The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-03
NOADvANCE BYM.&O.
ENGINHE1kS GIFT CANDID REPLY
 FROM OEF1CIALS.
TeaA Dy Messxs. Rsssell and Taylor that A4verse Liquidation Makes
 tneEsased ExDenses By Company Impossible.

s
 Mobile. April )--An- nouncemsnt was made today that the increase In wages asked for by en- gineers employed by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad between Mobile and St. Louis had been denied.
 The general wage adjustment com mittee of the engineers held confer ence with the railroad oficials yester- day. When they explained their case to the officiais of the road, the men were attentively listened to, but Gen eral Manager R. " Taylor told the men that at present their request could not be complied with.
 The men did not end their case here, but called on Col B. L. Russell, Vice. President of the company, who also gave them a hearing. at the conclu- that legislation was being enacted against the railroads which greatly diminished the profits of the roads and at present he was sorry to say their demands could not be granted.
 The men will carry their case fur ther. as they invited General Manager Taylor and Vice. President Russell to attend conference to be held in At- lanta the latter part of this month. when the matter will again be brought before the officials of the company. The request by the men is 10 per cent increase in wages for the road engineers and Is per cent for those em- ployed as engineers on switch engines. The engineers give as rason for the request for an increase that the work Is getting harder and the amount of labor performed is greater than the payroll calls for.
 The action of the railroad officials in refusing to grant the request caused a surprise in railroad circles, and the be- lief is expressed that the road will in the near future grant the increase.
 Strike of l.. and N. Ynrdmen.
 Its has developed that the men brought here by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company from Lou- isville and Cincinnati are really strike breakers, as 1t has been learned that ten of the swftchmen in the employ of the road have been discharged from the service of the company, their places to be filled by the men now in the city.
 The President of the Switchmen's Union stated that the men were dis charged from the employ of the com pany on account of their activity in asking for an increase in wages and threatened to strike if they were not granted the increase they asked for.
 In statement given out by the com mittee representing the switchmen, 1t is said that several weeks ago at a meeting of the switchmen a committee of three was appointed to call on John Bose, an official of the Louisville and Nashville, and tell him they wanted an increase in wages, which they con- scientiously thought due them. The committee emphatically denies stating that the men would go on a strike if their demands were not granted and in this they contradict MT. Bose
 The yard officials of the Louisville and Nashville say that the men were discharged because they were not loyal to the company in asking for an in- crease in wages and in agitating a strike.
 Superintendent Charles Marshall is in the city and is conferring with the men in an effort to adjust the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned. Com pany officials state that no trouble Is expected.