Morris tribune., 1905-08-05
TELEGRAPHERS STRIKE.
Operators ON N. p. and q. N.
Are Out.

Are Out.
Trouble has been brewing between
the telegraph operators on both the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
tor several weeks, and on Tuesday
the companies declared a lockout and
the telegraphers union declared
strike.
Both the day and night operators,
MIR, Tryon and Mr.. Anderson at the
Great Northern have quit, and most
of the operators on this division are
out.
Trains are being run on schedule
time, and the railroad work is great
~ hampered whenever it is desired
to move train that is late or is an
extra. In many places the TICKET Of
fees are closed and the conductors on
the trains collect cash fares.
The Strikers Side.
Regarding the matters of contro
versy, MIR. Perham, the president OF
the Order of Railway Telegraphers,
says
I'VE waived number Of our de-
mands," Mr.. Perham explained.
eve gave up the matter of reinstat-
ing certain of our members, who, as
we believed, we're unjustly dismissed.
We modified our demands for a
minimum scale. What we actually
split on, in the case of both roads,
was the point of overtime for Sunday
work. We were willing to take less
even on that split, if we could have
come to an agreement. And II our
wishes as to Sunday overtime could
have fairly met, we would have given
up a great many other things. But
we could potitively do nothing as to
Sunday overtime; the companies
! would make no reasonable conces-
sIons.
"On the Great Northern it was ar
gued by the company that the road
, was willing to give us altogether
about $4,000 year more than had
been received AS Ia matter.of fact,
the concessions offered wouldn't ex-
coed $1,000 or $4,000 year.
''On the Northern Pacific, we we're
assured that the Sunday overtime
rule desired by US would cost the COM
pany $4,000 year. We persisted
in declaring that it would cost, in
fact, no mo1e than $4,000.
''The schedule and wage list final
, " offered us by both roads last Fri
day was too low in figures and too
mean in it's terms Why, the operat-
ing expenses on both the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern ere low
er in proportion to the gross earnings
tEan those of any other important
road in the country. The saving has
been has effected by underpaying
the employees"
The Railroad Side.
General Superintendent Slade, Of
the Great Northern, gave to the
press the following statement
After daily conferences extending
over a period of more than two weeks
with a committee representing the
telegraphers on the Great Northern
railway, in which the officers Ct the
company have made every reason
able effort consistent with proper
regard for the companies interests
to meet the views Of the committee,
it has been found impossible to reach
an agreement that is mutually salts
factory.
"All the points at issue between the
committee and the company have
been satisfactorily adjusted with one
exception. This is with references to
the allowance to be made for Sun
day work.
"The rule covering the allowance
of overtime for Sunday work de-
manded by the committee contem
plates the payment of overtime al
special rates to those telegraphers
who are required to work seven days
weekly in addition to the special
extra allowance which has heretofore
!. been made TO the telegraphers oc
cupying such positions.
"The company has always recog-