The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-03-09
ROAD AND EMPLOYES.
THE PRESENT ASPECT OF THE
 SITUATION.

President Hall Sends Letter to Repre-
 sentatives of the EmpIoyes-WiII Not
 Action to be Taken To-day by the Men.
 The situation regarding the attitude of the Consolidated railroad employees who are threatening to strike if their demands are no: acceded to remained unchanged yesterday. no new features having developed in the case. The case stands as it was stated in our Satur- days issue. The railroad authorities express a willingness to treat with a committee OF any branch of it's en- ployes but declines to meet joint com mittee representing different branches or an outside committee.
 President John M. Hall Of the Con- solidated Railroad company late Sat urday afternoon sent 9 letter to Third Vice Grand Master Val. Fitzpatrick of the Brotherhood O. Trainmen, and to Second Senior Conductor W. c. Wilkins of the Order of Railroad Conductors, who are in this city, stating ill sub- stance that the road will not recede from the position that it has taken with reference to the reception of a joint committee to discuss the proposed new wage and time schedule recently submitted by the trainmen and con- ductors.
 The conclusion which the head of the road has arrived at was reached after pn all-day conference Saturday with Vice President Merrill, General Super tntendent c. Peter Clark of the eastern district, and General Superintendent c. H. Platt of the western district, and other high officials of the system. This conference was held at the general of- flee building of the railroad in this city.
 It is stated that this labor movement of the railroad employees takes in about 60 per cent. of the conductors and trainment of the company, the remain ing large body of employees being loyal and pacific.
 Judge Hall said yesterday that the road could not recede from the position it has always maintained, and break rule that it had always upheld. This was, as above stated, that while it was at all times ready to treat with corl1- mittee of any one class of it's employees it could not meet a joint committee of such, as for instance, of the train men and conductors. Nor could it re- ceive a committee which included out side members of the organization, like the general officers now in the city, as was requested in the letter of Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Wilkins received by him Saturday morning. The road, he said, would treat with it's employees but could not treat with outsiders. This was it's original position and was still maintained.
 When asked if he would give out copy of the letter sent to the outside officers of the organization, Judge Hall said that the whole correspondence would be made public this week.
 Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Wilkins when seen at their quarters at the Hotel Garde said that they could not in fair ness make public the letter sent by President Hall, and would not be able to do so until after it had been submit ted to the grievance committee of the railroad employees which will resume its sessions here in the Insurance build ing to-day. Many of the members of the committee went home Saturday night to spend the Sabbath. MT. FitZ- patrick refused to say anything touch- ing on the matter, stating that he would not be in a position to talk until after the meeting to-day.