The Washington herald., 1906-11-13
MEN VOTE TO STRIKE
Tie-up Oh Erie System Seems
Now Almost Certain.
ENGINEERS CANNOT GO OUT
FiFemen Almost Unanimously Decide
to Cult If President Underwood
LackaWanna Employees Get All
They Ask For and End Conference.

New York, Nov. i2-The prospects Of "a
strike on the Erie Railroad by the I 100
firemen working on the system between
here and Chicago have been strengthened
by the report that the vote now being
taken on several divisions is overwhelnl-
ingiy in favor OF a suspension of work in
case President Underwood refuses 10
grant the demands for a ten-hour day
FOR all classes Of hremen and the 10 cents
per additional 100 miles.
In addition % the Erie's predicament
the engineers on the New York and New
Haven road have a series of grievances.
Engineers VIII Not Quit.
There IS no apparent danger Of the Erie
engineers quitting. as their contract with
the company prevents their leaving the
engines at this time Grand Master War
reH Stone, of the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers. after conferences to
day with Grand Chief J. J. Hanrahan. Of
the firemen. left for Cleveland, satisfied
for the moment with the developments so
far rs they relate to his organization. The
engineers seek mainly an adjustment on
the local divisions Of hours and wages
to the new conditions brought about by
the electrifsa tion of the lines in the met
ropolitan neighborhood.
Trainmen Optimistic.
About the Broadway Central Hotel,
where the engineers and fremen are
making their headquarters, there is a
spirit of optimism due to the expectation
that the Erie and all other trunk lines,
Of which demands for better conditions
may be made, will come to terms without
extreme measures being taken. The Erie
is considered to be in the poorest shape
financially OF any of the big companies.
but the fremen are convinced that the
small increase in wages and the shorten
ing Of hours, which will affect only fire
men on switch engines and on commuter
service, viii not greatly hamper the com
pany, and that it is well able TO afford
the extra outlay. Rather than have the
system tied up. they think there will be
an amieable adjustment by the officials
President UnderwoOd's conferences with
his associates in Chicago to-day is be
lieved TO foreshadOw a capitulation by
the company.
LackRwanEa Grants Demands.
The Lackawanna Railroad to-day grant
ed all the demands of it's employees for
more pay and shorter hours and this ex-
ample. the labor men here hope. Will soon
be followed by the other roads. The con
cession amounts to between S30.o00 and
S35, 600.
The following official statement Of Gen
eral Manager J. c. Stuart. of the Erie
Railroad. who is in the West On an in
specting trip, was made public here to-
night:
The Erie has been close TO its en-
ployeS, has given them every concession
that could be given. and in other ways
has shown its interest in their welfare
We are endeavOTing to keep wages to the
average, despite the fact that the Erie is
not money-making road as yet"
New scale at Cleveland.
Cleveland. Ohio, Nov. 12.-Flnal settle
ment of the wage dispute between the
General Managers Associa ton and the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and
the Switchmen's Union. at the Chicago
conference, was set forth in letter re-
ceived to-day by Chief Clerk NJ. J. Muir
ply. Of Grand Master P H. Morrissev's
Office The new scale will undoubtedly
be used as working basis in the read
justment OF rates for switching service
on all Of the lines west of Buffalo. The
new rates are as follows:
Day foremen. So cents per hour: dav
helper, j. cents per hour; night foremen.
81 cents per hour; night helper. 34 cents
per hour.
Underwood at Chicago.
Chicago, Nov. APPROPRIATIONS for
finish fight between the officials Of the
Erie Railroad and the Firemen's Union
which IS now taking strike vote. were
begun to-day when President Cnderwood
Oriental Carpets and Rugs.
The Jereissati collection at auction to-
d. OF i.l. l.. 1.