Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-13
LITTLE FREIGHT ON
PENNSYLVANIA LINES
More, Chiefly Local, Being Hand
led by B. g. 0. and
Reading.
MEN WHO ARE OUT
HAD MEETINGS TODAY
They Say They Look for Fur
ther Desertions This
Afternoon.

Despite the fact that trainmen, en-
cineers and firemen voted To quit their
lobs Yesterday and last night, because
they seek an increased scale oil wages
passenger trains were moving on prac-
tiealIv scheduled time on the Pennsyl-
yania. Baltimore & Ohio and Philadelphia
4 Reading railroads today. None OF the
schedules have been cut since Saturday,
and while the walkout of the men has
nut the railroads 10 considerable lncon-
venience and considerable monetary loss,
the public has been accommodated Just
about as usual.
The men quitting claimed today that
the B. x o. and Il. K X. tralnmen voted
last night to quit at o clock tins alter
noon and there have been some defec-
tions on both these roads, but both roads
were operating passenger trains ana
considerable freight.
On the Pennsylvania, passenger trains
were running as usual, with the exception
Of the six trains north and south from
Washington to New York. that were COM
hned with other trains on sunday
The engineers and hremen and most OF
the conductors are standing loyal and
the clerical forces OF the offices are being
used 10 act as fiagmen and brakemen.
Ticket collectors-men who know how TO
punch tickets-are being utilized TO help
conductors on long trains that make many
stops.
Eden Hall has been made HEADQUARTERS
OF the quitters, who were TO have had a
meeting there this morning.
Some men from the Pennsylvania rail-
road shops are out, though, as lar as Is
known, there has been no general walkout
agreed upon, at least up 10 this time. One
Of the men out SAID today that he quit
four DAYS ago and others had quit also
IN the last week or so, because they were
unable 10 obtain what they understood
they were to get IN the matter OF pay.
Engineers and hremen met in Eden Hall
this morning and discussed the situation.
They said after adjournment at noon
that no vote had been taken at the meet
ing but that they were going to reconvene
at 80 this afternoon and thresh out some
things that they wanted discussed. They
said that some men had quit their jobs.
MAINTENANCE OF WAY MEN LOYAL
Maintenance of Way men who it was
reported would quit today IN sympathy
with the trainmen, are still at their posts.
Tickets are being sold for practically all
points. but no Pullman seats are being
sold
The Pennsylvania station at the foot
of French street, presents an unusual
appearance today because of the prepara-
tions made by the officials Tor any EN-
gency Long lines of passenger coaches
are lined up at the station, so that there
would be no need for switching crews to
shift them Extra engines with steam
up and fully manned are waiting at the
station for the time they are scheduled
to depart.
While the B. & o. and P. & r. are
moving freight. the Pennsylvania is not
SO fortunate. Some freight trains are
being moved on the latter system, but
the resources of the freight division are
being absorbed by the passenger division,
so that the interests of the travelling public
NAV be catered TO as much as possible.
The Pennsylvania has freight embargo
that embraces Wilmington, Claymont-
Chester, Eddystone and Philadelphia,
but freight Is being transported to all
points on the Delaware and Maryland
divisions.
Yesterday all of the shifting or switch
ing crews at Baltimore quit. Today every
crew was being replaced, the places of the
men who quit being taken by officials and
the business in freight and passenger ser
vice is going on just the same as custom
airy.
WHAT THE MEN WANT.
II was said today that the men who
are going out are doing so in order to OBJ
tain what they demanded about Is months
ago when the railroads were being run by
the government. At that time they made
a demand for a substantial increase in
paw. About one-third OF what was asked
for was allowed, but that appears not to
have been satisfactory and their present
demand, il is understood, is practically
renewal Of the original.
II is said that scores of clerks have
cen utilized as fagmen and brakemen,
these clerks having passed tests in the
book rules, and fitted to act In the ca
pacity of trainmen for just such emer-
gencies as have occurred.
NO TROUBLE DOWN STATE.
There is no trouble down-State, it is
reported. Trains are running on schedule
and people who came TO this city today
reading Of the quitting of the men, were
surprised 10 fin trains running.
On the Pennsylvania road the same as
the other lines operating in this city. the
chief objectors. are said to be young men,
many of them unmarried and large
number Of whom are unassigned, having
no regular runs All lists of regular runs
have been abandoned during this con-
tingency, and crews are being sometimes
put on trains returning Immediately to the
points from which they have just come
In order TO maintain schedules.
According to the quitting trainmen,
they have named committees who are
now working on new union organizations
that they hope will succeed the present