The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-11-14
AVERT RAILROAD WAR
New York Central Firemen and
Erie Engineers Reach Agree
ment With Lines.
ONLY ONE DISPUTE REMAINS


Not Settled, but Strike Is Not Ex-
pected - Line Has Not Refused to
Arbitrats - Pennsylvania's Western
Men Not Satisfied With Raise.
New York, Nov. 14-By an adroit
move the New York Central and New
York, New Haven and Hartford rail
roads escaped from the storm center
which threatens. the Erie, placating
committees representing the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen with
proposition that admits of a readjust-
ment six months after electricity is in
stalled as a motive power from tie
Grand Central station.
The advent of the third rail on the
two systems has been viewed with
alarm by fremen because it appeared
that their usefulness would soon be at
an end Rumors of the probable en-
ployment of skilled motormen added
to this feeling of unrest, and the two
committees were prepared to advance
a proposition calling for years con
tract, with privilege of renewal at the
cid wage scale, in order to put the
railroad management on the defensive
before 1t was possible to put the elec-
tric system in operation.
Electricity on New York Central.
Thirty i've electric locomotives will
be put into service on the New York
Central beginning next Monday. At
present the third rail system has been
Installed only from the Grand Central
station to Woodlawn and to High
Bridge, but as fast as possible the
electric zone" is to be extended up
the road forty miles to Croton.
General Managers Smith and Hig-
gins of the New York Central and New
Haven roads executed a flank move
ment that sent the committees away
satisfied after short conference. The
Of all engineers and fremen now en-
ployed at the regular rate Of wages,
the engineers to be placed in charge
Of the new motors and the firemen to
act as helpers until a six months test
might be had. At the expiration of
that time 1t was agreed that the COM
mittees from the men were to meet
with railroad officials and an equitable
scale of wages determined upon, based
upon the six months of operating ex-
perience.
No Big General Strike.
With this announcement the last
vestige of concerted railroad strike
of large proportions on the big eastern
lines disappeared. The Erie fremea
now remain as the only barrier to an
equitable arrangement, which will
solve railroad labor troubles for an
other twelve months at least.
The proba bilities of strike on tha
Erie were greatly lessened. A tele-
gram from President f. D. Under
wood made 1t appear that his road had
not declined to arbitrate the question
Of increased pay and shorter working
days and that he would be ready to
treat with the firemen at date in the
near future, when minor grievances
with lesser employees were straighten-
ed out. He is reported as saying that
there would be no strike.
The grievance committee of the Erie
engineers met with Assistant General
Manager Stone of the Erie, and a set
tiement was reached after a short con-
ference. The proposition advanced,
which was satisfactory to the men,
was to adjust wages upon mileage
instead of per diem basis.
Union Men happy.
Members of the several grievance
committees quartered at the Broadway
Central hotel made no attempt to dis
guise their elation over their victories
Of the last few weeks A member Of
the Laokawanna committee pointed to
the fact that the mon have gained
their demands in every conference ex-
cept that of the Erie firemen and said
the change of front on the part Of
President Underwood indicated CON-
plete withdrawal of opposition to the
employees requests.
A new war cloud appeared on the
Pennsylvania lines west Of Pittsburg
when 1t was stated by Chairman G. 3.
Swash OF the general committee of the
Brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen that
the 10 per cent increase of pay granted
by the Pennsylvania officials would not
satisfy the employees on taa western
Al--l~. - ~