Part 92
A. We had heard that the men had organized the Trainmen's Union, as they call it, and that a strike was threatened; but on looking at the thing as carefully as we could, we came to the opinion, or we did not believe, that any strike would take place, and we were rather surprised when the strike did take place. We never had any delegations from the men or any committees come to see us.
Q. Were there any complaints from the men after the issuing of the order reducing the wages ten per cent.?
A. There was no formal complaints. A committee of engineers came to see Mr. Scott, and after the interview with him, they asked him to put his statement in writing--what he said to them--the necessity for the reduction and the disposition of the company to restore the wages when the business of the company revived; which he did. In reply, they wrote a letter acquiescing in the reduction, because the company believed it was a necessity, and that they would accept it as cheerfully as they could.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. What time was that?
A. Shortly after the reduction took effect or after it was announced--a couple of weeks before the strike. We never had any communication from any brakemen or firemen or any one respecting that. This running of double-headers, to which they objected, had been practiced on the Pittsburgh division for a number of years, but not to the same extent. Many of the coal trains were running with two engines, and, as a matter of economy, it was decided to run all through trains with two engines. On other portions of the road, we ran fifty or sixty cars to a train, but at that end, we only ran seventeen cars with one engine, and in increasing the numbers of cars, we reduced the number of train hands, and saved expenses; and in order to do this, we decided double-headers. Some of the men objected to that. That may have been a pretext for the strike, but the men were not working any more hours.
Q. Did the issuing of the order running double-headers necessarily discharge any men?
A. It reduced the force of brakeman.
Q. And of engineers?
A. Not of engineers or firemen.
Q. Conductors?
A. Conductors also.
Q. And brakemen?
A. Yes; the men at that time were making short time, because business was slack. They were not making more than three, four, or five days a week--five trips, and the monthly wages were small. We had discharged a good many men--twenty-five or thirty per cent. of the men, but the remainder, of course, would have made better wages, and we paid by the trip only.
Q. How did the business of your company compare with the business done by the company for the three months preceding that time?
A. It was much lighter. The business fluctuated a good deal. There is sometimes a market for grain, in Europe for instance, when the shipments are large, and then again the shipments slack off. That very day I got a message from Mr. McCullough, the vice president of the western lines, stating that there was a brisk demand for cars, and asking me to send cars. If they had only waited a couple of weeks, they could all have had enough to do.
Q. How did the business compare with the amount of business done at the same time in the previous year?
A. We very often have periods of light business, quite as light as that--very often--that last a few weeks or a month or two.
Q. Was that what induced the company to reduce the wages--the falling off of business?
A. No; because we did not anticipate that falling off of business. In fact, the tonnage that year showed an increase, but on account of the low prices at which the business had to be hauled, we are forced to cut down expenses or else break.
Q. Freights were lower than they had been?
A. Yes; they had been decreasing for a number of years. We had to do the work cheaper.
Q. Was that in relation to through and local freights, both?
A. Yes; everything. Our local business was formerly the much larger portion of our trade, and the rates at which they were done were lower than they had been.
Q. Did that ten per cent. reduction apply to all the officers and employés of the road?
A. Yes; to all the officers and employés of the road, from the president down.
Q. Did it apply to the Pennsylvania Central Railroad and all its branches?
A. Yes; the order was given simultaneously to reduce on all the lines east and west of Pittsburgh. It was the second reduction made since the panic of 1873. Our board thought that the shrinkage or rather the reduction in the wages of that class of labor had been much greater than nineteen per cent., and that our men ought to be able to stand that.
Q. When was the first reduction made?
A. In the fall of 1873.
Q. What was the amount of that?
A. Ten per cent.; and then this reduction of ten per cent. made an aggregate reduction of nineteen per cent. on the original pay of 1873. Nearly every other class of labor had come down more than that.
Q. It was the only reduction made since 1873?
A. Yes.
Q. Were any of the employés of the road getting less than a dollar a day?
A. None of the train men were. I think that some of the apprentices in the shops were--the boys--and my impression is that they and the laboring men on the track were getting ten cents an hour, or a dollar a day. When the last reduction was made it didn't apply to the men getting a dollar a day.
Q. A dollar a day, or less?
A. Yes.
Q. Did these men who were working at a dollar a day have an opportunity to put in full time?
A. They worked by the day--full time--and the only thing that caused them to lose any time was bad weather, when they could not work.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You mean the laboring men?
A. Yes; laborers about the shops--unskilled labor--on the track.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Do you know anything about citizens going to Mayor McCarthy and asking him to swear in police officers to maintain peace in the city of Pittsburgh?
