The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-09-15
NEW RULES IN
EFFECT ON new
HAVEN ROAD
To Govern Promotion
Of Engineers And
Firemen
Protest Against COmpany'S De-
CiSiOn But General Manager
BardO Declares No Favor
itiSm viii Be Shown

New Haven, Sept. 15-General Man
ager C. L. Bardo of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford railroad has
precipitated a decidedly critical sit
| uation by ordering into immediate eff
feet the new set Of rules governing
the promotion and examination of fire
men and engineers, which has been
constantly opposed, and is still oppos-
ed, by the Engineers and F'iremen's
!, Unions. The new rules were posted
! last night and went into effect at once.
! A statement from the road, which ac
companied- the PRONUNCIATION of the
new rules, to the effect that when the
men understand the purposes of the
road in establishing the rules the
will appreciate the fact that no con-
| troversy can exist between the men
and the company where the question OF
safety only is involved is understood
to show that the railroad has adopted
| a decided policy in this matter, which
may lead to a serious clash with the
men.
L. G. Griffing of Cleveland, assistant
grand chief of the National Broth
erhood, who arrived here Saturday to
take charge of the situation the
New Haven system, said last night
that there would certainly be no i'm
mediate break between the men and
the company. 1.-The committee of adj
justment. has asked for another con-
ference with Mr.. Bardo. and we have
every reason TO Dol16Ve LAdC ne Will
grant it, he said.
In the meantime as there is nothing
in the rules that could precipitate an
mediate clash, the men will work as
usual, while the adjustment commit.
tee, instead of working to prevent the
rules from going into effect, will seek
to have them revoked. The men were
evidently surprised by the sudden &C
ton of the road in ordering the new
rules into effect. 1T seems rather
/
road should be in such hurry to
make a change when the old rules
served so well for eleven years 1t Is
certain that there was nothing in the
old rules that caused the recent
wrecks
In the statement ACCOMPANYING the
rules, there is quoted portion Of
letter written by General Manager
Bardo to the adjustment committee
of the men, which reads: CT want to
emphasize as strongly as I can that
which I have repeatedly stated to
your committee that these rules are
designed and submitted after a con-
vincing demonstration that our exist
ing rules do not meet the exaeIing
demands of the service and to comply
terstate Commission and the Public
Utilities Commission of the state of
Connecticut, and are for the sole pur-
pose of increasing the safety of our
patrons and employees"
Just where the engineers and hremen
stand on the matter IN dispute is not
quite clear. In a statement Satur-
day, General Chairman f. S. Evans,
after telling of the roads claim that
the new rules were simply for the spur-
pose of making travel more safe,
said:
The committee Cthe adjustment
committee of the mem met the mat
-
meet all requirements, but that did
not satisfy the management Other
changes, which would in way add
to the safety of the train service, but
were proposed for the purpose of econ
Omy for the company and loss of pay
to the employees were urged by the
mana cement and opposed by the men,
When shown the rules made public
by the road last night, and asked if
they would mean any reduction of pay
to the men, Assistant Grand Chief
Griffing answered in the negative
There is nothing in these rules that
would reduce the pay of the men, ex-
cept in individual cases where men
were not advanced" he said. When
asked about the previous stateme nt
he said he understood that the road
had originally proposed some rule
that would mean a reduction in pay
but that it was not included in this
draft.
The whole adjustment committee
of about twenty-five, from all over
the system, will be in the city today
and immediate steps will be taken to
secure another conference with Mr..
Bar6o.
The following is the official state
ment announcing the change in the
rules, which was given out by the
railroad.
THE ROADS STATEMENT.
announced policy. to adopt and en-
force every reasonable rule and prac-
tfce which experience has shown
would help to protect life and pre-
serve property, the management of
the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad company promulgated
today the new rules governing the
prom otion of firemen to engineers and
of engineers to advanced grades Of
service and for the discipline of both.
These rules take effect imme diateIy.
I'm promuIgating these new rules
for its engineers and firemen there is
no intention on the part of the man
agement to impose hardships or oner-
Gus conditions upon its employees.
They are solely intended to promote
safety in operation. The rules do not
in any way interfere with or change
the hours of service, the rates of pay
or other working conditions. AS
adopted they are practically the same
as on many eastern roads. Regarding
statements appearing in the neWspa-
pers of a controversy in connection
with the adoption of these rules, When
the purposes are understood by the
men involved the management is sat
isfied that they will be accepted as an
honest effort on the part of the man
agement to bring about improved con-
ditions and that no controversy can
exist between the men and the COM
pany where the question of safety
only is involved.
''The obligation of the railroad is
plain. These rules will not interfere
with the seniority of the men except