The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-10
CUTS BY SEABOARD
Meeting of the Directors at
Portsmouth Yesterday.
Nothing Given Out For Publication. Fifty 10
Seventy-Five Men Discharged
Yesterday.
(By the Associated Press.)

Portsmouth, Va, Jan. 9.-The direc-
tors of the Seaboard Air Line, accom-
panied by President John Shelton Will
liams, spent about three hours this
morning inspecting their wharf proper
ty, and then held a closed meeting un-
til about one p. M, when they adjourn
ed to the residence of Hon. Leigh r.
Watts, General Counsel for the system.
for luncheon. In the afternoon they
held another session lasting until about
8 D. M, at the close of which it was
announced that there was nothing to
be given out for publication. Soon af-
ter this the directors left for an in
spection trip over the Seaboard No
reliable information is TO be had as to
what transpired at the meetings.
Every day now employees are being
dropped off by the dozen. Fifty to
seventy-fve were discharged today, and
it is said the axe is still kept handy for
use later. The reduction is being made
in all departments. 1t is believed that
expenditures will be cut wherever pos
sible.
MR. ST. JOHNS RESIGNATION.
AS indicating how Mr.. f. st. Johns
resignation is viewed at Baltimore,
where a large amount of S. A. L. stock
is held, the following from yesterdays
Baltimore Sun will he of interest:
Official confirmation is gradually
being made Of the announcement pub
lished in the Sun some time ago that
arbitration has been agreed upon for
the settlement of the differences exist
ing between Mr.. Thos. f. Ryan and
the management of the Seaboard Air
Line. There is no longer any attempt
to deny that negotiations have been
in progress and the fact that arbl-
traitors had been selected is fully con-
firmed. When asked yesterday about
the situation Mr.. ]. w. Middendorf,
who is one of the leading local spirits
in the Seaeoard management, said:
We shall have something very salts
factory to report in this connection be-
fore the End OF the month";
THE announcement from Norfolk
yesterday chat Mr.. e. st. john vice
president and general manager of the
Seaboard Air Line, had resigned was
somewhat OF surprise in railroad cir
cles, although those in financial cir
cles in close touch with the property
expected that he would retire. Sea-
board Air Lite interests would not dis
cuss the resignation of Mr.. st. John,
but it developed that there was a mis-
understanding between the chief finan-
cial interests and Vice-President st.
John, which had been steadily widen
ing.
I'm carrying out the plans for con-
centrating the various properties and
apportioning the responsibilities of the
different iepal tments a dispute of au-
thority is said to have arisen. There
has also been considerable pressure
from leading interests in the property
for more economical basis Of opera
ton, and the views presented were
said not to he in accord with those OF
the vice-prcsident.
For various reasons it is stated that
the relations between Vice-p president
st. John and the management have
been strained. AMI the retirement OF
Mr.. st. John, according to one opinion
expressed Yesterday, averted an awl1-
ward situation,
Mr.. st. lonn has been with the Sea-
board Air I.ine since 1895. and is gene
rally recognized as a Woodworking
official. lie came into prominence in
the fight between the Seaboard Air
(Continued{7n Second Pagel