A. I don't know. All I know is what Mr. Stewart told me--about the mayor's reply to him when he took a message to him, that he would not swear in the policemen who were discharged--we offering to pay the wages.
Q. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company offering to pay the wages?
A. Yes; I was told he had discharged about a hundred men, and we thought that the hundred men who had been on the force--accustomed to the people--could be better handled. We made the offer to pay them.
Q. Did you ever have any strike before?
A. I don't remember any strike in the last seventeen or eighteen years on the Pennsylvania road.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Had any differences arisen between the employés and the company at any time?
A. Oh, yes; differences have arisen, but none that were not adjusted by compromise.
Q. Was there any difference existing between the company and the employés about the time of the strike on the Reading railroad--you remember there was a strike a few months before on the Reading railroad--principally the engineers?
A. There was no difference, at that time, that I know of.
Q. What is the general policy of your company in such cases--cases of disagreement or dissatisfaction between you and the men?
A. We hear the statement of the men, and if we think they have any just ground for complaint, we endeavor to remedy them, and after we have said so and so, we stand by our position. We looked upon this objection of the men to the running of double-headers as an interference with our own business. We thought that if we would let them say how many engines or cars should go to a train, we might as well give up the management into their hands, so we did not have any discussion about it. But we had no formal complaint. No committee waited on us in regard to that. We simply knew that some of the men objected, but from no person had we any complaint in a formal way. We did not think it a thing that affected the men, personally, but thought it simply a question of management.
Q. Always, when any difficulty had arisen or any complaint had been made, you had come to an amicable solution?
A. It had been the result before. I don't think that any strike on the road has taken place--certainly not since 1860, probably not for two or three years before that. There was a strike of engineers before that which was adjusted by conference.
Q. You knew nothing of the action of the sheriff at Pittsburgh, or the proclamation of the Governor, until you arrived at Pittsburgh?
A. Nothing.
Q. Then you had nothing to do with the proclamation?
A. Nothing whatever. I never saw it until it was printed in the papers.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. To whom did you first make application for protection to your property?
A. I stopped at Greensburg, on my way out, and saw the Lieutenant Governor, supposing that, in the absence of the Governor, he was the proper one to take action, and having been advised, on my way out, that Sheriff Fife had telegraphed him for assistance. I stopped over one train, the trains being run close together, to ascertain what action he was going to take, and I came on the next train to Pittsburgh.
Q. Did you ever make any application to the mayor of Pittsburgh or of Allegheny for protection?
A. I did not make any personally, but it was done by the officers before I got there.
Q. Did you make any direct application to the State authorities for protection?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know who made the application to the State for protection?
A. I was informed that Sheriff Fife did. I was informed by telegraph, on the way, on Friday night--early on Friday morning, I think, at Cresson, that Sheriff Fife had called upon the Lieutenant Governor for assistance; that he had not force enough to disperse----
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You were informed by your solicitor, Mr. Scott, what had been done in the way of calling for help on your arrival?
A. Yes; I was informed that he had first called upon the sheriff, and that the sheriff had made an attempt to recover possession of the property, and failed, and that the sheriff had made a formal call on the State officials.
Q. Did Mr. Scott state that they had called on the mayor before calling on the sheriff?
A. I don't recollect that. I don't know. When I got there, on Friday morning, the Governor's proclamation had been issued, and the troops were called out, and the matter was then in the hands of the State.
Q. Was any call made by you, or by any other officer of the Pennsylvania railroad, to your knowledge, upon the Governor directly?
A. No, sir; none whatever.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was there any effort made by the strikers, or the railroad employés, to compromise the differences between the railroad company and themselves?
A. We heard nothing from them at all up to the time of the strike. On Friday afternoon, a committee, representing the strikers, consisting, I think, of engineers and firemen and brakemen, two or three of them, called on Mr. Pitcairn in person, and presented a written demand, stating that unless these demands are complied with, that they would not run their trains. This committee met Mr. Pitcairn on the platform, and I went out there to hear what they had to say. He handed me this paper, and I read it, and handed it back, and told him to have no further talk with them; that they had demanded such things that we couldn't grant them at all, and it wasn't worth while to discuss the matter. They demanded that their wages should be raised, and that double-headers should not be run; that no more than seventeen cars should be run to a train; that each engineer should have the privilege of selecting his own fireman, and that that the firemen should not be changed without his consent, and a number of other things of the same kind.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. They also had up the classification?
A. Yes; the classification of engineers was to be abolished, and no man engaged in the strike was to be discharged. In other words, they proposed taking the road out of our hands.
