The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-28
RAILROAD news.
Enginemen on EIPasO Rock
Island Threaten a Strike.
Disagreement Over Wages the
Reason.
TIME is PROPITIOUS.
Heavy Traffic at This Time
Would Compel Recognition.
The Matter is Referred to OFF,
Gals For Consideration.

FL Paso. April 28-For@ some time
there has been something doing
among the trainmen and engine men on
the Rock Island. The wages formerly
paid by that company have not been up
to the standard compared with the
wages paid by other roads The men on
the road however have been living IN
hopes OF something better and it seems
as if their hopes are about to be re-
allied.
Last Saturday the Order Of Railway
Conductors andOrder of Railway Train
men grievance committees had a final
hearing with General Manager Greig
and completed very satisfactory ar
rangements concerning their pay IN the
future.
Formerly the trafnn7en were getting
paid on a salary basis with overtime
after twelve hours. Conductors We're
getting S120 and brakemen $50, and
three and a third and TITO and third
cents per mile for overtime.
The new schedule secures pay for
overtime after ten hours and thirty
three and a third cents per hour for
conductors and twenty and a third
four dollars and three dollars per hum
dren with the advantage of two hours
overtime pay The schedule Is as near
like the Santa F'e schedule as possible.
while the new schedule is not what
we wanted exactly we are we'll satisfied
with it." said a Rock Island conductor
yesterday.
ENGINEdEN DISAPPOINTED.
Something over a week ago the en-
ginemen on the Rock Islc-d secured a
hearing with General Manager Greig
and presented a proposed schedule which
was promptly turned down. Some time
ago the company. it is understood, pre-
scented a schedule to the enginemen al
lowing the engineers four dollars per
day but wanted to cut the fremen's
wages from $3.50 to $3.50. The men
would not stand for it and in turn made
a demand for a schedule allowing engl-
neers $40 and firemen $3.50, with the
result mentioned above.
MAY CAUSE STRIKE
When the enginemen were turned
down there was SOM talk of a strike
on their part and some of them say
they probably missed the best opportun-
ity they win ever get for striking and
winning out. There is an immense
amount of traffic on the Rock Island
Just now and the Rock Island could not
afford to be tied up with a strike. The
matter of striking is not left to the en-
ginemen however. They must present a
grievance to the head lodge which must
give them orders to strike before they
can do so It is understood that Chief
Arthur Of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers, is now considering the
grievance of the Rock Island engineers
and it is expected his decision viii be
forthcoming. Should he order a strike
then the men on the Rock Island would
go out in jiffy.
Last night a trainman in talking of
the above said:
The Rock Island engineers and fire
men can not be satisfied with the same
schedule as the Santa F'e road is pay
ing for the simple reason that the Rock
Island engines are of the big double
compound type and require an I'm mense
amount Of work to operate them. The
Santa F'e engines are smaller and more
easily operated"
Developments concerning the griev-
ance of the Rock Island enginemen are
expected every day, which simply
means a continuance at the present
schedule of pay or a strike for it IS
understood that the Rock Island Off
Gals are not in favor of increasing the
pay of the engine men.