The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-05
After -Four Months Controversy In and 0ut of Courts
 Peace is Effected
PASSENGER MEN ALLOWED
 15 PER CENT INCREASE
There Is an Entire Revision of Rules Applying to All Classes of Trai Service-That Was the Bone
 of Contention.

St Louis, April 4-After four months of controversy between the employees of the Wabash railroad and the officers of , that system, during which q strike was imminent and was prevented only by temporary injunction, dissolved on Wednesday, restraining the employees from vacating their positions the differ ences were finally adjusted and the con- troversy effectually and satisfactorily set- tied this evening.
 Officers of the brotherhoods represent ing the employees declared the settlement Is satisfactory and is a sweeping victory for organized labor. The Wabash of- fcers declare that all differences with the employees have been finally terminated in satisfactory manner and their future relations with the employees will likely be harmonious. The following are the main points embraced in the settlement;
 Twelve per cent increase for conductors, bralkemen and baggagemen, in the pas- senger service, and b per cent for con ductors and brakemen in the freight service, over the rates which existed on January 1, 1902, west of the Mississippi river. For the iremen increases were granted on the Canadian lines in accord ance with the Canada Southern division of the Michigan Central. On the lines in the United States material increase and improvements in the working conditions were granted to the firemen east of the Mississippi river.
 Revision of Rules.
 There Is an entire revision of rules ap- l plying to all classes of train service. l This was the main bone of contention and was granted in it's entirety. All of today 1 was occupied in conference. and at t o'clock the papers had been signed and the Wabash wage controversy was at an
 end.
 H. w. Ashley has been the acting head l of the system during the absence In Eu- rope of President Ramsey. MT. Ashley said tonight:
 ..,rhe settlement Is entirely satisfactory to the Wabash Railroad company, eN- 1 cepting a few unimportant details, but l they were not of enough moment to cause a delay in coming to an agreement. There is now no reason why the relations be- l tween the Wabash company and It's em- ployes shall not be perfectly harmonious" l Grand Master John J. Hannah of the l fremen, said tonight:
 "rhe result of this controversy and set 1 clement has unquestionably elevated la Dor to higher plane in the business world than any other controversy that 1 has ever taken place between the railroad organizations l am glad we were able 1 to adjust our differences without resort | ing to forcible means"
 The Exact Terms. The exact terms of the settlement of l the Wabash strike are stated in the fol- l lowing letter submitted to the commt- tees tonight by Acting President Ashley of the Wabash:
 An amicable agreement of the differ onces with respect to wages and eondi- | tions of employment which have been the subject of recent negotiations ana l Allegations, will lbe entirely acceptable to | this company under the following terms.
 ''The advance made on the western d. vision will be F per cent for passenger l conductors. brakemen and baggag agemen | and 15 per cent for conductors and brake mer on through, local, mixed and work | train service over the rate in effect January 1, 1902 The scale will be ex- tended to the middle and eastern divisions when similar advances are made on other competing lines in the same territory, l with the understanding that the illinois Central and the Chicago and Alton rail- roads shall be considered competing lines of the middle division.
 West of the Mississippi river we will 1 discontinue the practice of using two i engines on one freight train except under conditions where t Is unavoidable and not for the purpose of increasing train tom mage.
 "The rules and regulations governing the service shall be made equally favor l able to employees those of other lines 1 operating in the same territory under l similar conditions, and to effect that end, l the president, upon his return, or the 1 management of the company will confer | 4.3tt '. Ta..Te ! through committees of employees when desired from time to time
 Must Have Notice.
 "The schedule of wages and conditions of employment when so established shall l be binding upon the employees and the 1 company and shah not be changed with 1 out thirty days notice. | All employees or former employees now i serving on the committees. whether de- l fendants in the present suit or not. shall ] be retained in or restored to their re- l spective positions and shall be assigned l to and continue in the service without prejudice of any kind on account of their absence from duty or service on com l mttees.
 .Nothing shall be done by the defend- ants in the pending suit or by any em- ploye of the company in any way to pre- judice the rights of or interests of any empoye who in the course of the htiga- tion has made voluntary affidavits in be- l half of the company.
 'rhe strike order heretofore issued shall be cancelled and called off by both i organizations.
 1 "The officers of the company will not 1 discriminate in favor or against any em- l ploye because of his brotherhood assocIa- 1 tion.
 .Firemen on the Buffalo division will 1 be paid the same scale on the Canada 1 Southern division of the Michigan Cen 1 tral railroad if thereis no agreement with the Grand Trunk which precludes so do- ing"