The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-16
OFFICERS AND WORKMEN
TALKING MATTER OVER
Representatives Of Machinists
and Other Branches in Confer
ence With Railway Officials
in Washington-Ex-
pect the Men to
Accept.
Times-Dispatch Bureau.
Munsey RuildInp
washing,on. Is. G Fer.

Vice-President and General Manager
c. H. Ackert. of the Southern Rail-
way, disclosed the fact this afternoon
that 1t is the intention of the mana ge-
ment to reduce the salary of every en-
ploye of the company. He made the
statement that between 10000 and A.
600 men would be affected.
The wage adjustment now under way
In Washington, which effects only
machinists, boiler makers, blacksmiths
timers and carmen, will be followed by
other conferences within the next week
or ten days. applying to engineers, fire.
men, conductors. brakemen. flagmen
skilled labor In the service Of the COM
pany.
Before 1t Is over about $4,000 em-
ployes of the Southern Railway will
have been affected" said Mr.. Ackert
WIS Only First Step.
The preliminary steps looking to the
wholesale reductions occurred some
weeks ago. when President Finley an
nounced q reduction in the salaries of
all executive officers and their office
forces. from the president down, of 10
per cent This reduction was effective
February LIST, and was largely local
to Washington, where most Of the
executive and general Offices are To-
Gated. Its effect was felt to-day, when
the officers and employees received their
salary checks for the first two weeks
of February.
Although there is no question as to
a general reduction all along the line,
| it is impossible to ascertain positively
or even get an approximate estimate
of how much money the Southern Rail
way will save by it's policy ofretrenci1-
mant. None of the officials will dis
cuss this feature, and the employees
profess TO have no idea
| Conference With Men.
Representatives of the machinists.
| ca rmen, blacksmiths, boilermakers and
timers. headed by James OConneli,
president Of the International Associa
ton OF Machinis.s, held a preliminary
conference with President Finley, Cen
eral Manager Ackert and Superinterd :
ent of Motive Power Stewart to-day.
The railroad officials suggested the
restoration Of the scale of wages in
effect prior to the general increase
about year ago. and this is the ques.
tton under consideration. No definite
lconclusion was reached to-day, and the
conferences Will be resumed Monday.
The impression among the nachtn-
lists to-day was that an agreement be
tween employer and employees would
| largely depend upon the feouctioa pfo-
posed and the length Of time it would
be effective. 1t was htnted that the
men would not view favorably any
great permanent reduction in their
wages. The conference. it was said
was called by the Southern Railway
and not by the machinists themselves.
Among the representatives of the
larger shops in conference to-day were
Howard C. Bueck. secretary OF the
| committed OF Salisbury: Vice-Presl-
dent A. c. Hollingsworth, Macon; Id
ward Gardner, Richmond; Georgs
Ehlers, Atlanta: S. Smith. Selma: W. J
smith, Columbia, S. c.: ]. All!meda
| Charlestown, and Delegate Dunkel, OF
Salisbury. Archie McGilfrey, of ths
international Association. acted az
| chairman of the committee.
Expect Them to Accept.
From an unofficial source It was
Learned that the railroad company is
| confident that its proposal for re-
| duction will be accepted, and 1T Is
/ stated that it is laying much store by
| the fact that over 10000 machinists
are out of employment, looking fol
work. They believe that this fact Of
itself will force the nachinists TO ac-
| cept the terms offered.