The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-03-07

They Are to Meet This Afternoon With
 Till WiII Meet the Committees Next
 Week-An Amicabie Adjustment is
 Looked For.
 Third Vice Grand Master Val Fitz- patrick of Cleveland, O., of the Broth erhood of Trainmen arrived in this city yesterday and it is expected that Sec ond Senior Grand Conductor c. w. Wilkins of Cedar Rapids, Ia., of the or der os Railroad Conductors will arrive here to-day. These gentlemen come here for the purpose of conferring and counseling with the grievance commit tees os the trainmen and conductors of the Consolidated road. The organiza- tions made up from the employees of these two branches of the railroad ser vice have, since early in February, been at work upon wage and hour sched- ules, which. it is expected, will be pre- scented to the officers of the railroad the early part of next week. As has already been published, committees from both the trainmen and conductors have met with Vice President Merrill of the Consolidated the fore part of this week, but the negotiations were post poned for some reason, which as yet cannot be definitely ascertained, as neither side to the proceedings refused to divulge the cause of the inharmony. However, it is known that Vice Presi- dent Merrill will meet the committees separately next week and it is be- lieved that the hitch in proceedings of this week was due to manner in which the schedules were presented. The two organizations punched their re- quests and made joint presentation to the road.
 MT. Merrill said last evening that he will not refuse to meet the committees from the two branches of the services, neither will he refuse to meet individu- als in the employ of the road. He did not affirm or deny, however, that he would meet the committees jointly.
 The advice of Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Wilkins, the national officers of the trainmen and conductors, is eagerly sought by the members of the two brotherhoods. It is believed they will counsel moderation, as both have repu- tations for conservatism. They have had several years experience in the handling of disputes between railroad officials and their employees and possess a broad Knowledge of the railroad business and it's many manifestations. While it is entirely out of the question for them to appear before the officials of the Consolidated, as they are not employees of road and in no way con- nected with 1t, nevertheless their infiu- ence will bear strongly upon the nego- tiations. ,-%
 It was stated last evening by gen. tleman prominent in railroad labor cir cles that it was not the intention of the trainmen and conductors to use any coercive measures to bear on the off, cials. It was further stated that the men do not believe that the coming re- quests will lead to serious conclusions. Moreover, the Consolidated made 8 joint agreement with the engineers and firemen several years ago and the men concerned in the present proposition be- lieve the company will be willing to act in like manner towards their solici- ,tations. Furthermore, upon investiga- tion by the national officers there may be some notifications in the present schedule. At any rate these brother hood officials will counsel the wisest fha nl,a are that everything will be arranged amicably Last evening it was given out in railroad circles that all this talk about a probable strike was unwar- ranted.
 A meeting will be held at Trades Council hall this afternoon and final action on the schedule is expected by the organizations.
 It has been reported among labor circles in this city that the trainmen on the Boston and Albany road are ex- pected to present & demand for more wages and shorter hours of work to the officials of the road early next week. Delegates from the order held a meeting in Worcester Wednesday. A demand will be made and the officials will be asked to have the new arrange ment go into effect April 1. The res- lessness os the trainmen is actuated in part by the fact that the trainmen on the Boston and Maine road have re- gently been granted better conditions, and the conditions on the Boston and Albany are considered less favorable to the trainmen than they were on the Boston and Maine. It is claimed that the number os men now required on a train is inadequate, and that the re- responsibilities fall too heavily upon the men in charge os train.