The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-01-19
STRIKE ON PENN. R. R.
NOW SEEMS IMMINENT
TRAISMEN VOTE oTERWHELM-
INGLY GO OUT.
Conference Between the Road and
Representatives Of the Men Comes to
Naught-GeneraI Manager Frankly
Told That Further Discussions Were
Deemed UseIess-FinaI Action Re-
garding Differences to be Taken To-
day by Trainmen.
day by TraInmen.

Philadelphia, Jan. 1S.-After a pro-
tracted conference late to-day General
Manager w. W. Atterbury, of the
Pennsylvania Railroad company and
the board of adjustment of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen separated
without having reached an agreement.
W. G. Lee, first vice grand master of
the Brotherhood, who represents the
grand lodge and is acting in conjunc-
tion with the board, informed Mr.. At
terbury that he regarded any further
conferences useless. He then called a
meeting Of the board of adjustment for
tomorrow morning when it is expected
final action will be taken regarding the
differences between the company and
the trainmen.
Mr.. Lee, shortly before noon to-day,
completed the count of the vote of the
Brotherhood on the question of strike
to enforce the trairmen's demand. He
requested an audience with General
Manager Atterbury, who received him
and the other members of the board.
Mr.. Lee informed Mr.. Atterbury that
the total vote passed was 8,796 and that
l,365 had been cast lin favor of a strike
and GIL against. OF the total number
$500 are members of the Brotherhood
and the remainder are non-order men
who for various reasons, such as time
sof service and injuries. are prevented
from being members of the union.
These men We're also permitted to vote,
and only 64 expressed opposition to a
strike.
Should a strike, be declared to-mor-
row it will include all freight brakemen,
yardmen, baggagemen and some freight
conductors on the lines east of Pitts
burg and Erie.
At the conclusion of the conference
tonight General Manager Atterbury
declined to see newspaper reporters but
sent word from his Office that he might
make statement at some other time.
The question at issue is that OF COM
pilsory firing by brakemen. The COM
pany REQUIRES a freight brakeman to
assist fireinen In feeding locomotives
on difficult grades. The vote was con-
fined entirely TO this question.
Mr.. Lee in stating the trainmen's S
side Of the case said:
No other railroad company in this
country or. Canada has every asked a
brakeman to FIRE locomotive. On
all other lines firemen and brakemen
are carried in separate lists. Ii is the
desire os the Brotherhood men that
they be kept in separate classes.
'aThe whole trouble originated In the
laying off Of a forward brakeman on
each crew by the Pennsylvania rail-
road some months ago. Before that
time the coinpany's freight crews gem
orally consisted OF one more brakeman
than the number carried by other rail-
roads. When that was the case the
trainmen made no objection to the
practice of the front brakeman assist
ing the tiremen, but when the extra
brakeman was taken off, the men rails
ed serious objection to it.
"It is true that General Manager At
terbury made certain propositions, one
of which was that brakemen doing fire.
mems work on stipulated grades should
be paid a fireman's wages for the time
theyq were actually engaged in firing.
"Mr. Atterbury's offer to pay the ex-
ira wages for such times as firing was
done on the middle division from Har-
risburg to Altoona would net them but
small money return, not over s1.5O
per month in many cases." {
Mr.. Lee said it was not a question
of remuneration, but that the brake
men were unwilling to perform the
duties Of another class except in some
extraordinary emergency.