Q. What was the classification of engineers?
A. It was introduced on our road, on the lines west of Pittsburgh, in 1871 or 1872, I think. The engineers asked for an advance of wages at that time, claiming that they were not being paid as much as other lines were paying--other lines that competed with us. A committee, representing each division of the road, called upon Mr. Scott at that time and asked for an advance, which resulted in the meeting being adjourned to Pittsburgh, where I met them. Mr. Layng and I presented this plan, stating that we were willing to advance the older men, but we couldn't advance the younger men in the service. I think it advanced all men who had been in the service over ten years ten per cent., and made no advance for the others. The understanding was that there should be four classes of men. In the first class, those who had served three years; that they should be in the second class two years; and be in the third class one year; and a man who was promoted from a fireman, should be in the fourth class. We made an advance of ten per cent. in the one class, and the second was ten per cent. below the first, and the third was ten per cent. below the second.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You graded the men according to their time of service and efficiency?
A. According to their value to the company.
Q. Was that one of the things complained of by the men?
A. I didn't know that there was any complaint about that until this committee came on Friday afternoon, and that was one of the things they wanted to abolish--the classification.
Q. So that they should be all alike?
A. All alike. I doubt very much to-day whether it is the sentiment of the road at all. I don't think that fair and sensible. It is the proper thing to do, but I don't think, however, that had anything to do with the strike, but they thought while they were asking for so many things, they might as well ask for that, too.
SCRANTON, _March 29, 1878_.
The committee met at the Wyoming house, at six o'clock, P.M. Mr. Lindsey in the chair.
All members present except Mr. Dewees.
* * * * *
R. H. McKune:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where your residence is?
A. City of Scranton.
Q. Were you mayor of the city in July last.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long had you been mayor previous to that time?
A. I took the office of mayor in 1875--20th March.
Q. When did your term expire?
A. It will expire next Monday, sir.
Q. I wish you would just go on Mr. McKune, in your own way, and make a statement of the disturbance that occurred in your city here in July last, giving the date when it commenced?
A. Will I commence with it at the commencement of the suspension?
Q. I think you had better give us a summary of it right along?
A. On Sunday evening, July 22, I think, I received notice, or received information, in regard to the riot at Pittsburg. I at that time was at Ocean Grove. I immediately started for home, taking the train next morning, and reached home Monday evening. I found the citizens here very much excited over a rumor of a strike that was to occur.
Q. What day was that?
A. On Tuesday. I attempted to get my council together, but found that they were opposed to taking any action for protection in any way, and gave it up. The strike was fixed to occur the next day. On Wednesday, I went to the depot, and was in the office of the superintendent, when a gentleman connected with the strike came in and stated to Mr. Halsted----
Q. The superintendent of what road?
A. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western--that the trains could go no further. The superintendent asked me for protection for the train.
Q. On the 25th?
A. On the 25th; yes, sir.
Q. What time of day?
A. This was at nine-fifty, sir. It was on the 25th, and this young man said that they would permit the engine and mail car to go through, but none--all the other cars to go, or the coaches--none of the coaches to go.
Q. Do you know who that gentleman was?
A. Mr. William F. Halsted, the superintendent of the road, will know. I think we will have him.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Do you know yourself?
A. No, sir; I do not. He was one of the employés of the road. He was one of the members of the executive committee--one of the executive committee of strikers. Mr. Halsted asked me if we could give him any protection to get the train through. The crowd was dense. I told him no. That my advice was that the engine be taken and run into the yard. I might say right here, in coming through New York, I had had an interview with Moses Taylor and other parties connected with the road, and I gave them to understand that I had no force here of any moment, and, from what I knew, that the Governor was out of the State; that I, probably, could not have any to assist them in getting a train through, and that the best way was not to attempt to push a train through until we could get sufficient force to do so. That was why I advised Mr. Halsted so to do. Mr. Halsted gave orders to have the engine taken and placed in the yard--not in the round-house, but in the yard--refused to permit it to go without it went with the train. Previous to that, I telegraphed in respect to the difficulty to Governor Hartranft, and received this telegram: "The Governor will be here at one o'clock. Let things remain in _statu quo_, and do not precipitate a collision. Signed by C. N. Farr."
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where is it dated?
