National Republican., 1883-10-08
THE DRIVERS STRIKE.

The knights ct Labor Refuse TO Rum the
Cara OF tho Bolt Lime Hallway tntlnn-
tlona that tho Employees OF other Lines
Have ncmands 90 Make.
On Saturday last an applicant for place as
diver on ono of the bobtail cars Of the Belt
limo was put in charge of an old driver named
Mitchell, with instructions to initiate him
into the mysteries of tho business Tho two
had not gouc hr from the stables when
Mitchell inquired if tho now man was
member Of thu Enght3 Of Labor, and, on
receiving negative answer, informed MN
that it would be in violation OF the rules ol
the order of which he was u member to give
him any instructions, and invited him to get
off tho car. The new man returned TO the
company'5 Office and informed Mr.. Barnes
tho superintendent. of what had happened
Mr.. Barnes waited till Mitchell returned,
when he promptly discharged him. A meet
ing Of the Brotherhood of Car Drivers was
held Saturday night, when tho discharge OF
Mitchell was considered. Tho president of
the union, Mr.. Taylor, subsequently called
on Mr.. Barnes aud asked that the
discharged driver he ronstated. This was
refused aud tho mon were ordered 10 stop
work The drivers, thirty-two in number,
went 10 the stable yesterday morning as
usual. and took out their cars. They made
first car turned in aud the driver informed
Mr. Tnrnoe that NO was going TO quit From
10 O'Clock until aitcr midday tho cars Kept
coming in rs they reached the barn, and at
o'clock only eight were running. These
latter wero driven by extra men and non
strikers. Tho men assembled on tho pave
mcnt Just outside the stables and waited
until the last striker had turned
in. A detail of police was
on the sccne, but Hs the men kept quiet and
no demonstration was made, they had little
TO do. AS soon rs the last car had entered
tho stable, and the driver had Joined his COM
pnnons OH the sidewalk, the men dispersed,
and went to their homes. The eight cars
continued to run without molestation until
7:l5 when the superintendent ordered them
to turn in. lie gave as his reason for doing
80 that the strikers might damage the cars
and iniure the men. The men say, however,
that the real reason was the ten.
dency cvinced By some of the plugs"
TO join the strikers. The discharge of the
union driver is the only cause given for the
strike. The stables were visited last night,
but everything was quiet. Tho only persons
about the stables were the superintendent and
two or three of the loyal drivers
The Columbia drivers did not strike, not
withstanding the many rumors ailoat to that
effect. A visit to the stables last night showed
that the cars were running i'll full force and
on time. In answer to the question, "Will
swcrcd that they thought not, as no demand
had been made on the company for either
increased pay or decreased hours. There
was an air of the calm which procedes the
storm about the place, however, and the
drivers who turned their cars in for the
night fingered about ard held undcrtone con
ycrsatons. All of the Columbia drivers art
members of the Knights of Labor, and they
are of the quiet opinion that general STRIKE
will be ordered to-day, in which event they
will stop work.
The reports which were circulated Saturday
night and yesterday morning that the driver
and conductors of tho Washington ant
Georgetown street car line intended to de
mand higher wages and less hours, and j
their demand was not complied with they
would strike, was investigated by reporter
of TIE REPUBLICAN, yesterday. Supcrin
tcndcnt Sailer says the men have made nj
demand on the company that has not beel
complied with. The stable men formerly re
ceived $1.25 day, butfiow they are paid $0.5
per week. and%are apparently satisfied. Ih
report that the stable boss had an agreemen
which the mon were required to sign or be dis
charged is pronounced absolutely false. Th
hill boys have been receiving 81 per day, ant
have asked for 25 cents additional, which hH
leen allowed them. Tho drivers and con
- ductorsl receive 81 day, and the majority q
them Seem to be satisfied. The doman
made by the committee perporting to repre-
sentth drivers and conductors is pronounce
unreasonable, absurd, and dictatorial.
1t is reported that tho men will strike tt
day at noon, but the officers Of the compan
don't believe it.
The employees of tho metropolitan lin
made demands similar to those made on til
Washington and Georgetown company. The
want more pay and fewer hours. They II
quire an answer to-day by o'clock. 1t
very improbable that they will obtain it a
that time, or that their terms will he cou
piled with. The officers of the company don
anticipate any trouble.
About o'clock last evening two loud r.
ports were heard one on the line of the NJ
tropolitan, aud the other on the Belt lii
road. They were evidently fog signal torp
does, such as are used on steam railwa.
during dense fogs, and it is thought that thu
were intended as signals by the strikers. III
police heard the reports, but are unable
account for them.