The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-29
THEIR RECEPTION
WAS A BIG FROST
Grievance Committee of Great Northern
Employees Got Little Satisfaction
From Ward.

Railroad men generally, and espe-
cially those in the employ of the Great
Northern, will be interested in the re-
port from st. Paul about the chilly re-
ception President Hill gave the griev-
ance committees representing the Rail-
road Trainmen and the Order of Rail
way Conductors. The committees were
composed as follows:
Conductors-T. F. Richardson, chair
man, Great Falls, Mont; r. E. Lam
dis, secretary, Melrose; w. H. McGraw,
Grand Forks; ]. 7. Carruthers. st.
Paul; A. D. Smith, Havre, Mont; L.
w. Bowen, Spokane.
Trainmen-C. S. Hutchins, chairman,
Wilmar; C. d. Simpson, secretary,
Great Falls; w. Richer, Melrose; ].
F. Walseth, Grand Forks; John MI
gent, Breckenridge; NJ, R. Davis,
Havre; ]. H. Bridgeman, Leavenworth,
Wash. -
The nature of the grievances the
committees had to present is common.
The chief one related to the wages
paid conductors and trainmen for their
work at terminal points and involved
thousands of dollars.
Under the present arrangement the
men lose the time consumed in the
switching Of trains at initial points.
On assuming charge of a train If
switching is required before leaving the
point where they start they are not
| recognized in the way of remuneration.
Another grievance is the proposed
lengthening of divisions on the road.
By such a move employees are worked
extra time; the force of help reduced
| considerably. The question of double
| headers are also complained about.
Railroads that run double headers save
the price of the services of one train
crew, except the fireman and engineer
he ,,rrin pItt
the trainmen and conductors are oblig-
! ed to assume charge of two or three
| times as many cars as is ordinarily
| the case. The responsibility attaching
| increases.
1t is understood that other matters
| figured in the grievances and COM
plant was made against the peculiar
| system of bonding" which governs the
management of the Great Northern and
the all powerful effect of recommended
| tons to the management of the road
| ostensibly by the bonding company.
| In other words the road cleverly seeks
to throw on the bonding company the
| blame for certain of its decisions in
| treatment of the men.
The result of the committees visit to
st. Paul is thus told by the Minneap-
oils Times:
THE cold reception which Superin-
tendent Ward Of the Great Northern.
acting for President ]. J. Hill, gave the
| grievance committee of the road last
| week, proves to have been a veritaole
| frost. The members of the committee
We're informed that their complaints
| could not be heard at this time. But
| they were told more. One member of
the committee has since stated that
Mr.. Ward. in rejecting their overtures,
ordered that they be back at work
within 10 days or their places would be
| filled by other men.
They have all left st. Paul, but it
is not thought they went direct to their
| homes. 1t is rumored that some of the
| committee departed for other states to
confer with branch organizations re-
| garding the situation. Just how true
this is cannot be told at this time. But
| it is known that the committees were
greatly provoked by the manner in
which they were treated. They declare
| in positive terms that the end is moi
yet. Broad hints have been thrown out
regarding the probable action.
Some important steps have yet tc
be taken by the grievance committee
before strike can be ordered. The
| final court in the eyes of the employees
is the national organization. That the
| question will go to that body, If the
| subordinate committees fail to accom-
| plish results, is certain. The nationa
| organization orders a strike. Perhaps
| ii may sound extraVagant to use the
word in it's application to the case il
| point, but the word has been quite
freely used by the employees of late
| The latter picture themselves as down
trodden and not shown the considera-
ton which marks the policy of the
Northern Pacific and the Canadian Pa
ciic.
In proof of this they point to the
present system of bonding which char
| aCterizes the Great Northern. The en-
| ployes bonded are required to pay the
| price for such guarantees. With other
| roads it is reported to be different. On
the heels of this comes a new ruling
by James ]. Hill Conductors are 10
give bonds In $1,000 for passenger
trains, the price being $40 annually,
and for freight conductors. S.. The
ruling takes effect Oct. 1. One-half of
the premium will be deducted from the
October salaries, while the remainder
will be deducted the following month.