The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-30

a reduced size. Trains within the capac-
ity of one engine to handle
Mr.. Ward: Yes
Mr.. Garretson: I am not unwise
enough. nor is any other man that I
have seen dealing with the proposition un-
wise enough, to assume that there is not
inconsistency as between our position
on the single and double header But
We recognize that the big engine we
cannot deal with any more than the
hand weaver could deal with the power
i0om' because defeat has always followed
the effort of men to war against improve
verdict.
g But We do not propose to handle a
tram with two engines any more than the
power weaver or printing press or limo
type man is going to handle two machines
mere Is where we draw the line There
have not denied it from the inception
of this movement
Mr.. Ward: Then 1 wish you would
go further, and tell me where double
heading is a grievance on the Great
Mr.. Garretson: Double headers are a
grievance wherever they exist: whether
they exist in greater or less degree the
| objection to them just the same
"Mr. Ward: Our competitors condi-
tions may differ from ours
Mr.. Garretson; Yes
"Mr. Ward: And for that reason I
hope and expect to make a different set
| Element on our road. We are talking
about conditions on the Great Northern
g In regard to the principle of allowing
our men to consult US in an administra
| tive matter, must say that this is diff
| ferent proposition from any 1 have ever
known. We do admit the right of our
men to come in and determine what rate
| of wages they are willing to work for and
| to discuss any conditions that affect the
| safety of their lives and limbs. exposure
| to weather, and all of those things that
| affect their personal comfort and well
| fare. But this is case in which / claim
| none of those points are involved. 1t
| is simply an attempt to force upon us
! condition that will make necessary the
| employment of more men and Will not
| change the conditions applying to any man
| pIoyed..'
I Mr.. Garretson; That will depend upon
what horn of the dilemma you take hold
Mr.. Ward: Il am speaking now Of
your alternative proposition, that we
| abolish the practice.
here showing the double-heading and the
| triple heading and mileage of pushers
and helpers since 1897, and they show
that the percentage of helping engine
| 5.29'
| "Mr. Garretson; Five per cent of your
| train mileage was double-headed?
the. mileage of pushers and helpers as
| we'll as the engines that run double-head-
| ed over the whole district. And that has
been reduced SO that in the nine months
| ending March 81, 1903 OF was 3.03; and
| with the total train mileage for the year
! 1897. 5,S95,560. they had helper engine
| mileage of 311,928, and in the nine months
| ending March 81, 1908. we had 6.19S819 of
| train miles. and only 1910 miles of help
| er-engines. Showing that the very low
| percentage of helper mileage that existed
| in 1897 has been cut almost in two since
| that time. and therefore the question, so
| far as the Great Northern is concerned,
/ is absolutely a dead one
! Mr. Garretson: Yes. And the lower
you bring it., Mr.. Ward. the less there is
| involved in the acceptance or refusal of
! the proposition
| Serious Principle Involved.
''Mr Ward: 4 do not claim that there
| is anything Of consequence involved in
/ the acceptance or refusal Of your PROPOSE
! ton so far as dollars and cents go now.
| But 1 do claim that YOU invoke a princi-
pie which will be of the most serious con-
| sequence to us. and that is your adnis-
! sion to consultation in the matter of what
/ a train shall consist of. Granting your
| proposition there would be no possible
| reason why we should object to your COM
| ing in later and telling US that you OBJ
| ject to carry any train of over fifty cars or
| forty cars, or thirty cars, or any number
| of cars-f We admit this principle and
| admit you can tell US that we must not
| run doubleheaders. For that reason the
| question to US is Of exceeding import
ance. We are the road above all others
! that in this country runs large trains
i
! Our power is probably heavier on the
| average than that Of any other road in
| the United States, and we have spent
| more money to lower grades so as to make
| it possible to haul big trains. realizing
! that the only true economy in railroad
| operation is in making that unit of a train
| the biggest thing We can make it; and you
| come in now with a principle that attacks
| our right to take advantage of the con-
| dftions We have created by buying large
! power and by spending money to lower
grades-and that is principle we will not
| Mr. Newman: Would 1t help you any
! if you were given a good train that you
| could handle over the rest Of the divis-
| ion?'
| "Mr Ward: THE size of our train Is
| different in different places
| Mr.. Newman: You know there Is no
| limit to the single-header train.
| Claims inconsistency
''Mr Ward: I understand that There
| fore I claim an inconsistency which you
admit in your claim
| Mr.: Garretson: Yes, sir. always ad
mitted.'
Mr. Ward: for double pay for the
| other
| ..HMr. Newman: That is the truth. we
admit that
| Mr. Ward: That is all right
Mr.. Newman: That takes the argu-
ment all out of tt
Mr. Ward: As far as the inconsist-
Mr. Garretson: Tt is not the injury
| to the traffic that you fear. it is the in
| jury to the principle
Mr. Ward: well. the injury to the