New-York tribune., 1899-06-13
W. F. HALLSTEAD RESIGNS.
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LACKA-
WANNA TO RETIRE.
OTHER CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM SINCE
PRESIDENT TRUEsDALE TOOK HOLD
DISSATISFACTION AMONG
ENfpT OyEs


The election Of William H. Truesdale. formerly
first ce-president and general manager OF the
Rock Island road. 10 succeed the venerable
Samuel Sloan president OF the Delaware
Lackawanna and Western. was generally ac-
cepted as sgnifying that more or less radical
changes would be made in the management and
In the policy Of the Lackawanna resembling
those seen in the New-York Central since Samuel
r. Galloway became its president, for the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western is now Van
derbilt line and the choice OF Mr.. Truesdale as
It's president is understood to have been chiefly
due TO William K Vanderbilt. These expecta-
tions have been more than realized. AS soon as
Mr.. Truesdale entered upon the discharge OF his
new duties the work Of rejuvenation began. and
ever since then the old and faithful employees
have been "resigning" until now hundreds OF
those who were In the roads employ up TO the
advent Of Mr.. Truesdale in the presidency have
been superseded the designations and removals
having applied TO officials and employees OF all
grades
Yesterday Il became known that William F.
Hallstead, the second vice-presdent and general
manager Of the Lackawanna, had offered his
resignation which had been accepted, TO take
effect on July /. Mr.. Hallstead has been In the
service Of the road since its organization. having
worked his way UP from teamster through all
the grades TO his present responsible and con-
spicuous office: and he has had no small share
IN making the Lackawanna the prosperous and
important property II Is But he Is more than
sixty years old. although still vigorous in mind
and body, and he has followed In the footsteps
OF many Of the other officials Of the Sloan
regime. Andrew Reasoner. long superintendent
OF the Morris and Essex division. was among
ma
manager Of the Lackawannas coal department.
resigned a few days ago. his place being taken
by a younger man. A. H. Storrs. general super
intendent OF the mines and George Bogart,
perintendent OF the Scranton division, are 10 go
within few days. IL is understood. Willis d.
Hager. the general purchasing agent. offered his
resignation three weeks ago, after having been
connected with the road for thirty-four years.
Chief Detective John McKenna, who had been
10 the Lackawannas employ for twenty-four
years. resigned his place fortnight ago AL
these so-called designations. coming so nearly at
the same time. are reported 20 have been voun-
tarily offered but the friends OF the outgoing
officials receive this version Of the matter with
incredulity.
Among the rank and file Of the Lackawan-
mas employees there is deep dissatisfaction
although President Truesdale declares that he
is not aware OF the existence Of any such feel
ing. For weeks there have been rumors Of an
impending strike. the principal grievance OF the
men being IL is said. the apparent enforcement
OF rule under which all employees more than
forty-fve years OF age were being forced 10
leave the road their places in many instances
.ei;sS taken by young men from the West.
Moreover there are bitter complaints made that
engineers have been. without just cause. 1t is
alleged. lowered In grade TO 1remen, and fire
men have been pushed down 70 become train
men, and that promotions which in President
Sloan's time would have come for deserving men
are now Indefinitely delayed.
President Truesdale last month denied posi-
lively that the company had established any
age limit for its employees, saying in part: Not
one man on the Lackawanna has been dis
charged on account Of his age. Some OF the
men We found unfit for service were old men.
Perhaps in some cases 1t was their age that
made them unfit for the strain Of railroad work.
but no man can say that he was discharged be-
cause Of his age as we have no age limit.
Many men after forty-fve are at their best;
many men at sixty-fve are as good as they were
at thirty-five and infinitely better than lots OF
men at twenty-five or thirty-hve or any other
age: some men never are any good, Wnlle Otners
get better and better as they get older.
The report that 800 Lacka wanna employees have
been discharged is grossly exaggerated. PROB
Nevertheless as far as can be learned, the
employees OF the road are persuaded that there
is an age limit. and that that limit Is forty-hye
years II is reported that there have recently
haen conferences between the management and
Of the employees, and three weeks
ago Governor Voorhees,, OF New-Jersey. was
quoted as saying that he had been asked TO ap-
point a committee 10 arbitrate the difference
between the road and Its men. II the present
conferences fail and the company takes the po-
sltion that there is nothing 70 arbitrate, II
seems proba bic that a strike will foow-this. |
however depending much upon the attitude OF
the brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers.