The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
NO GRIPPING

are represented In the negotiations.
| They embrace all the lines west of a
/ line north and south running through
| Chicago and reaching from the Cana
dian line to the gulf including the I'LL
| nois Central system.
| Demands of the Men.
The demands of the men are as fol-
| lows:
1.-The pay of passenger conductors,
| train electricians, milk conductors
collectors. baggagemen, f1agmen and
! brakemen, to be increased 5 per cent
| over rates effective Nov I, 1906, with
no increase over present mileage.
Overtime for passenger men to be
| based on an average speed of not less
than 20 miles per hour, and to be paid
| for at through freight rates.
AN increase of Is per cent in through
| and irregular freight, local, mixed,
pusher, work. and construction train
service over rates in effect November
~One hundred miles or less, eight
hours or less, to constitute days
work in through and Irregular freight
service.
overtime to be paid as follows: The
first three hours to be paid at the rate
of 1917 cents per hour the fourth and
each succeeding hour at the rate of
one and one-half times the rate of pay
per hour.
Local freight and mixed train crews
on main line and branches to be paid
of service performed, with an allowance
of time and one-half for each hour S
overtime so earned.
zone hundred miles or less, ten hours
or less, shall constitute days work in
work and construction train service,
overtime pro rata.
In no case shall the overtime rate
per hour be less than that paid for the
preceding regular service honrs.'' *
The eight hour clause is the stumbling
block. s'Tfie engif1 eefse held out for this
concession, but the general managers
were firm and won the point against
them. The eight hour day means the
increasing of the running orders to 1914
miles an hour. instead of ten, as at
trains, SO that drag trains and dead
hauls may be operated under faster
train orders; and when the schedule
is not made, the overtime begins two
hours sooner on the days work.
The companies contend that under the
pressure of traffic this demand is un
reasonable and unwarranted, and would
work a hardship alike on the company
and the patrons of the road.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen have assembled
their executive committee in Chicago.
together with the chairmen of the
grievance committees of the different
railway employees for the conference,
but they will not be accorded hearing
outcome of the present conference
whether or not they will be considered
at all. Several of the railways con-
cerned have contracts with the fire
mems organization that run for some
time yet and it is said in railway cir
cles that they cannot present as strong
a case as the two classes which are
now being considered.
Has Contract for This Year.
The Chicago & Northwestern system
has a contract with it's men running
until January l. 1908, and several of the
other lines are similarly situated: The
contentious that exist between the en-
gineers' organizations and f1remen's
union may influence the firemen to put
up a fight more stubborn and persistent
than either of the present classes.
John J. Hannahan. grand master of
the fremen's brotherhood, has compile
ted his preliminary work of drafting the
demands for his union, and will present
them to the general managers immedi-
ately.
Construction May Not Be Affected. |
Railroad building interests will suf-I
fer less than any other interests in |
consequence of the advances made In
iron and steel. says the Railway and !
Engineering Review. The recent adj |
vanceG made are on the minor pro-
ducts chiefly, and as the railroad nee
essities are pretty well covered for the
coming year, the present furry in |
prices will not cause much inconven- !
ience Extraordinary expansion is in |
progress, and it is not going far out OF |
the way to say that the proposed ex-
in additional iron and steel !
capacity now under way, and to be |
during the coming year, |
will be but very little under $f50,O00,- |
OOO This looks like enormous figures |
for expansion only. but the condition
of the country warrants the outlay in |
view of the possible heavy work to be |
done by railroads in laying additional |
tracks and in a general expansion of |
TRANSFORMATION facilities.
New Boiler House at Ration.
The new boiler house and power |
house being erected by the Santa Fe |
railroad company near their machine |
ehons at Ration. are rapidly approach |