Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-12
THE CAR DRIVERS
WILL ASK FOR An. INCREASE TO DAY,
A meeting Held on Monday at Which 1t was
Decided to demand $l75 Per Day
this Morning-A Driver >
Gives the Reasons.

At a late hour last night, too late to
pursue the subject to its very bottom, a
REGISTER scribe was met by driver for
the Citizens Railway Company and put
in possession OF some interesting facts,
detailed in q conversation which fol-
lowed.
ave are going to make demand for
an increase of wages" said the car Jehu,
"and no shenanigan' about i. this time.
At eight o'clock tomorrow morning one
OF us will see Supt. Leonhart and ask
81 IS per day. We will give them until
Saturday 10 decide the matter and II
nothing is done by then. We will all 90
out"
as this a concerted action, that is to
say is it general movement among the
drivers?"
Eyes, sir, every mothers son OF them
is in it. You see there was strike some
time ago, that amounted to nothing.
The company claimed il was not strike
as they were given no notice, and by a
sort OF consent the men went back to
work. This time We don't take any
snap Judgment but go about il like
men. 1t is a fair and square business
movement and is seriously intended"
"Did YOU have meetingV
"Yes, We met on Monday night at
Schwartz's hall and agreed TO do this.
1t was agreed 10 unanimously"
"Was it a full meeting?"
1--WE had every driver on the line ex.
cept one, and he was sick. He is with
us, however, in whatever We do. We
appointed q committee of one TO see
MIR. Leonhart at eight O'Clock Thursday
morning and also committees TO see the
different papers tonight. We want to
90 about it in straight way and make
an honest demand, like men,"
".Iou say you want Sl.75 a day; sthat
is q raise OF % cent?, believe
"Iou are right. We now get Il 30 a
day and We think it is entirely too little
for the work We do. Now, I'll tell you.
Wa are on duty on an average Of
sixteen hours day and get
fourteen minutes for each meal
Take that alone and it is heavy thing
and don't leave much time for anything
else. You hear of labOrers working
eight and ten nous and complaining OF
it and yet We have from SIX to eight
hours more and make less wages. We
have 10 climb out OF bed at o'clock and
sometimes don't get in the stable again
until ] at night. And then We have to
clean our cars and see that passengers
put their fares in the box and keep
sharp lookout for passengers along the
route and have an eye on our horses all
at once. And now the no. season is
coming and We have to endure heat that
few persons dream OF. II is hard life
and the pay is very small.
GLOW 10 your wages compare with
those in other ci,ics|
"They are smaller, and We have more
work to do. In some OF the cities where
cars have conductor, and all We have
| to DO ls to drive, the pay is ii - per
| day. Out in st. Louis the companies
| offered l. cents an hour, and AT our time
thatwould be Sl.92 day. | hear that
in Chicago as high as $500 and $40 a
day is paid. II that is so, We are get
ting entirely too little. The company is
J making money, and we look at it ~ an
act OF simple justice to give us Sl,15.
"What is your opinion OF the RESULT
81 believe the company will give us
the advance. don't See how they can
help but look at it in the right light.
Their objection before was that We did
not give notice, aud they cannot claim
that now. We'll, We will see by Satur.
day"
The above is about the sum and sub
stance OF what WAS said At the late
hour at which the information was ob
tanned it was impossible to see a director
OF the company, or the superintendent,
to get his views, and it is the desire 10
preser such cases purely in an unprej.
udiced and unbiased light. 1t does
seem as though the drivers did great
deal of work for very little pay.