The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-03
Railways to BE Given One Month to
Consider the Request Before Fur
ther Action Is Taken.
TROUBLE IS NOT EXPECTED
GENERAL MANAGERS PROBABLY
WILL GRANT CONCESSIONS.
If Demand BE Refused, However, a
Conference to Consider the Mat
ter VIII BE Held in ST. Louis.

CHICAGO, Dec. 2-The Chronicle says:
with the purpose of formulating re-
quests for increases of from 10 to 20 per
cent. in the pay of 10000 railroad employees,
committees from four powerful labor or
ganizations are now meeting in Chicago.
They are holding daily sessions in four
Chicago hotels and may be expected to
present their demands to the railroad off,
cials early next week. The four organiza-
tions represented by the committees are:
Member
ship.
Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
6AneeiS ................ ................ 4l,vU
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen 47,O0O
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.. 10000
Order of Railway Conductors. .22, 900
For the first time in eight years the four
organizations are working in harmony and
may be counted upon to stand together in
the possibility of trouble with the railroads.
1t Is announced by members of the COM
mittees representing the organizations that
requests for increases in pay will be made
by the four organizations from every rail-
road system in the Middle and Northwest
Eastern roads entering the city will be
similarly dealt with.
THE railroads are to be given one month
to meet the demands made by the organiza-
tions. If by that time the roads shall fail
to show disposition to treat with the in
dividual organizations and committees of
their own men, concerted action will be
taken. The four organizations will send
delegates to national conference, which
will meet in st. Louis Jan. 5. Then the
committees, which are now formulating
new wage scales, will report upon the
treatment that their requests have met
with by the general managers of the rail-
roads.
1T is the general opinion that drastic
action will be unnecessary. The railroad
managers are showing a disposition to treat
with committees of their own employees and
the chances are that amicable adjustments
of the wage question will be effected be-
fore the time comes to hold the st. Louis
meeting.
while the committees have not decided
upon the wage scale, it is known that the
increases demanded will range from 10 to
20 per cent In some instances the in
creases have already been formulated.
The Engineers employed by the Chicago &
Northwestern are asking for a rate of AZ
cents mile. They are now receiving a
standard rate of 7-10 cents a mile
1.-THE members of the four organizations
employed by the Chicago & Alton Railroad
also have formulated their requests for in
creases. A new rate, which is a substantial
increase, went into effect to-day and pro-
vides for maximum Of AZ cents a mile
for engineers. This is not satisfactory
to the Alton engineers who desire a maxi
mum of seven cents a mile. The new rate
establishes a minimum of 2.55 cents a mile
for firemen. They will ask for a maximum
of three cents a mile. The freight conduc-
tors will ask for four cents mile and the
brakemen for three cents. Passenger con-
ductors are now receiving $12O a month.
They will ask for $685. Passenger firemen
are now paid $50 a month. They will ask
for $75 a month"