New Britain herald., 1922-08-03
BARDO GIVES ROADS SIDE IN R. R.. STRIKE Tells ROtarians New Haven Is Improving Service
 Daily.


 of applause was given by C. L. Bardo New Haven and Hartford railroad company, at the weekly luncheon of the New Britain Rotary club at the Shuttle Meadow club today Mir Bar do spoke of the strike situation pre- senting the railroads side of the question.
 In his talk Mir. Bardo stated that conditions are bettering themselves on the New Haven road. and with the exception of the roundhouses in East Hartford and Cedar Hills, the working force is about 100 per cent He se. that the road officials have decided to close the roundhouses at New Ha- ven because of it's age and that the house at Leadsvile has 50 per cent working force. He was in hopes. however that 100 per cent force would be employed in all branches of the road by October 1.
 The speaker explained that when the strike order went into effect, 7.o0o mechanical craftsmen left the employ of the railroad, leaving 273 supervis- ors to talU care of the work. The trains he said were run as usual over the fourth of July despite the fact that so many men had left their posts. Mir. Bardo admitted that it is a hard problem to replace 7.2oo skilled men who left. with new men. but he said that the grade of labor now being em- poyed is much better than when the strike first started and the men are gradually learning the business.
 The speaker also stated that the railroad situation is very much on the the men, He said that when the roads weN returned to private own ership, increases in pay were made but the road officials believed it to be too much for after the war prices and thus the matter was brought before the railroad board MT Bardo also admitted that he wouldn't be a bit surprised if settlement Nas reached before October 1.
 He said that the maintenance of way of the railroads cannot be ne glected and at the time the strike was called, there were 1,S00,0oO new ties to be laid and 70,oo0 tons of rail to be replaced.
 The speaker touched briefly upon the seniority question, but from what | was said it was learned that he is entirely opposed to having the strik- CTS return and granting them their old | seniority rights.
 Mir. Bardo said that the new men who have been employed on the road have formed an association of their own for the protection of their own rights and will not have outside iictation. such as the men who have belonged to the various labor organi- ,ations have had.
 With the formation of the associa- ion the men will be able to meet with the railroad executives to discuss heir wants and needs without first their troubles before an- other body of men, he said. By this method they can choose their own Officers to represent them. and the speaker further stated that he be- ieved the men of this association were planning to have all new men as members but they could not belong o any other labor organization. President Leon Sprague presided at he meeting which was well attended. 1any manufacturing people who were i interested in the subject of Mir Bar , los talk were at the luncheon as the ( 'uests of the Rotary club.
 Attention was drawn to the fall onclave of New England Rotary lubs to be held at New London in eptember of this year New Britain 1en desirous of going are asked to otify Fred Rackliffe as soon as pos ible.
 The next meeting of the club will 2 held on Thursday. August 10, at 1e Shuttle Meadow club.