New-York tribune., 1908-08-05
NO POINTS TO ARBITRATE.
Lacka7canna Only Maintaining Dis
cipline, Says Trade Journal.

Regarding the trouble between the Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company and Its
swftchmen, the Coal Trade Journal will say to-
day:
There has been considerable published within the
past lew days relative to a probable strike or
sw-tchmen on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West
10 Commissioner Neil and to other outside par
ties such as the public has grown accustomed to
of the case do not appear to grant much opportu-
nifty for outside interference the whole matter
being subject Of ordinary railroad discipline and
involving no disputed points for learned arbitra-
tors.
1t appears that according to local regulation
of the switchmen's union at Buffalo the switching
consist of three men in addition to engineer and
fireman. excepting in case of emergency. 1t fur-
back member of one of the switching crews
excused for the night because of alleged illness
after working d while until the extra men VINO
usually wait around looking for assignments had
gone n me fat dhe two @ en s SoTbande
The yard master explained that the other member
extra men had SIZE home Under the crcuIn-
stances, the case could be considered an emergen-
cy he thought, but the two other swftchmen re-
fused work. putting the rules of the union above
their obligation to their employee and the s"iteH f
engine laid and no more work oone thaC
As result of the occurrence. the two men who
stances were discharged the next day for lnsq9
l and the whole mattsT ma WaS spen
tendent. The union being dissatisfied with the
Su{S%e g Tarke at and as it was
TN,
thought that the matter might possess some IN
portance the case was taken up by MT Sarke WIN b
maintenance Of discipline REQUIRED & I that tona thG
officers of the switchmens union were called naT Into
Se wtS PTesden Ry hs sought
the whole matter subject for local Jurlsso@lco @
foad reR snd aedorRg to TeS ready clearly
Mad BY Sad the 1t presdent
had been kept informed Of the action OF oeneIal
Superintendent Clarke in the matter ana approveu %
For several years past there has been criticism.
dents on American railroads It has been recog-
nized that many of them are due to lack of dis
because railroad officials psrtculary under ar ine n
cIined to overlook violations of rules other
SHORTCOMINGS. The I.ackawanna has been partiff++ g
has observed the policy of paving the 1sa highest
trea4g r4 the fary nd and nopanoe ddf with
the rules The trouble with the switchrnen seems seems
Of a company has the right 10 compel its employees
10 conform to lis directions In the CONDUCT OF IT'S
ira f en vontary violations of it's rules and
instructions may be deemed i nscessar{ @ he carry
The rnaintenanre OF strict discipline should meet
with the hearty support of press and public but
already there are indications that in the cCsltro-
TeGsy gard 9p te m papers are inclined to side
the men and against the company o4a OF course
hut If company is to be obliged to submit to de
csions outside parties In connection WIN Hlcl-
dents involving insubordnati0n and interfeFence ere &c
officer of railroad COMPANY become tn the rame
farcfcal conditions will arise from hoosenei a.
unseemly interference In the west folht caue'
cd the absence of President Truesdale VicePresi-
dent Loomis states It is the stude of the
company is mainained in all respects feenhg i IHao
this is the only proper course 70 nects ,r ~
the road