National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-13
THE STREET CAR INQUIRY.
Presidents Hurt and Pearson Tell wha
They Can and VIII DO for ThelI

Presidents Hurt and Pearson Tell what
They Can and VIII DO for Their
Men.
The Senate committee on education and
labor yesterday began their inquiry into the
number Of hours which constitute days
work for street car employees. President
Hurt, Superintendent Taylor, Messrs. Pear
son and Emmert Of the Washington and
Georgetown and Metropolitan railways
were present. Mr.. Hurt said the road had
about ten miles of double track under its
control. 1t was incorporated in 1858 and
completed within sixty days. The average
time Of labor exacted from conductors and
drivers Is fifteen hours and thirty minutes,
varying from twelve to about sixteen hours.
The cars on Pennsylvania avenue are actu.
ally running for twelve hours and eight
minutes per day. The first car, leaving the
depot at 5:l2 q. m, returns on its last trip
at / o. M, the same driver and con
ductor accompanying 1t throughout
that time with about four hours of
lay.ovcr time divided into intervals OF
from ten to sixty minutes. Twenty
one drivers and twenty-one conductors
work the longest time-sixteen hours.
There are 90 regular conductors and l0l
drivers, and about 30 extras Of each
class. The hill boys at the treasury work
about twelve hours and at the capitol about
fifteen hours. They are paid 81 or SIPS
per day. The company has about 100
other employees working on about the ten
hour system and at regular mechanics
wages; hostlers receiving $l.35 per day
Drivers are allowed to sit down while east
Of the capitol and west Of Seventeenth
street The reduction Of hours ordered for
May will require 100 extra horses and
some new buildings. The reduction could
not be sooner put into effect. The road has
throughout its history treated and paid It's
employees as well as rival roads or roads In
other cities. The hours Of labor are shorter
than in many other cities. The adoption Of
an absolute twelvG-hour schedule would be
impracticabe.
Senator Van Wycl inquired very closely
as 10 the financial status of the company.
lie said the reduced time In New York Is
| twelve hours, with half hour lay-on, and,
as Mr.. Hurt is willing to do as well as any
| other company, he asked IL he would be
| willing to fix his new schedule at twelve
hours, with half an hour lay.off.
Mr.. Hurt replied that 1t is impossible to
| take out and bring back car at fixed
hour; that he must have a margin Of time
to get the cars in and leave; he arranged
from twelve TO thirteen hours. lie said the
company wanted to do the very best 1t could
| for the men.
Senator Van Wyck was willing to accept
twelve hours as compromise, but Mr. Hurt
repeated that no rigid schedule could be
fixed. lie added that the company would
endeavor to give conductors to the small
cars; that 1t was ready aud willing to meet
| all the requirements of Congress, of the
| people, and Of the employees. He would
| promise to do all in his power to amolorate
the condition of the employees. 1t would
cost at least $4,000 more year to make the
| proposed reduction.
Mr.. Blair urged that the schedule be re,
duced to eleven hours day instead OF
| twelve.
Mr.. Hurt said 1t could not be done with.
out reducing the pay.
President Pearson, Of the Metropolitan
railway, appeared and said that the drivers
on that road average fifteen and a half
hours q day and the bill says about four.
| teen. lie said G5 per cent of all the street
| cars in the country are one-horse cars. The
company employs 1875 men. 1t was harder,
| he said, upon the man who had to drive and
make change than upon the man who had
| to drive only, Last year the company's re-
| ceipts were larger than ever before. The
company had recently spent about S20,0OC
in building at the stables, and II owes fol
that. 1t owes no other debts; 20 per cent
OF the gross earnings are paid to drivers, !
| per cent. in taxes. The company earn;
about $3.50 annually on each share. Thirty
dollars was paid in per share. The stock Il
worth about 500, and all can be bought that
anybody may want. There are 14,i5C
shares. With regard to reduction of hours
| Mr.. Pearson said he suggested at the last
meeting of directors that the drivers should
be paid more money. The drivers get s.
per day, but they must make the full nun
Der Of trips. The men would rather have
more money for the service they are render
ing now than to have the hours reduced
and get the same pay. Mr. Pearson said
some men employed at the capitol arc
worked from a. IN. to p. m, and he was
sure that was as bad as any corporation.