Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13
REFUSE FIREMEN'S DEMANDS
Conference Splits Over Status of
Engineers in Fremen's Union.
STRIKE NOW SEEMS PROBABLE
Conductors and Trainmsn on Balti-
more a Ohio Have Their Scale
Adjusted ny Media
ton.

SAAASE1Cs NAhAAAA - ~ ~
announced that the committed Of railroad
managers yesterday refused in substance
every concession demanded by the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Firemen and Engine
men, representing 5000 men on forty-nine
| different roads running through the west
and southwest, excepting arbitration OF the
wage question.
The men had voted by an overwhelming
majority to strike. and this vote was laid
before the railroad managers committee
yesterday by the committee representing
the men.
The men are more insistent that the
managers concede them the right to be
represented by a committee OF their own in
the application Of the seniority rules. than
they are for a wage advance.
An average of l2h per cent advance is
the final demand Of the firenien. They
claim that the schedule submitted last No
vember has been modified in the hope
that an amicable adjustment could be
made.
The bone OF contention regarding a COM
mittee OF their own on seniority rules, lies
in the fact that there are a number of
engineers In the Brotherhood OF Firemen
and Enginemen.
The latter organization claims that the
firemen get the worst Of the bargain when
disputes on seniority arise under present
conditions, because the engineers are repre-
scented by a committee of the Brotherhood
Of Locomotive Engineers.
They want the railroads to recognize the
right of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Englnemen to represent its
own members, whether they are engineers
or firemen. The railroads refused emphati-
eally, 1t L. said, to accede to this request
and declare that they will deal with only
the organization representing only one class
of employee
An official OF the firemen's union said to-
night that a strike appears imminent
Arguments were closed today in the pro-
ceedings between the railroads ana the
Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen. before
the State Board OF Arbitration. The mem
bers OF the board will meet Monday and
take q trip through the yards, Their award
10 expected some time next week.
No Strike on u. q o.
BALTIMORE, March 12.-There VIII be
no strike Of conductors or traInmen on the
Baltimore a Ohio railroad, COMMISSIONS
OF Labor Neil early this morning having
brought to a successful conclusion his ef-
forts as mediator in the wage dispute be-
tween the railroad and the men.
/ HAafo the OASIS OF beLlteneuA WA9 not
announced 1t was learned that consider
able concessions were made on both sides
and that in a general way the men and
the officials met half way. This is true
Of ali matters IN controversy except the
question OF double-header freiEhts, for the
abolition OF which the men asked. BY
mutual agreement this question was laid
aside for settlement hereafter.
At the conclusion Of the conference this
morning Commissioner Nell declined to
make any statement other than a settle
ment satisfactory to both sides had been
reached.
President Garretson OF the Conductors
union and President Lee Of the Brother
hood OF Trainmen, issued a statement
which reads In part:
Thousands OF men on the Baltimore &
Ohio can be thankful thai through the
spirit OF fairness shown on the part Of the
company and the committee, exceeded by
the patient efforts and good Judgment of
Commissioner Nell and Chairman Knapp.
q serious strike has been avoided, not only
on this railroad but on others in the ter
ritory."