The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-26
Conductors and Engineers
 Display Fair Spirit.
WILLING FOR TEMPORARY CUT
All Differences Win Probably Be
 Adjusted.
Railroad Empleyes Recesnise, Poor Busines. of the Road. snd the Usfavorable CoadItioas, But
 want Cut Tempsrary.

The proposed reduction of wages of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers and the order of Railway Con- ductors on the Louisville and Nashville and the Atlantic Coast Line is in a fair way of a satisfactory settlement within the next day or so.
 R. o. Powell. local chairman of the adjustment committee of the local di- vision No. sS. Of the Order of Railway Conductors and Ed Rhodes, chairman of the adjustment committee of the local division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. left yesterday for Louisville. Chairmen of the ad- Justment committees of every division on the Louisville and Nashville sys- tom have been called to Louisville to confer with the oftictais of the road in regard to the proposed reduction of wages.
 About one year ago the Louisville and Nashville officials voluntarily made a material increase in the saia- ries of transportation men. The prop osition of the ofiiciais now is to take out the increase recently given ana put the wages of the conductors and engl- neers back to the basis of 1908. A rough average of the wages paid the conductors then was $12o month (fhe overtime, extra runs, etc., not being fucIuded), and the increase last year made the salaries of the conductors s127.50 a month.
 The present reduction will take of this s7.s0 amonth or $90 8 year. The engineers are about on the same basis as the conductors. In discussing the matter yesterday local Louisville ana Nashville conductor and one of the local engineers of that company said that it was pretty sure that both orr ders through their consDlittees in Louisville would agree to the proposed reduction, but that the officials would be asked to put hack the proposed reduction as soon as the business de- pressfon on the road ceased and the increase could be given.
 Conductor Forbes, chairman of the adiustment committee of the order of Railway Conductors of the Atiantic Coast Line in Montgomery, who has bean in Wilmington with, the other committees of the o. R. E., on the Coast Line in regard to the proposed reduction, returned to Montgomery yesterday. He said that no action was tsi-sn for the present, but fin talking of inc matter another one of the Coast Line men said that there is no doubt but that the conductors will agree to the reduction.
 eve realize" he continued. "that our couluany cannot pay the wages with hundreds of cars standing lole ana business falling off every day that they formerly could when every car avai4hle was in use and business fin every department was good. Still it Is pretty hard on us and we think that just as soon as business tustifies it the company should put our wages back to where they are noy-and think that there is no doubt or me fact that this will be done.
 Enrineer Weatherford, chairman of the ad3uptment committee of the Mont roulery B. L. Els. of the Atlantic Coast Line is stil1 In Wilmington. where the B. L. Els and the officials of the Coast Line are conferring in regard to the proposed reduction. One of the locai enm:aeera of the Coast Line said yes- terday that he thought there would be no trouble and that the engineers would agree to the same reduction thai the conductors will get.