The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-09-25
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY OF.
FlciALs AND THE ENGiNEMEN
FINALLY AGREE.
CONCESSIONS BY BOTH SIDES
WAGES OF FlREMEN INCREASED
TO THE SCALE OF OTHER
WESTERN LINES.

81. raul, 0SpL. ia
was effected last night between Cen
eral Manager Frank E. Ward OF the
Great Northern and the grievance
committee of the firemen's and engl'
neers' organizations.
what the terms of the agreement are
neither side would say, as 1t was
agreed that the terms of settlement be
kent secret. However, Mr.. Ward said
thai. the -firemen were given a sl1ght
advance in pay, placing the Great
Northern's wage scale OF a level with
the Northern Pacific's and the otner
transcontinental lines. The other con
cessions granted by the company We're
in the line of notifications OF the
! working rules.
The settlement was made at a con-
ference held last night in General Man
ager Wards office. The differences
had been practically adjusted at a
meeting held earlier in the day, but
at the evening conference the details
of the agreement were arranged.
Grand Officers Stone and Hanrahan
and Chairman Ryan, of the JOINT
grievance committee, we're present at
the meeting.
adjourned Mr.. Stone and Mr.. Hanra-
han left for Cleveland. The JOINT
committee will remain in st. Paul foE
two or three days to complete the ar
rangement Of the working
The new working scale will affect
between 800 and 900 engineers ano
fre1nen employed on the evera Oh
visions of the Great Northern.
Tie negotiations, which were sue
cessfully terminated last night, were
begun about six weeks ago. Firemen
and engineers, representing the diner
ont divisions. met and formulated
list of demands. the fremen asking
that the Great Northern's wage scale
he raised to the scale of the Northern
Pacific.
Presented Demands Three Weeks Ago
The mems demands were presented
, IN the company about three weeks ago
: For several days conferences wer.
? held with General Superintendent q
: r. Slade. After there had been abou
! q dozen conferences with the genera
) SUPERINTENDENT, General Manager Ware
{ was called upon to take charge OF IN
negotiations for the company. Shortl.
I before this, the grievance commute
> asked the grand officers OF the Brother
$ hood Of Firemen and the Brotherhco
0 of Engineers to conduct its case.
+ Soon after the arrival of Grand ~
> ficers Hanrahan and Stone the negotls
q tions we're brought to a Temporal
d close. Mr.. Ward and Superintendent
9 Slade being obliged to leave the GU
s on an extensive inspection tour.
When Mr.. Ward returned Monda
the negotiations were at once resumed
e Two conferences were held Tuesday.
E! which the situation was thorough
canvassed. The committee again M
$ with the general manager for a re-
I minutes yesterday morning and al
g other conference was held in the afte
e noon. At these two meetings a bas'
$; for settlement was agreed upon and {
q last nights meeting the terms OF IN
e settlement were ratified by the me
e and General Manager Ward.
e According to the statements OF IN
a, man and the company officials, 90.
sides made elight concessions.
al The new working scale will becon
= effective Dec. I.
ot The Great Northern carmen m
IS with . Superintendent Slade Tuesds
a and asked for an increase in wage
70 and a readjustment OF the workl1
schedule.