The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-23
DECLARE DEMANDS
ARE TOO DRASTIC
Railroad Objects to Terms In
sisted on by Telegraph
Operators
o SYSTEMS INVOLVED
IN DEEP CONTROVERSY
General Manager of Southern Is
sues Statement Regarding Diff
ferences at Recent Meeting
in Washington.

Representatives of various tele-
graphers' unions. organized on the
Southern and Norfolk and Western
railroads, are now in conference with
cfsseaais In Washington and Roanoke
relative to an increase I'm wages and
other demands.
These conferences, which have
been in progress for several days. are
said to be anything but harmonious,
the railroads claiming the demands
are entirely too drastic.
The bone of contention Is not q
question OF wages. Instead, II involves
the question of including independent
bring all stations on the two systems
under the rules and regulations gov
erning agent-operators and operators
II Is the contention of the railroads
that the adoption OF such rules would
work materially to their disadvan-
taxe, as many men, exceiiently equip
ped TO iii tho position Of agencies In
large cities where 20 telegraph work
u required Of agents, as Is the case
1t smaiier places.
The Railroad Side.
A railroad man sizes up the situa-
tton from his standpoint as follows:
There are some men who have
been with the company twenty Oh
twenty-five years. located at little sta
tons along the line, where their work
has been of such a character that
they could not possibly III themselves
Tor such positions as that of agent al
Richmond, Dansille. I.ynchburg, Roa-
ASnk Dor of
the large cities. Yet, the union would
force the railroads to I'LL these places
with incompetent men"
Circular letters signed by General
Manager Copeland, Of the Southern.
and dated March 1S, have been mailed
10 all agent-aperators and operators
along the Southern, setting forth the
railroads side of the conference re-
Gently held In Washington betwee n
The Southern.s officials and represent
satives OF the teiegraphers.
Fight on Recent Meeting.
The circular Is worded as follows.
Since March 2 have been deal
Ing with committee of telegra pliers.
consisting of a representative from
each operating division. q total of 20
men Yesterday l offered this full
committee the Queen a. Crescent rules
with the same percentage Of increased
rates chat the q. g. e. operators and
agent-operators accepted two weeks
ago. This morning. upon meeting the
committee, | Ind thar the general
chairman had. without my knowledge.
sent all OF the committee home ex-
cept the general chairman and re-
personalities OF five divisions select
ed from a very small area of the Sys-
tern. Notwithstanding the reduction
Of committee, again this morning
made them the same proposition that
did yesterday. and. in addition TO
that proposition. made them one as
follows: An increase of per cent. in
wages OF all operators and OPP
orators with the seniority rule. which
was acceptable TO the committee yes
terday, with the understanding that
the balance OF our present rules
would be brought UP to date, which
revision Is necessary because of the
enactment of the Federal service law,
The committee refused ia consider
the proposition. for the reason that
the preamble did not include indie
pendent and exclusive agents, which
would bring every station on the
Southern system under the rules and
regulations governing agent-operators
and operators. You also understand
this would include such agencies as
Atlanta, Birmingham. Chattanooga.
Greensboro, Louisville and other sta
tons OF equal Importance. The COM
miftce Withdrew
Question Put to Operators.
Blank forms have also been mailed
recently TO every operator along the
line OF the Southern. making inquiry
II the special committee of five.
which insisted on handling the propo-
sition alone with the Southern Off
t.s, ha tafA
raphers to assume such authority.
The forms contain a number of other
questions bearing on the points at
issue.
Some Of the forms have been de-
livered TO the operators in person.
and, according To Richmond officials
Of the system. the delivery of the
forms by this method was doubtless
responsible for the report that agents
and operators were being personally
solicited to agree to per cent.
increase in wages, regardless OF other
questions in dispute,
Superintendent Pierce. Of the Rich
mond division Of the Southern, with
headquarters here. stated Wednesday
that he had rather leave 1t to the
head ofllcfals In Washington to dis
cuss the controversy.
euperintendent Hutchcns Hero.
Superintendent Pierce returned to
Richmond Tuesday afternoon from
uanvilIe, where ne Joined General
superintendent Hutchens, OF the
Y Northern district OF tho Southern.
who II making his hrst trip OF In
etection over tho lines in this dis
4 tStct. Mr.. Hutchens. who was re-
c6utly Transferred from the Southern
district. with headquarters at Bir-
\ aafn9Iham, accompanied Mr.. Pierce to
Richmond and made trip over the
y ltne to West Point. Va. after his ar
I rival here Tuesday afternoon. He
4 xotuYned to Richmond Wednesday
morning. expressing himself well
pieased with the situation in this sec
h lion.
ST Mr.. Hutchens has number Of per-
scnat friends in Richmond. among
them betng General Freight Agent
Drake. or the Northern lines Of the
n 0puthern. He leaves for Keysvilie
"Wednesday afternoon for an inspec-
taon OF tho Keysville- Durham diyi-
Il n1nn Ihsrr&An -