The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-01-21
STRIKE ON PENN. R. R.
MAY YET Be AVERTED
CONFERENCE YESTERDAY TO BE
RESUMED TO-DAY. -.

- e r..
Better Feeling Seems Apparent on Both:
sides-Chairman of the Board Of Adj.
juStmeut of the Trainmen Says Sifua-
tiOR Looks Much CIcarer-0nieiai
Statement Made That Situation
Stands Practically rs 1t Was. rz.e;.
Philadelphia, Jan. 20.-A strike of the
freight trainmen in the employ of the
Pennsylvania Railroad company OH the
lines east Of Pittsburg and Erie has
been delayed, if not entirely averted, by
the presence in this city of Grand Mas
ter p. II. Morrissey, of the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen. There appears
to be better feeling OH both sides to-
night, and, although the situation has
not materially changed, it is less
acute.
1t was expected that definite action
would be taken to-day at a conference
between General Manager Atterbury, of
the Pennsylvania railroad, Mr.. Morris
sey, Mr.. Lee and the board of adjust
ment, but the conference was continued
until tomorrow and the following joint
statement was issued by Mr.. Atterbury
and Mr.. Morrissey: ..s...4s, .-s.sr
"At the meeting to-day the situation
was again gone over. No new PROPOSE
tions We're made and the situation.
stands practically as it was, but the.
conference will be resumed tomorrow.
The conference of to-day. was largely
to enable Mr.. Morrissey more thorough-
" to familiarize himself with the ques-
tions at issue from the companySs
/ standpoint. - 1....-s,@.. ...s..
Owing to the evident willingness of
| both sides to meet each other half way
| it is believed strike may be averted.
Before the meeting to-day r. L. Cohen,
chairman. of the board of adjustment.
said that to him the situation looked.
much clearer. s4. O.. z4 Z
1T seems to be tending to a settle
ment rather than a break" he said.
"Our side is certainly willing to arbi-.
trate if that should be necessary, and /
have no doubt that the company would
be glad to do the same"
The board of adjustment held a three
hours session this morning and a plan
of action was decided upon when the
trainmen should call upon Mr.. After
bury. Mr.. Morrissey said before the
meeting that he came here for the pur-
pose of bringing about an an1icabie adj
justment of the differences, If possible,
but could not speak definitely of the
prospects of a settlement,
At the conference. Iii addition to Mr..
Morrissey and Mr. Lee. were the fol-
lowing members Of the board of adjust
ment: r. i. Cohen, chairman; p. II.
|. Hatfield, vice-chairman; X, r. Vougl1t,
secretary; M, T.. Hobbs. George Nc
Blaine b. B. Weidner and J. L, Liddick.
MIR Atterbury again submitted his last.
proposition. which was as follows:
ST will agree to stop all compulsory
firing on divisions except on such di-
visions where the Superintendent may
| feel that the fireman requires assist
ance by the brakemen. That will be
between specified points or for a, speciT
| fled distance. He will be paid at the
same rate per hour as the fireman re-
ceives, not in addition to his own rate,
that is he will not get double pay, but
he will receive the fireman's rate only.
He will not be held responsible for his
duties as brakeman during the time
that he is eiring, and, should he elect
TO become areman such time as he
may have put in firing in this way will
be credited to his seniority record, b
Mr.. Lee had previously quoted fig
ures showing that under this arrange
ment a brakeman doing a firenan's $
work would receive an average Of g 1-6
cents more for the two hours work
than his own rate. To-day Mr.. After
bury submitted statistics showing that
in some cases a brakeman would re-
ceive as high as 20 cents above his own
rate. The trainmen, II is learried are
opposed to the principle of compelling
one class of men to do the work of
another class. The meeting was friend
ly.
The plan which appeals most strong
1y to the trainmen as the most prac-
tical solution of the difficulty is that OF
the placing assistant firemen or help-
ers at points where there are steep
grades and where the forward brake
man is by rule of the company com
PEELED to assist in firing the engine.
General Manager Atterbury at a pre-
vious conference offered to station men
at ash pits and water tanks to assist
the firemen and brakemen in their
work, but this offer was not accepted as
it would not relieve the brakeman Of
the compulsory duty of firing.
If the company can be induced to ae-
cept the proposition to employ addi-
tional f1remen's helpers it is under
stood that the offer will be satisfactory
to Grand Master Morrissey. Another
meeting of the board Of adjustment will