Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-03
THE sTREET-CAR STRIKE.
The Orfgin of 1.-THE old Drivers Ssill
Out-SuperintendeDt Barreft
Sticks 10 His Text.
Threats OF Violence Against the New
Men-Terms Proposed by the Stri-
kers-NO Let Up for Them.

An APPEAL reporter called at the
City railway Office last night on a mission of
interview, the annoyance 10 be IN
flicted upon the new superiniendent, MI;
throughout the city that strike had taken
place among the drivers against the new
scheme of remunerating them for the twelve
or fifIeen hours service per day Just inaugu-
rated and which Begin last Sunday morning.
Finding the Office closed, We moved on 10 the
stables, and were introduced 10 Mr. John De
Brular, who is foreman of the Memphis city
railway, and we obtained from him
THE
of the trouble. which are about as follows:
Captain Barrett took charge as superintend-
ent Sunday morning, and announced to his
drivers that instead Of the two dollars day,
as formerly, they would receive certain per
centage OF the patronage OF the ilne on Mh1cn zen
say for the Main street line, every sixth ticket
taken from his ticket-box, and the same rate
0I 0rsciiced n an the isFse cities Of the Union
He had taken the yield of the boxes on each
OF the lines for the past month and fixed the
rates In acc Tdance, which showed that the
average throughout the month would be
TWO DOLLARS A DAY, e -.-.s
the same amount they had been paid in the
form of salary. The drivers went 10 work,
and drove the cars all day Sunday, intent on
irving how the "new thing worked" Al
night, however, the boxes did not pan out"
at an satisfactory TO theirexpectations, aud IL
was discovered TO MIR. De Brular, by the drivers
collecting in squads about the stables
after their cars were turned in" that dissatis-
faction was springing up, but nothing was
said directly that night, and not till yesterday
morning did the discomfort assume definite
shape. At the hour for the cars to start out,
the drivers were all promptly on hand, and
the first cars time was announced, the driver
was called to his post, but replied that he
would not "take her out" on the new scheme,
but ifRdr. Barrett would pay
THE OLD RATES
two dollars per day. he would persuade that
mule 70 his entire satisfaction. Mr.. De Brular
had no authority 10 act in the premises, ex-
cept that If driver was not ready to take his
car out, TO put one in his place, which he did
promptly as long as they could be found to do
so. In the meantime, he states, he tried to
reason with the discontents-told them that
he was OF opinion that Mr.. Barrett's intention
was - -.e
NOT TO LESSEN THE MEMS WAGES,
but had inaugurated the new system in order
TO make the drivers more attentive TO their
duties to collect fares more promptly ;looK out
for and be more accommodating TO passen-
gers on their routes; and exempllned ms
cumstance which had com under his own OBJ
servation in the paying off the track k-laborers.
of wages for the laborers. asking how much
they were to be payed. Mr.. Barrett rephed
"Pay them as you have always been doing"
"Mr. DeBrular replied, Captain Anderson al
lowed them one dollar and a half day."
Mr.. Barrett quickly responded,
"PAY THEM TWO DOLLARS A DAY
from the time took charge OF the road; 1
don't want any man TO work for less than TWO
dollars day." This seemed to have a some
what pacifying effect on the drivers and they
then told Mr.. De Brular that If he would rein
state the drivers who had refused to TAX out
their cars, that they would go 70 work, and
sometime during the day would appoint a
man from their number TO state to Mr.. Barrett
'-'''' WERE NOT SATISFIED
with the new scheme, and that they wanted
two dollars per day. Mr.. DeBrular agreed TO
do SO, but told them that he believed
Mr.. Barrett would make their wages
average two dollars day If the per centage
allowed did not amount to that much, pro-
and attentive to his duties. The day grew
apace, however, and the old drivers continued
to stand around in squads discussing the
trouble among themselves, and some OF them
going SO far as to make
THREATS OF VIOLENCE
toward the "new men" who had taken their
places, which had anything but a harmonic
ing effect, and when approached on the sub
ject Captain Barrett positively refused to
make any change in the system OF remunerat-
ing the drivers, which he believed to be ben
efcjal to both the driver and the public. Mr..
DeBfular stated TO tins reporter that 1T was
his candid opinion If the men had gone to
work in the right way in the matter, Mr.. Bar
rett would have given them
SUBTRACTION.
-probably not changing the mode of paying
| the drivers, but 'guarant eing that their wages
! should amount 10 two dollars a day, which
| opinion was formed from what had trans
| pired in relation TO the track-laborers. he
also stated that he thought all the drivers
! would be reinstated TO their positions on ap-
| plication, except, perhaps, those who had
1 threatened violence toward the new men put
| on to get the cars out on time. At late hour
! last night all was quiet in the vicinity of the
! stables, and no further trouble was antici-
| pated.