The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-01
NEARING THE CONCLUSION
RAILROAD co. WILL ANNOUNCE
 ITS DECISION TO-DAY.

Report to the Men to be Made at 10
 o'clock This FOrenoon-The Meeting Ofthe Railroad Directors in New York
 Yesterday Important Development Expected To-day.
 President Hall of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad company said last evening regarding the meet ! ing of the railroad company's directors in New York yesterday that the board considered the demands of the train men made at the recent conference and that that matter is settled as far as the railroad company is concerned; also that the decision will be made known to the men at 10 o'clock this 1 forenoon. President Hall said further that the decision will be made known at his office. This was all he had to give out in the matter.
 Vice Grand Master Fitzgerald said last evening that he had nothing new to say regarding the situation. It was now matter of waiting for the report to be made to the men this morning of the action ot the railroads directors.
 A press dispatch from New York last evening was as follows:
 ''The board of directors of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad held another meeting to-day to discuss the proposition of the strikers regard ing wages. The question of the hour schedules was not touched upon. Pres- ident Hall and some of the directors said they considered this matter as practically settled with the eleven-hour schedules. The meeting was delayed some time pending the arrival of J. P. Morgan and William Rockefeller. It was announced that nothing would be made public after the meeting, as noth- ing could be definitely decided today"
 Further in regard to the situation is as follows:
 News from the directors meeting in New York was anxiously awaited by leaders of the trainmen yesterday. In spite of the expression of hope that peace will come, it is regarded as a fact by those well informed that the final crisis in the controversy has yet to be faced.
 The long drawn out conference of the last two weeks has resulted merely in tentative adjustment of the differences, unimportant as compared with the main issue. AS a matter of fact each side has yielded secondary points, and the nub of the trouble remains unad- justed. The wage question is the main one. The trainmen have presented a minimum proposition and the railroad company has been given to understand that it is final. Railroad officials claim that it is a serious question as to whether the directors can make the necessary concessions as a matter of business precedence.
 In an informal meeting yesterday the grievance committee of the trainmen discussed the proceedings of the con- ference held the day before with com- mittee of the board of directors of the road, but it was announced that no particular action would be taken until the men hear from the directors.
 According to the understanding of the committee, the only points of diff ference between them and the con1- pany's officials at presnt relate to the wage schedule, all the other matters which have been under discussion hav- ing been cleared tip.
 Among the committeeman yesterday renewed hope was expressed that the whole situation would be adjusted within a short time.
 The locomotive firemen are not satis- fled with their increase of wages and have asked the company for another hearing. They say that, apart from the light freight service, where the increase is per cent, the average increase is only 17 per cent, and that only for extra runs.
 President Hall says that the answer to be given to the trainmen to-day will probably decide the controversy one way or the other. The new proposi- tions of the trainmen, as presented by Second Grand Master Fitzpatrick of the Brotherhood of Trainmen, involve, President Hall says, vast amount of compilation and accounting work, and even the officers of the company do not yet know the total increase of operat- ing expenses that the changes imply. The computations will be completed in time for consideration before the ans- wer to-day and will be the basis of the companys reply.