The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-02
RAILROAD STRIKES UNLIKELY.
COMMITTEES OF WORKMEN ARE
MAKING ANNUAL DEMANDS.

d.. L. & W. Engineers SEQ President Trucs.
aIe-UnderwOOd OF the Erie Says THAT
tho Outlook Is All for Men Recognize
the Union. but IN Admit They DO.
The officials Of the different railroads
which are holding conferences with the
grievance committees OF the engineers,
fremen, switohmen and other men did
not seem to take much stock yesterday in
the stories that strikes are pending. They
believed, they said, hat the strike talk
arose from Western dispatches OF pending
strikes on Western railroads. which came to
New York a mont or two ago.
W. @. Besler. general manager Of the
Central Railroad OF New Jersey. said yes
terday hat the grievance committee OF
the employees which had been comforting
with the officials had gone away and nat
all the grievances had been settled salts
factorily.
A committee OF the engineers on the Della
ware. Laokawanna and Western Railroad
had a conference yesterday forenoon with
President w. H. Truesdale in the offices OF
the company, 20 Exchange place. After
the meeting had lated several hours an
adjournment was taken until IL o'clock
this forenoon. Mr.. Truesdale would not
say what had been done. and chairman
Clark OF the grievance committee said that
nothing definite had been accomplished.
Conferences began yesterday in the
offices OF the Erie Railroad in the Bowling
Green Building bet ween the grievance
committee Of the engineers and hremen
and General Manager j. C. Stuart Presi-
dent F. d. Underwood said last event ng
20 a u reporter:
"On account OF the number OF roads
merged with the Erie there NAV be a num-
Der Of thingssto adjust which would not
come up ordinarily. Some Of I he roads
in the merger, for instance pay by the
day and some by the mile and we have
for some time beer trying TO get something
like a uniform system. We consider the
mileage system the more equitable and
We believe the majority Of the men believe
the same.
There 10 not the slightest probability OF
a strike. People do not strike in good
times. The engineers and -fremen are
making top notch wages. Some Of them
are getting as high as SIS a month. When
times are not good and the men are notified
hat there will be reductions in wage
they are more likely to strike. This years
conferences do not differ from those Of
~ HbaI pANCDN lllel " nv ItoNbI 4 ldNO
stated there will be more questions to be
discussed"
In reference to the statements that the
committees are received as committees of
the men and not of their unions he said.
That il true, but il is merely a technical
point. We know that they are also com
mitteee Of the union. ! see no objection
as long "a they are our employees. fla
settlement oannot be reached they may
send the chiefs Of their organizations az
a last resort. That would not affect the
situation, but I see no reason why they
should not have one of their chief officers
as their attorney. That fact would not,
however. have any special weight with us.
The term grievance committee ia a new
one and is not a proper term. The real
name OF the committee is adjustment
committee
Superintendent c. F. Smith az the New
York Central said that the committees OF
the conductors, engineers, photographers,
firemen and train men had their conference
with the officials Of the company a fortnight
ago and went away home pending the answer
the company to their demands. or rather
requests, he said. He expected the firemen
to send their committee.
These are only the regular fall confer
ences, he said, and there is no more reason
to expect a strike now than any other year
SCRANTON. Pa. Nov. 1T was stated
Oh the best Of authority here to-day that
In their demand for better conditions from
the railroads the Switchmen's Union has
its demands.
Tho eight hour day was regarded as one
the most important demands made by
The switchmen and n that was certain
20 cause trouble. Probably it. was be
IT was expected to cause trouble
the iswitchmen decided TO Withdraw il.
In any event the grievance committees
representing the men on all the systems
the railroad officials that they had
abandoned their demand for an eight hour
day. but would insist on a wage increase.
The demand for a wage increase is coupled
with another. that at points where switch
men work a twelve hour day the day be
made ten hours.
The grievance committee Of switohmen
the Lackawanna line il still in the city.
awaiting the return of General Superintend-
ent Clarke from New York. The train
mems grievance committee is IN session in
Binghamton o and will wait on Mr..