Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-28
n. r. Fuller, National Executive
Representative Of Locomotive
Engineers, Writes It.
JUDGE TAFT's LABOR RECORD.
Most Important Part Conspicuous by
lis Absence from Presidents
Reply to Mr.. Grace.

Pittsburg, Oct. 21.--H. r. Fuller.
Of Beaver Falls. Pa. national exccu-
tive representative of the Brother
hoods OF Locomotive Engineers, Fire
men, and Railroad Trainmen, tonight
gave the Associated Press a copy OF
letter which lie yesterday mailed to
President Roosevelt commenting upon
the presidents letter to p. II. Grace,
tinancicr of Lodge No. d6, Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen. who in
behalf Of himself and associate rail-
road emplaycs, wrote to the president
asking how they could best serve
their own interests in the present
campaign. The presidents reply
urged the support of Judge Taft for
the presidency, and discussed at
length the candidates attitude on
questions affecting labor.
In his letter Mr.. Fuller says
l am at d loss to understand Why
Mr. Grace Should seek information
and advice regarding Judge TafPs
attitude toward the railroad employees
of the country from the very one
whose influence and administra-
ton were used to bring about ms
nomination and is now being used to
secure his election, when Mr.. Tattss
labor decisions have been discussed
in the lodge rooms and printed and
comm ejnted upon in the magazines OF
the various organizations Of LABOR, IN
Guiding those of the brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen, of which Grace
and myself are members. Had he
consulted such publication he would
have given the complete labor record
of Mir. Taft, rather than partial
one, and bot, he and his fel'ow
employees throughout the country VINO
read Your reply would be in posses
sion of the ferts rather than being
in the position Of having been ms,
led by the president of the United
states. The most important part OF
Mr.. Tafts labor record is conspicu-
Gus by its absence from your reply.
and it is to supply TINS deheiehcS
that | write this letter.
Mr. Fuller then refers to the ue,
cision OF Judge Taft in the United
states circuit court for the southern
district of Ohio, April 80 1894. declin-
ing the petition Of employees oil the
Cjncinnati New orleans & Texas rail-
road that an order of receiver reduc-
ing wages 10 per cent be rescinded. lie
quotes at length from the decision'
In which Judge Taft states that from
a '.strictly legal standpoint the cn2-
ployes have no standing III this court
ia call for an Adjudication of any
rights. The court is limited in the ex-
ercise OF its discretion to such action
as may be consistent with the preser-
walton of the property and its admin
istration in the interests of those who
own it,
The reduction was approved,
May 81 following. MIR. Fullers letter
states, the employees petitioned the
court to direct the receiver to modify
the wage scale which Judge Taft de-
clined to do. The decision on this por-
ton is quoted at length, including
reference to a change in pay for over
time, which virtually was reduction
in wages Trainmen therefore, had
been paid overtime when q train was
over 35 minutes late, but by a ruling
OF the receiver this was changed to
overtime for two hours or more late.
the receiver alleging that under the
old rule trains were unnecessarily de-
layed The decision upheld this
change 1t also recites that while
some railroads in the same district
were paying higher wages for similar
service, others were paying the same
or less Mr.. Fuller contends that 1t
is an injustice TO compel employees to
work over time without compensation.
He then cites decisions of other fed
eral judges in what he contends are
similar cases. where proposed reduce
lions in wages by receivers are pro-
hibited by the court