The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-25
"ELEVATED" WAGES.
Discomfort or THE METROPOLITAN RAILROAD

Discomfort or THE METROPOLITAN RAILROAD
Employees WITH THE WAGES PAID THEM.
A good deal OF discomfort has manifested itself
among the employees OF the Metropolitan Elevated
Railroad Company, who complain oil the low rates OF
wages which they received last month IL seems
that before the company commenced running trains
there u brisk competition among old rail.
road men and others who sought positions under
the new corporation. As tue salaries OF en-
gineers, ticket sellers, conductors &c. would, u
Understood, range from $50 to $50 ana 800. thou
sands OF applicants Tor the places foc1ed IRON
many parts OF the city and country. The company
encouraged men who had had former experience,
and therefore many threw up good positions the
different rairoad lines converging near New
YORK to accept places on the elevated road. The
Fourth Of July being the first regular pay day the
new officials awaited with much anxiety TO learn how
much they would be allowed for the support OF
selves aud their families The RACES have gwen
great dissatisfaction ana the employees purpose calling
meeting alter next pay day 10 tie scaie OF compon.
saiion Tor neir services be not improved in the mean.
time.
THE RATES.
The engineers first put on at SO a day, but
soon had rise OF twenty cents, and recently they
have been allowed So 80, 30 that as lar as tney
concerned there 10 less TO complain OF IMAM among
the other classes The ticket agents arc paid AZ the
rate OF twenty cents an hour, and by working Ten
hours make 81 day The conductors who
make ten lrips equal to about ten hours, can also
earn 81 But IL sometimes happens tnat conductor
has 10 lay over one or two trips, IN which case, nj
though he Is present and willing to work, he gets
nothing Tor his time. very Intelligent
conductor, who had been q federal officer,
stated last night that the OF
his class could not $50 month
average. Brskemen, switchmsn and gatekespers
earn 81 10 when they work hours In consequence
of these low rates able to do better
BY returning 70 their former occupations resigned
The REMAINDER, who are dissatisfied, say they do not
conte plate strike, but are OF opinion that when
proper representation OF their several 10 made
TO the directors Of the road reasonable increase OF
salary will be allowed them.
OFFICIAL RETlcENcB
Mr. Foster, Que OF the directors, who was found
yesterday In the company's Offices, No II Broaaway,
said that published reports oil The difficulty all
wrong; indeed, he seemed TO think there was oii-
Guilty at all but, as he did not appear TO understand
anything ABOUT the matter he referred the writer TO
Superintendent Van BrochIn. The latter olhclsl who
insisted upon being In a tremendous hurry, would
make statements, and " Was with difficulty that ho
the rates oil wages given by the
conductors ana othors. With regard TO the price OF
The compsny's uniform, the Superintendont would
depart IRON his resolution and state that u cost
$40 Go. and not $50 as reported some OF the news
papers. IL was evident that superintendent Van
Brochn was sntagonistc 10 inisrviewsrs, Tor he
probtcd by the opportunity 70 say That newspaper
men published sensational articles and then came
around 10 see how much they could make OF them, ="
adding shat In the present instance the reporter
could make what he liked out OF IT,"