The sun., 1903-03-29
NEWHAVEN MAKES CONCESSION
PRESIDENT HALL AGREES TO
MEET THE TRAINNEN's CHIEF.

Trainmen Twice Leave HIS Omee in m
Excited Frame Of Mind-Ti,ey wanted
10 strike Right Away-Finaiiy They
Ask for IN Audience fer Their chief.
New HAVEN, March 2s.-There was such
q serious division Of opinion to-day at the
conference OF the Trainmen 3 grievance COM
mittee and President John M. Hall Of the
New Haven railroad that the members OF
the committee eft President Halls ofiice
In an excited frame OF mind and went In
search OF Valentine Fitzpatrick, third vice.
president of the national organization OF
the trai2pesn.: !9 urge upon him to order
MIR. Fitzpatrick counselled the men TO pre-
sent their case with more determination
and intimated that II he were able TO pre-
sent their case TO the directors committee
he could win the fight.
The matter on which the conference
split was the adoption Of the ten-hour
running time in place Of the twelve-hour
now in force. President Hall pointed out
TO the grievance committee that no rail-
road In the country, no far as he knew. had
adopted any such time sched ule. The
railroad officials were wiling to compromise
on that point with an eleven hour agree
ment, but the employees stood out for the
ten-hour plan. being EN- couraged In their
demands by Mr.. Fitzpatrick. who was Of
, the opinion that he could show President
| Hall that he was wrong In his statements.
The committee of the employees then re-
| turned to President Hall demanding that the
road officials give to hem at once and IN
writing a statement Of just what they were
, willing 10 concede. President Hall would
I not thie rrnnositinn and then the
| committee asked the president II he would
meet Mr.. Fitzpatrick and discuss the matter
| with him in an attempt 70 come to some
definite understanding. The men said they
at anything like satisfactory terms and left
President Halls Office second time without
securing any CONCESSIONS
| At that time the men were anxious 10
strike and determined to do 10 unless
| something was decided al the afternoon
conference, TO begin at 2 O'Clock. just
| befo re the hour to meet for the afternoon
! talk the men received word from President
| Hall that he would meet their representa-
tive, Mr.. Fitzpatrick. with the COMMITTEES
on Monday morning. The employees re-
garded this as q big concession on Presi-
| dent Halls part, and the afternoon con-
| ference was declared on. Up to this time
the officials of the road have declined TO
meet any Of the national Officers. dsclar-
| ing positively that they would have moth
ing To do with any men not In their employ
When asked tonight II the decision 10
| admit Mr. Fitzpatrick to their conferences
! was not a concession on the part OF the
| road President Hall said:
| why, yes, somewhat. The men asked
| TO have him come In and we didn't OBJ ject.'
| WAS elich step ever taken beforef'
well, we don't often have TO meet any
| such emergencies. We are willing to dc
ali In our power to settle the matter peace.
| ably, and II this move viii help along that
| end why We are willing TO mako IT,
| .Is Mr. Fitxpatrick called In by the iner
| In the hopes that he wtll succeed In ending
| this controverry?'
.Yes. The men want 70 have the thing
settled and they think this will hurry y
Az TO whether there would Be q strike
President Hall said
Il really don't know anything about !,
and cannot give any Information on thai
score, only to say. Of couree. that l hops
! not There are several matters that bavs
been discussed, hut there is nothing de
cided We have taken up one thing aftel
another, but there are eon,e things on whicf
we don't agree beside the question OF hourr
So far rs know there 10 no railroad in th'
country that has q schedule OF only ter
hours Tor a days work for trainmen. w
have about twelve hour. but ! think W
would make that eleven hourr. or cours'
can p tell what further concerions will b
| made on either side