Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06

utmost in handling the business Incident
to this season Of the year, which, by reason
Of the prosperous conditions In the country
at the present time, Is unprecedented.
The situation. particularly with reference
70 the coal supply, Is at this time extremely
grave and any Interruption, however slight,
might result disastrously and have very
serious effect upon all communities depend
ent upon the railroads for their means OF
transportation, not only causing congestion
OF ordinary traffic, but entailing CONNER
cial depression, actual suffering amongst
the people and possibly loss OF life.
Effective February 1, 1906, q schedule of
hours, rates Of pay and rules governing
service was agreed upon between the man
agement OF the Union Pacific Railroad COM
pany and committee representing all 10
connective frernen In Its employ; that under
the custom heretofore obtaining on the
Union Pacific lines this agreement was,
tacitly at least, entered into for period
Since this agreement and the adoption Of
the schedule heretofore referred to there
has been no cause for complaint and no
complaint Of any kind or character on the
part of locomotive fremen, and there Is
not, at this time, any difference existing
between the management of the Union Pa
cific Railroad company and the locomotive
ffremen, but all their relations have been
and are at the present time harmonious
and agreeable.
The management Of this company has At
all times kept full and complete faith in
respect Of all the terms of the agreement
made with the locomotive fremen. and sub
mits that sympathetic strike at this time
on the part of the flremen employed by the
Union Pacific would be n violation OF the
terms of the agreement without cause and
In the face of the existence of the most
pleasant relations between the officials and
the employees.
Believing that the Union Pacific Railroad
company's employees and the public served
by 1t should be fully advised Of the reasons
for the strike on the Atlantic system OF
the Southern Pacific, I submit in full the
following statement OF the officials Of that
company in reference to the conditions sur
rounding that strike:
Details of the Trouble.
In Mr. Mothers circular, which he issued
to the iremen and engineers, he added the
letter OF the officials of the Southern Pa
cific lines in Texas. setting forth the diff
culties between the road and the men.
The letter shows the controversy has
| arisen as to which Of the two organizations,
the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fqremen or
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
is authorized to negotiate with the man
agement Of the lines with respect to rules,
regulations and rates OF pay and (particu-
I larly regulations affecting seniority of en-
| gineers In switching service. 1t says:
The accredited representatives of the
brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen con-
| tend, In effect, that ali matters concerning
rules, regulations and rates of pay OF en-
| gineers In switching service should be regu-
| lated by contract between the Brother
| hood of Locomotive Firemen and these
companies. The accredited representatives
| of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
| gineers, on the other hand, contend that all
| matters pertaining to the welfare of all
! engineers should be dealt with by agree,
ment between them and the management
1 of these companies
Mr.. Mohler concludes his statement with
this sentence;
In view Of the foregoing, and the salts
| factory and pleasant relations existing be,
4 a
/ cific Railroad company and its employees
| In the train service, covering a period OF
! many years, and in order that such rela-
/ tions may be continued and fostered In the
/ future the management earnestly requests
/ that the most earnest and careful consid-
Grafton be given to the questions involved
and that the interests of the public as well
/ as of the company and employees may re-
| ceive proper protection.