Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-24


The first question at issue, that
of placing certain runs on a road
basis in the vicinity of Pittsburgh
was taken up and it was made very
clear by the speaker that the ar
ranging of these runs as that at
present exists was done at the ex-
press wish of the employees them
selves, which statement was borne
out by quotations from vebatim
statements taken at the time the
subject was discussed on that por-
ton of the system. 1t ppears the
men do not dispute the fact that the
runs In question are properly road
runs, but they feel that the high
rates of pay hat obtain in yard SER
vice should be applied to the brake
men on these runs, whereas the 9TH
er members Of the crew should re-
ceive road rates because they hap
pen to be higher.
The next question taken up was
the demand of the men that on runs
terminating at Philadelphia an In
creased allowance should be made
for taking q train to what Is term
ed 40th street yard, which Is slight
ly yer one mile from the Sind
street yard. 1t was made very plain
to those present hat on these runs
the rate at present allowed exceeds
the mileage made by ten or twelve
miles and that a further allowance
could not reasonably be expected
from the company.
The question of allowing a mini
mum day payment to extra passen-
ger conductors it was explained
meant that should a brakeman be
directed to perform service as a con-
ductor after working an hour or SO
as a brakeman, he should be allow
ed a days pay as brakeman In addi-
ton to a days pay as conductor,
which, 1t is claimed, Is contrary to
the fundamental principal that a
man perform some service for the
money received.
The assigning OF track foremen to
the position Of conductor, 1t WAS ex-
planned, referred to but two in
stances on the entire system of the
road east Of Pittsburgh, which had
taken place three and two years re-
%spectively ago on some unimportant
branches and bad only just been
brought to light through the claim
of certain individuals hat these
runs should be given to them.
The main point at issue vas the
electric service between New York
and Newark, In regard to which
Engineman Compton stated so much
had been said that all thoroughly
understood the situation. However,
he again pointed out to those pres
ent that no man had been reduced
in rank because of this service, that
no n had been thrown out of en-
ployment and stated:
No Men Throw Out OF Work.
ut is a we'll known fact Thai the
establishment of the McAdoo Elec-
trio Service did not result in any
employe being thrown out of work,
the most extreme efforts being made
by the company to take care of its
employees in line with their general
policy. To expect the railroad com
pany to make promises on some
thing that has not yet developed is
unreasonable to say the least as no
n can anticipate conditions likely
to exist a number Of years hence.
Further, to make such promises
would mean, as it were, showing
their hand to a competing line and
thereby placing them at the mercy
of hat competing line with bad re-
suits for the employe. Whether OF
not the company have any we'll de-
fined Idea OF their mode of proceed
ure in connection with the electrif-
cation Is unknown but most assur-
eddy, II they have, 1t would not be
we'll for them as a company, or for
us at its employees, to make such
ideas known and thereby permit
other companies to take advantage
of such knowledge to the disadvan-
tage of the company and the men,
Appeal to the Men.
Appeals were made by various
employees present to the Judgment of
the men as possessing sufficient in
~tellect capable of properly acting In
this matter.
other local officials, had been invit-
ed to the meeting, and Mr.. Grace ex-
pressed his regret hat no more of
the trainment were present to hear
the other side Of the subject, and
in view of the fact that but one side
had been presented to them, he did
not consider n discredit could at
tach to any man, from an ~organiza-
ton standpoint, for refusing to be
governed by the Instructions of the
organization when but one side of
the issue had be r~peesented at the
time the employees may have voetd
One interesting thing that devel-
oped was the fact that men who
| were not members of the three or
CARNATIONS involved were voted
provided the committeeman ascer-
tanned they were for a strike,
whereas If 1t developed they were
against a strike they were not urg-
ed to vote. 1t was also claimed that
at the meeting some nights previous
the committeeman had a large num-
Der of blank ballots which they dis
tributed freely and some men were
requested to vote as many as three
times. From the opinions expressed
at yesterdays meeting 1t Is quite
probable that should a strike be
called, less than Ave per cent. of the
engineers and fremen in this city
will respond to the strike call, and
1t vas also thought that a large per-
lcentage OF the trainmen and con-
ductors would remain loyal to the
company's interest.