The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-11
EYE EXAMINATION
ROLLS ENGINEERS.
BURLINGTON SYSTEM THREAT
ENED WITH GENERAL STRIKE.
Drastic Rule Operates to Place Many
Old and Skilled Engine Drivers on
Unimportant and Unremunerative
Runs J. J. Hill Appealed to to Have
Obnoxious Order Rescinded.

a serious labor situation affecting the
entire Burlington system developed
last night in Chicago, following the
adoption of new and radical rule by
the company.
The rule in question pertains y the
engineers and establishes standard
for eyesight said to be more rigid than
any thus far enforced by the railroads
Of the country. Men obliged to wear
glasses, by, provisions Of the new rule,
are reduced in rank and assigned to I'M
important and unremunerative runs.
The reduction applies to all engineers
regardless of length Of service for the
company.
Appeals to Hill.
The effect of the order was so sweep
ing that Grand Chief Warren S. Stone
of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
gineers, at midnight telegraphed James
j. Hill at st. Paul, requesting an i'm
mediate conference.
simultaneously vote was taken in
every lodge of engineers on the Bur
lington system on the acceptance or re-
lection of the new rule. It is said the
returns already in the hands of the
grand officers of the brotherhood show
an overwh Ginning majority in favor of
taking extreme measures to oppose the
company IS order.
According to the procedure Of the
ing the eyesight rule will place the
matter absolutely in the hands of the
grand lodge officers, who are empow-
cred to call strike without further
action. It was said that Mr.. Stone will
make another effort to have the rule
rescinded in the hope Of preventing a
strike, which would tie up the Bur
ington lines on both sides Of the Mis-
souri, river, and with this end in view
he decided to appeal to Mr.. Hill as a
last resort. =, .5 =, 49,
A protest to the company by the Bur-
hngton engineers already has been fled,
Grafton from the officials of the COM
pany. A conference lasting two weeks
at the Lexington hotel, Chicago, also
failed to bring about an adjustment.
The feeling among engineers is that
the locomotive men must take a firm
stand against the Burlington rule. It
is feared that other roads may follow
suit and adopt similar laws regarding
the employment Of engineers.
Many railroads for years have en-
forced rules requiring rigid physical
examination, said Vice Grand Master
'Cadle Of the engineers brotherhood,
Doo cAo Du11AR COu IeSuldL lOu Is OK
IRENE in that it practically debars from
service men whose vision is slightly i'm
perfect. - rs a.ff -.. ~. /. IL
1t was pointed out by the engineers
that few accidents have been trace
able to defect in vision on the part
Of mon who run the locomotives. The
majority of the railroads, too, it was
argued, have seen fit to enforce much
less stringent rules. ~
The case of the North Western road
was cited as an example. On that road,
it is said, engineers are not required to
pass any physical test, after the mi
tial examination, up to the age of so
years. After that period, regular
. The effect Of the new Burlington
rule, 1t is asserted, will be practically
to fix an age limit for railroad employ
ees. A large per cent of railroad men
are obliged to adopt glasses as an aid
to vision after they have reached mid
. The Burlington engineers never have
had trouble with the company since
their organization three years ago. They
are among the most recently organized
members Of the brotherhood, as for
many years after the historic strike on
the system in 1885, unions did not flour
ish. On some Of the branches Of the
system west of the Missouri river it
is said only a small fraction of the en-
glneers are members of the brother
hood. r.. -