the part
Of the United States courts 70 compel ser
vice for the railroad companies were re-
ferred 20. There was some complaint Of
tas long hours required OF telegraphers
and yardmen but it was stated there was
no faux TO md on the part Of the train
men under thois heading. The chiefs uni
ted in the expression that the practice
of running trains OF Sunday should be
abolished.
Replying 10 an inquiry as to The forcing
Of men to work by the courts. the railroad
IA only
one such case was known, and this was
the one in which Judge jenkins OF Wis
consin issued an injunction 70 that effect.
Il was recommended that some law be en-
acted TO restrict such powers to the courts.
They antag 0nized the so-called voluntary
insurance features Of some railroads, be-
cause this insurance was. in fact, not
voluntary. as the men could not get en-
ployment on the roads conducting them
unless they allowed the amount OF insur-
ance to be deducted from their wages.
This insurance also relieved the employ
ers from liability. and the money paid in
as insurance was lost in case OF loss OF
employment. Altogether. the employees
considered that the insurance features
merely resulted in allowing the employer
10 dominate the actions of the employe.
In New England. Mr.. Sargent said, there
Is very little Sunday work done in cen
nection with the running Of trains. II
the west there is great deal Of Sunday
work. because stockmen want their stock
put into the market by Monday morning.
He said the railroad companies had a
TO abolish Sunday work as far
as possible. but there was a great deal
Of Sunday work that is demanded by the
public He said there is a great deal less
Sunday traffic now than there was five
years ago. Mr.. Sargent said he had been
the executive OF the Association OF Fire
men for fourteen years and he had never
failed 70 satisfactorily settle any differ
ances between the employees and their |
employers. Speaking of Judge Jenkins |
action in issuing an injunction. he said it |
had called out a spirit Of rebellion on the /
part OF the employees which threatened !
serious consequences. Mr.. Sargent said /
he vas served with this injunction and /
vas restrained from counselling the men /
Had that injunction not been issued there
never would have been the great strike
n the Northern Pacific in 1884