The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-30
WIDE RANGE OF TROUBLE.
forty-two Western Roads Involved
in Labor Situation.
lSlecIaI II N HeraIdl

Chicago. March z9.-EmplOycs of FORTY
Two western railroads, with annual nay
rolls of almost S3a400000. will comDlefe
strike ballot this week Some of the
union leaders are urging the men 10 re
yect increases exceeding 10 per cent and
ether concessions already made by the
carriers.
The railroad managers claim that the
demands of the men are unreasonable in
the extreme and it is not believed that
the public would tolerate a strike at the
present time. m view Of The very liberal
concessions which have been made to the
men IN recent months.
Of the eleven principal western roads.
mat pay out yearly in wages 1924 600 600
the Southern Pacific heads the list with a
payroll et Sl0o0,0@ and together with the
mon Pacific forms the largest element
ln the acute wage situation now pending
lhe two Hartman lines pay out So 600 =
tv year more in wages than the Grea (
Northern and the Northern Pacific COM
bined.
Increases Rejected.
The Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen
ana me brotherhood Of Railway Conduct
urS nave rejected offers of increases
winch amount to about l0.5 per cent in
+ddlilon 10 the higher wages ranging from
- 10 70 per cent granted three years ago
ne roads represented in the recent con-
ference ln Chicago, including the Union
racine and Southern Pacific. the Atchi-
son. Burlington, Northwest. st. Paul,
Illinois Central, Rock Island and others
offered 10 per cent increase in the
freight service. Which means practically
an Increase Of from % to IS per cent in
helper and construction train service not
outstanding 10 per cent increase in 1903
10 the same men.
Passenger conductors were offered $40 q
monthSmOre brakemen and flagmen s.
and baggagemen So a month increase. As
most of the passenger conductors are now
PAID $40 a month. the increase offered
would give to them $50 a month, with
lay-oveTs' Of as much as fOrty-twO
cific
Other concessions were made bv the
railroads in allowing overtime O. men in
me passenger service, and fixing ten
AoufS or less 100 miles or less To cOnsti-
llie day The increase offered in over
Tine rates was 10 per cent. Overtime for
conductors. bTakemen. flagmen and bag
sdgemeu was 10 sbe allowed on the basis
" ntteeI~-milcS an hour at % cents an
leuri ~ cents per hour for other train
men The engineers were satisfied with
increases no better. If as good. as the
ueinmcn and conductors have rejected.
New Spirit Noted.
Railroad managers say that an entirely
~ spirit Is manifest among their enl-
moves under the present leadership of the
Unions In place Of the disposition to
meet Inc employers on fair terms. the
EeoomnatinS elements now appear to
eaoF coerclVe measures. An instance Of
.H's' the rdllr Dad managers claim. IS the
present threat of a strike to enforce the
0ueme Of the mems demands. The in
S.ease OF railroad accidents due to lax
usclpline is also said TO be a noticeable
.,sult Of the present leadership of some
IT me railway brOtherhoOds
several of the railroad managers have
sloated that the increased wages Of
1ea are the best that they can make
ipVQally in view of the fact that with
-aoF forcing wages Up and the state leg
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