New-York tribune., 1905-02-20
STRIKE AS LAST RESORT.
SO DIR. SHEA DECLARES.
.Tiremen's Poll GiUes Committee FuU
4uthority to 4ct.

New-HaVen. Conn. Feb. l9--No strike or the
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen on the New
sYork New-Haven and Hartford Railroad will
Rbe declared except as the weapon of last resort
TO secure recognition by the company body
fpf those members of the order who are engineers.
sThis. in effect, the announcement made by
FSecond Vice-Grand Master Timothy Shea to-
might at the close of what was practically an all
fday session of the adjustment committee of the
brotherhood called to discuss the situation and
to count the ballots recently cast on the question
of giving the committee fun power to act IN
event of failure of negotiations between the
grievance committee and the officers of the ROAD
According. 10 Mr. Shea the ballot the
largest ever cast on any question by the brother
shood of this system, and il is overwhelmingly in
favor of giving the committee full authority to
act as # sees fit. The figures are not given out
Mr.. Shea says they are something to which the
Epublic is entitled. and to parade them now
would TO lessen the effectiveness of the
sdemand of the hremen. He said that the per-
,centage large in the affirmative as to
surprise the members Of the committee.
Mr. Shea in an interview said that the COM
fsnittee pins its faith in the suggestion of arbi-
Hration made to il by great financial power
.rI0se to the management Of the road" and that
sss the officers of the company in informal
rray had signified their Willingness TO give full
consideration of the proposed plan. 1T was de-
termined fact that there could be strike this
<Veek.
& Tomorrow Mr.. Shea and a subcommittee of
Nhe adjustment committee will go to New-York
Eao resume discussion of the plan of arbitration
ssnow proposed. and before they return the plan
s~ill be arranged in ali its details. it is
E9ected. and formally laid before the officers of
She railroad company. So sanguine is Mr.. Shea
shat the plan will prove a solution of the
EsDroblem that he thinks the acute stage Will
sz1ave been passed by midweek, and the Aremen
t~il be satisfied with what has been agreed on.
SITUATION A DELICATE ONE.
In connection with Mr.. Shea's statements it
Ets pointed out that at the present time the
heituation is delicate one and the committee
f1nust move carefully in formulating its plan,
(which has to take into consideration the Broth
serhod OF Engineers and the railroad company,
besides the great financial interests of which
Eafr Shea spoke On the subject of his visit TO
sNew-York yesterday Mr.. Shea would not say
"a word. He assumed mysterious air when a
3ist OF New-York financial men who, through
Etheir connections. supposed to be closely
kconnected with the great railroad systems Of
Hhe East, was presented him, and said that he
ecould not give out word of information along
sthat line.
The meeting Of the adjustment committee was
sleld in Trades Council Hall, and it began at 10
O'Clock, and, with two recesses for refreshments,
sasted until o'clock this evening. The members
sof the committee present We're Andrew P Kelly,
spf New-Haven; James Gerraughty, OF New
York; D. F. Mccarthy, of Hartford; S. Craw-
shaw. of Concord. Mass; H. R. Carpenter, of
Providence; A. L. Clifford, Of Boston; A. W.
Adams of Worcester; NJ. H. keenan,. of Dan
BURY. and H. l. Richardson, of Norwich.
Mt Shea. who returned from New-York on
an early morning train, spent most of the day
the outset 10 a discussion of the negotiations. the
grievance committee. who met the directors of
the road last Tuesday. making what was prob
abjy report. Then the task of counting the
ballots began and for hours it proceeded. Once
aH anteroom door opened. and a news
paper slipped in and found the committee
Sitting around a long table on which were bal
lots. While the floor hidden in CASTOR en-
Nelopes. The intruder quickly retired TO
f1he corridor. where a vigil was being kept by
-Dthers in search of information.
THE CoMPANY's STATEMENT.
President Mellen of the New-Haven company
has issued the following statement Of the con-
Etroversy between the management of the COM
spany and the locomotive firemen:
The management of the New-York New-Haven
enc 1 Hartford t Railroad Company believes that a
present unfortunate situation due to the public
Y
of its employees is likely suffer through the ac-
fsion OF r small minority The difference that has
suting from disagreement on their part as to the
representation TO be given to the organizations
ngement Of the road has been called on to make a
aec!ssloh "hlch IS not satisfactory to of the
parties TO the dispute. viz: the firemen's general
committee of adjustment. The dispute coneerns a
question Of jurisdiction between this fremen's - 4
fasLmesnt committee and the engineers adjustment
committee The fremen's committee has refused
r ,e nave the mater left to the decision az inde
{ do
et on the principle OF majority rule
in no quarter is the present trouble regretted !
k55Ie k5nsa tl@4 oy tne management Of the conpanY
zhe demands Of the iremen's committee and en- ena
In the opinion of the management if Il had aitn
asny other stand in the dispute than a decision
splitting up Of its employees Of one class into vario,s
presentations. The disadvantages of this are
ode2s ie company F EDO does not deal rth its employees as
og Zqo1, OF laeor oTganlzau ms, but employees
10 iaOor organizations, absolutely ndifferar+
IS 70 whether an employe belongs to labor or
classes meet the officers of the company for mr.
through committees selected by them from anon
tStI owl number. Thus there exists Engineers
fof the brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers are in
it1 Ina(oIity among the engineers. the adjustment
ees = IhSIy 10 be composed of brotherhood
f1neI II the non-unon engineers (of whom the road
s5res1Toa IN % ca%l ~ wtFe & IN the majority they would
me engineers belonged the Firemen's Rrotbar
Ke composed Of men Of that brotherhood This
poWeFer- is an internal matter with which Hc
slways regarded its engineers moi sS ,er ii,i s
organizations but snDlv as any'1ea, III pes OF
81 = has oeen customary for employees who have
zen disciplined, n their opinion too severeit 1nf'
1aklng an appeal from The decision Of ,bSS Gi leI
sbPs sbP.slhg me discipline 10 a higher officer to lay
I C.ses before the adjustment committee of the
54 Slass OF labor 10 which they belong and ask tbe
sesore The hi 10 act as their advocates
.ineers' I 5t5.r 5It.sr oIncer In this the En-
S.nibJt f AiI31stment Committee has been in the