The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-05
LABOR TROUBLES
 ON b|G RAILROAD. Whole o. & c. System Said
 to Be Involved CONFERENCE CALLED
Master Mechanic of Meridian Shops Reticent on Return From Confer
 ence at New Orleans-The Cities Are Stirred Up

Meridian, Miss. December 4.-(SpeciaD.
 Serious labor troubles, involving the Queen and Crescent Railway system are Just now beginning to assume definite proportions. Such is the intelligence gain ed in railroad circles from this city. While this information is unofficial 1t is known to be true.
 United States Commissioner of Labor Charles P. Neill has been called to con- ference at New Orleans and other promi- nent in labor circles will be present to assist in satisfying the difficulties. One of the most important features of the
 case is the demand of the engineers who
 ask for recognition as a district federal
 tion, composed of engineers, conductors,
 brakemen and other railroad employees
 It is said that a raise in wages is also
 demanded, and equal to that paid north of
 the Ohio river. A report which has not
 been denied, is to the effect that a strike
 vote, with but three votes in the nega-
 tive, has been taken by trainmen of the
 New Orleans and Northeastern, the Vickseburg, Shreveport and Pacific and
 the Alabama and Vicksburg railroads.
 The report from the northern portion of
 the lines had not been received.
 Master Mechanic c. Phillips of the local
 shops is reticent in the matter. He has
 just returned from a conference at New
 Orleans and states that he cannot give a statement of any kind. Conference of
 both the officials and the employees are
 held in utmost secrecy and no official
 statement will be given out. .5si t Val Fitzpatrick, vice president of the
 Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen is in
 Meridian, having come to this cty from
 his home at Columbus, o. He was called
 here to look after the interests of the
 members of his union and to negotiate
 with the railroad officials. He will go from here to New Orleans for a confer
 ence. MT. Fitzpatrick, likewise, would not give out a statement of his mission to the south.
 Interesting developments are expected within the next 24 hours
 The first session of the Mississippi Methodist conference will be held tonight at Central Methodist church, when a. meeting of the Mississippi Historical so- ciety will be held. The history of Mis- sissippi Methodism will be the subject for discussion for the evening. An ad- dress will be heard from this subject The formal opening of the conference will be observed Wednesday morning with a
 business session at o'clock.
 The contract for the erection of Car negie library for the colored people of Meridian has been awarded and work will commence at once.
 Andrew Carnegie, in giving donation to Meridian for a public library for white people, also gave $S0O0 toward building a | library for the negroes. The colored people of the city donated fine building I-x ...1 Lar- 14Ifr ra1 fn anrf fha in stitution, once that it is started. Plans are being drawn for the public library for white citizens, and the contract will be awarded within the next few weeks. All Meridian and even many Of the l larger cities of Mississippi are stirred up over the proposed commission govern | ment bill as drafted by committee from the Meridian board of trade and cotton exchange, and which will be ratified by that body on Tuesday might next. A
 mass meeting has been called for Tues day night, December 5. at which time the proposed bill will be considered, and which will receive the indorsement of the board of trade. This bill is intended for all cities of Mississippi which wish to adopt the commission form of government. The bill will be presented at the next legis- lature for consideration and adoption. The bill in question will kill all laws that now exist as regards the ruling of cities. It is not believed that it will receive strong support in Meridian.
 The main features of the proposed bill are that three men, a mayor and two councimen, shall rule the city, they to have all power. The initiative, referen- dunn and recall are also incorporated in the bill. There has been considerable dis
 cussion as to whether or not there should be the recall feature, but it was decided by the committee that the bill should have all of the clauses incorporated in the modern commission government city. A statewide meeting will be called to discuss the bill and offer suggestions be- fore it is finally put before the legis- lature.
 A lively fight is anticipated by the fac- | tions in this city.