A. Dated Harrisburg. Immediately upon the cars being--upon the engine being taken off--I telegraphed to the Governor stating the fact that the strikers had taken the coaches off. That is, on the 24th instant--the 25th, we have got the dates wrong there--no, the dates must be right, this must be wrong, July 24. I telegraphed to the Governor like this, "The coaches have been taken off the mail train." During the afternoon the Governor's dispatch, after arriving, advising Mr. Halsted to let the mail car go through, which dispatch was sent not only to Mr. Halsted, but to the strikers. Their meeting was in the office immediately opposite to mine, and we then consulted in the evening or immediately, and from what I could gather as to the wishes of the parties--the board of directors concluded not to put the train through. On July 26, everything during the day was quiet. I would say on the 26th, the miners came out--the employés of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, with also the mining company--they came out from their works to hold a meeting at the Round woods--a meeting probably of six or eight thousand.
Q. Where are the Round woods?
A. The Round woods lie in the Fifth ward--just on the borders of the Fifth ward, and the adjoining township. At this meeting a committee was appointed for the purpose of conferring with Mr. Storrs, asking for an advance of wages, and so on.
Q. Who was Mr. Storrs?
A. He is general manager of the coal department of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company. This is Thursday. The streets began to be filled at that time with strange faces, faces of which my officers, nor none of the old citizens, nor the foreman of any of the companies could identify as citizens of our city. As I said before, I had asked a member of council, and tried to get my council called together to see what they would do to assist me in regard to the matter, and there was nothing done, and I then called together an advisory committee, consisting of seven of our leading men of the city. I selected gentlemen who were not connected in any way, who were all property holders, and not connected in any way with any of the corporations. That advisory committee met in the morning, at nine o'clock, and at three o'clock in the afternoon.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. On Thursday?
A. Yes, sir; and the whole time during the strike. On Thursday the pumps in the mines were vacated--ceased to work--and on the 27th of the month I received a notification from the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, through their president, Sam Sloan, like this:
ROBERT H. MCKUNE, _Mayor of the City of Scranton_:
You are hereby notified that by reason of strikes and threats and unlawful conduct of disorderly and evil disposed persons, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company apprehend that their property, situated within our city, is in danger of damage and destruction, and that the said company is unable to protect its rights and property, and look to you to use such lawful measures as will prevent its destruction and assure its safety.
DELAWARE LACKAWANNA AND WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY, Per SAM SLOAN, _President_.
The same day I also received a notification from Mr. W. W. ----.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Who was it signed by?
A. The railroad company, per "Sam Sloan, president"--not "Samuel," you will notice it is "Sam Sloan." I also received from W. W. Scranton, superintendent, on the same day--W. W. Scranton, general superintendent of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company--a like notification. I should state that on the 26th I had received from Mr. Lathrop, the receiver of the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, a like notice. On receiving this notice I immediately placed a few special policemen out, and in consulting with my advisory committee, it was thought best to swear in a number of special policemen from among our citizens, who would be willing to act in case of emergency or outbreak, or the like of that without compensation.
Q. Will you tell how many policemen you had in the city at that time?
A. I had in the city, at that time, nine--ten regular police for day and night service, and put on eight specials. I had eighteen policemen in a city of thirty-five thousand inhabitants. I run the city now with eleven policemen.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Will you please state just here, if you had any difficulty in getting men to serve as police officers, that were citizens of this city?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Let him get through with the history.
A. In the mean time, I had continued my--I may say that on the 25th, a committee from the railroad employés, a committee from several of the organizations of strikers, waited upon me to ask me to issue a proclamation prohibiting the sale of liquor. I issued the following:
MAYOR'S OFFICE, SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, _July 25,1877_.
The general public opinion, as expressed to me, seems not to apprehend any violence or danger, unless a too free use of liquor shall be indulged in; and, at the request of committees from the workingmen's organizations and others, who have called upon me this morning, requesting me to close all places where liquor is sold, I, therefore, in compliance with said request, ask of you to close your bars, and to strictly abstain from the selling of all kinds of liquor for the present.
R. H. MCKUNE, _Mayor_.
I will state that, as a general thing, that request was complied with up to the 27th or 28th; in fact, all of our eating-houses sold no liquor during the whole time of the strike. Immediately upon my advisory committee coinciding with me in regard to my special police--they were afterwards known as vigilants--I placed the matter in the hands of Colonel Hitchcock for organization, and Captain Ripple and Captain Merryman. They immediately commenced their organization of enrollment, and during Thursday, I think, some thirty enrolled themselves. In the meantime, on the 27th, I had from Carney's, near Harrisburg--there seems to be two dates here, one of 27th and the other 28th--the following telegram:
ROBERT H. MCKUNE, _Mayor_:
Can do nothing for you at this moment. If you have patience for a few days, I hope to be able to relieve you.
J. P. HARTRANFT.
Q. Dated where?
A. That is on the Pennsylvania Central, dated 28th. This was in answer to a telegram to know if I could have troops. He had previously sent me a message like this: