The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-09
STRIKE THREATENED
rs. @ RAILROAD MEN TO
BALLOT.
Employees Of SIS Roads East of Missis-
sippi to Demand Higher Wages
and Better Rules.

ALTOONA, Pa. Dec. 9.-About 75,OV
union railroad men, on sixty-five different
railroad lines. east of the Mississippi
River. and including Eastern Canada, are
preparing for a strike In January, unless
wages are advanced and uniform working
rules adopted.
Members of the unions here began yes
terday balloting on demands intended to ne
made January 2 next.
The result of the ballot will be known
December 20.
The Order of Railroad Conductors and
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen are
working together In formulating demands
which Will be presented to the di1erent
railroads simultaneously.
If these demand are not met, Ii IS
threatened that more than thirty railroads
will be tied up at once.
Radical changes and increases of pay are
to be asked in every branch of the service
A circular outlining plans for the move
ment has been received by union railroad
men.
One of the changes demanded Is the abo-
lition of the "double-header' 1.-TWO loco
motives with only one train crew., the two
engines to be permitted in extraordinary
cases only.
The l"double-header'' was the question
over which the Pennsylvania workmeD
quarreled in 1877, and a strike costing
millions of dollars and many lives resulted.
The vote now being taken is not a strike
vote directly, but one to determine senti-
ment of the men as to the questions pro-
posed. The principal demands outlined
are as follows:
"A-On runs of $500 miles per month, or
over. Nthe pay of passenger conductors to
be 2i7s cents per mile, b-aggagemen. 1.65
cents per mile; hagmen, 1.56 cents per
mile; brakemen, LAG cents per mile.
Bon runs Of $500 miles or less per
month, the pay of passenger conductors
to be not less than $4.25 per day; baggage
men. s2.55 per day: fiagmen, s2.35 per day;
brakemen, $2.25 per day.
"C-Overtime in through passenger serv-
Ice to be based on a speed of twenty-five
miles per hour, to be computed from the
time the men are required to report for
duty, and to continue until they are re-
lieved at the end of the run, and to be
paid for at the following rates: Conduct
ors, 42.5 cents per hour; baggagemen, 25.5
cents Der hour: f1agmen, 23.5 cents per
hour; brakemen, 22.5 cents per hour, less
than thirty minutes not to be counted;
thirty minutes or over, to be paid for as
one hour"
A numoer of demands of a minor nature.
carrying into effect the demands specified
above, follow, then the demands for freight
are made.
In all freight service. 100 miles or less,
ten hours or less to constitute a days
work; overtime to be considered after ten
hours. On runs of over 100 miles, overtime
to be paid for OF a basis OF speed Of ten
miles per hour. Through and irregular
freight service to be paid for as follows:
Conductors, 38 cents per mile; flagmen,
2.6S cents per mile; brakemen, 81 cents per
mile; 100 miles or less. to be paid for as
100 miles. Local and pickup conductors are
to be paid As cents per mile; fagmen, 2.S
cents per mile: brakemer, 81 cents per
mile. u
Section Q of the circular reads as follows:
with trains of over thirty cars, exc!u-
sive OF caboose, the practise of double
heading is to be discontinued, except In in
clement weather, or to avoid running light;
and helper service to remain as at
present"
1t is set forth that the Chicago sta adarl
of pay are to govern all terminal,
or other important yards. All
yards are to be paid one cent an
hour less than the Chicago rates. Ten
hours or less shall constitute a days work.
Lodges are instructed to have the poll
in the hands of the union chiefs not later
December 20.
On December IS four members Of the
executive committee, two from each or
with Garrettson and Morrissey,
will meet in the Sherman House, Chicago,
to anva the vote. Should the vote be
TO making. the demands, the
chairman Of each system will be notified
by wire.
Then on January 2 a simultaneous de-
mand will be made on the general officers
of the companies.
The general committees of all the rail-
roads will convene on January 20. in the
cities where the railroads have their head
quarters. and demand answers to the
propositions.
Efforts will be made TO arrange confer
ences. but If compromise propositions are
submitted by any of the railroads. COM
mittces of the workmen will not be en-
powered to settle, but must report to the
grand officers, and in case of refusal, the
circular reads they will notify their
grand officers, who will respond to their
call or will advise further or instruct
them"
THE PRODUCE MARKET.