Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-03-08
Wages, However, Remain Practically Unal
tered By OOmpany's Profit.
SUMMER LAYS OFF MANY TRAIN CREWS
Have to Slave in 10y Winter and s;arvt
When Tracks Are Good.
SALARIES NOT ONLY POINT At ISSUE
strike Ordered on Cumulative GrieV
ances Designed TO Profit stock
holders at wOrkmen's suf-
ferinE and EXPENSE.

ST. LOUIS, March I've are working
on the injunction now" said Judge Irwin,
chief counsel for the Wabash employees. to-
night
I'VE are waiting for the answer to the
injunction" said President Ramsey of the
Wabash.
This sums up the Wabash strike situation
Counsel for the hremen aud trainmen
spent today working on the voluminous
answer to the writ of injunction Just
when this answer will be ready is not
known, but 1t will probably take at least
two days more.
All this is the pending calm before the
storm. II is generally conceded that IL the
court dissolves the injunction a strike will
be declared As to the magnitude of this
strike both sides are non-committal in
their opinions. AS to just when it will be
declared no statement is made,
In an interview tonight Mr.. Ramsey was
asked:
Suppose that pending the final decision
Of the court on this injunction, there are
any matters called with the question at
issue between the company and its en-
ployes which they want TO settle; are you
willing to meet them regardless of the in
junction"
Certainly" replied Mr. Ramsey. "As |
have stated before, l do not consider the
Injunction proceedings as interposing any
obstacle between the company and its en-
ployes in the way Of settling questions
now at issue or any other question, and
am ready at any time to meet any COM
mittee Of employees and settle supposed
! grievances"
What will be your next move in case
the injunction is dissolved and a strike is
ordered?'
| There will be but one thing to do in
such an event." he replied, land that will
| oe to I'LL or endeavor to fill, all places va
Gated by strikers"
Regarding a rumor that the ether roads
will join in should a atrike be declared
I Vice Grand Master lee of the Brother
| hood of Railroad -rainmen said:
| Talk of other roads Joining us in a strike
1 is all foolishness.
The only way that could arise would bS
strike is declared by sending men to I'll
| the strikers places.
! In that case 1t is probable that the grand
sisting road that this was being done ant
order a poll for a strike. However, we arr
going to fight this out with the Wabash
| only.
Hopkins Makes Statement.
John Hopkins, chairman Of the genera
committee Order of Railway Conductors
has made a statement detailing the griev
ances existing on the Wabash system, a
follows:
The real grievance is not case of wages
A violation of the old schedule is one of III
causes OF complaint. his is done by tn
company putting on preferred runs regu
lar crews that get monthly salary. Thi
cuts the pay for brakemen from cents
mile to about IA cents, conductors from
cents to cents, while engineers and hre
men receive the same for working on thes
trains as for any other freight train. Blu
this is not the greatest feature OF the ar
Tangement. After the company had thes
runs well established. the managers com
menced to pile on the abuses so fast tina
one could hardly believe the orders poste
on the bulletin books.
The first of these was that crews on tn
Detroit and Chicago runs, after runnin
270 miles, switch out the merchandise an
take 1t down town without additional pay
The next was lOl miles each way, added [
the st. Louis merchandise run, making q
| miles in the round trip additional, with a
increase Of about 50 per month This add
tional mileage alone would make a brake
man 5000 per month, as IL Is a daily ruI
saying nothing of the 300 miles he ma
The next was the Detroit and Chicag
crews, after making 270 miles would wal
, at Delray until cars are received and TAX
them down town before being relieved.
But this Is the straw that broke I'll
camels back: Not satisfied with all th
for, nothing, they, put two engines on an an
, outside OF the high class, and now the
wonder what we are kicking about. Ate
we work like slaves all winter in all kind
5 of weather, without rest, often for siNt
. hours at a stretch we are told we haN
nothing to complain OF.
In the spring, when navigation opens
I and business picks up, the preferred crew
\ big engines and double headers can hand
about half of the business, and the re-
, OF us can eat dried snow balls or wa
= until nice, cold, stormy winter com'
g around again, with its sleet and ice on II
. running boards on top OF the cars.
The Adams injunction even takes ava
i the right to quit the companys service ar
! If made permanent they can hold men
= ! bonded slaves Now l. for one. an o. r.
5 man and one who voted against strik
3 believe in upholding the brotherhood
h Railway Trainmen and brotherhood
| Locomotive Firemen, until the last ditch.
u JOHN HOPKINS,
. Chairman General Committee o. r, c.
This statement was shown 10 Mr.. Ran
, sey tonight. He said:
\ II do not wish to discuss the matt
other than to say the grievances mentions
by Mr.. Hopkins were not referred 10
brought up by the committees ine the
meetings with the Wabash officials II
trouble with Mr., Hopkins is that he
not on a preferred run, a position tn
, are all after. These runs are part me
d and high-class freight trains, which ma
- passenger train time"