The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-02
LT|MATUM FOR
 THE OPERATORS
Can Accept Railroads Terms or
 Quit Work
HORN MAKES STATEMENT
Defends Northern Pacific and Great Northern In Controversy With Or
 der of Railway Telegpra-
 phers-HlII Appealed To.

St. Paul, August 1.-All negotiations which have been pending between the Order of Railway Photographers and tho Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railways came to sudden end when General Manager Horn of the Nortern Pacific notified the telegraphers of that system that the company's proposition as to the rate of wages it would pay was final, and they could accept 1t or leave the service
 The Great Northern took practically tho same stand toward their employees last night, thus throwing confusion Into the ranks of the telegraphers, who hardly expected such move.
 The only chance of an adjustment of the trouble rests with President J. J. Hill, who Is in New York. and to whom President Perham of the telegraphers ap- pealed in telegram last night.
 MT. Hill was asked to decide questions thas President Perham and Vice Presi- dent Newman have been discussing with General Managers H. J. Horn of the Nor thern Pacific and F. E. Ware of the Great Northern. The points in dispute, Mr Perham declare. relates to wages only in the case of both roads.
 Number Who Refused Unknown.
 Just how many men have refused to consider the terms offered by the roads Is uncertain, no definite reports having been received at the headquarters of either road.
 The orders affect about 750 operators on the Great Northern and about 200 on the Northern Pacific.
 After having issued the uItimatum to the men, MT. Horn gave out the follow ing statement:
 MT. Perham, president of the Order of Railway Telegraphers. today advised me that he intends to go the limit with both the Northern Pacific and the Great Nor thern railways, just as soon as he thinks such course necessary.
 The Northern Pacific started a lock- out Of its telegraphers because a strike vote taken on May 27. Strike instruc- tons were issued July B. and these. with the vote are still hanging over its head, Tn spite of the fact that during several weeks negotiations the points of differ onces have been pretty generally cleared up' excepting the Sunday rule and raise Of m.pimum
 Sunday Rule Different.
 The Sunday rule demand is different from any In the United States, and would add to the pay of the telegraphers about slOO,00 per year. The company's rate of pay Is not exceeded, but on the other hand Is considerably higher than most or the roads In the same territory. It mas granted liberal increases to it's tele- graphers during the past five years.
 As compared with 1900, the same posi- tlons that existed in that year are pay Ing in 1905 $ll0,000 additional This in crease relates only to the positions in 1905 which were in existence five years ago.
 There are also in existence over 200 more positions than existed in Asvy These of course, take the 1905 higher rates. Comparing the 1905 position with those of BOO, as a whole, the telegraphers are re- celving the increase of annual pay amounting to not less than sl50.0o0.
 Demands Are Repeated.
 The increase made May and those agreed upon at the recent conferences foot up about $20,000 over and a.ove inc income paid prior to May l of this year.
 "rhe impractieable rules and exorbtant demands made by the committee in the ilrst proposition, and practically reepated In their proposition of July 27, are con sldered conclusive proof that at no time has it been the intention of the commit tee to make concessions which would en- able the company to make a satisfactory settlement. Before actual negotiations were commenced they had fully decided to force a strike. When conferences started on July 12 strike instructions had all eady been in force for an entire week Last Friday, when we concluded negotia- tions they were still hanging over otlr heads. The road was in this position. MT. Perham or his committee, could in augurate a strike of our telegraphers any time they saw fit. They would nelth- CT accept or reject the companys propo- sition. This uncertainty the company would not put up with. and as a result lock out was inaugurated today"