New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-26
BROOKLYN ROADS TIED UP.
A STRIKE ON THE LINES OF THE ATLANTIC
AVENUE COMPANY.
THE MEN DISSATISFIED WITH THE LATEST
ORDER OF THE coMPANY-A CAR TO BE

ORDER OF THE CoMPANY-A CAR TO BE
RUN TODAY, IF POSSIBLE.
The street railroad difficulties in brooklyn have NOT
been settled without strike, although IL was long
delayed while negotiations pending between the
various companies and the employees Just as the
Brooklyn City Railroad Company had reached an
agreement with its men those employed hy the At
lantic Avenue Company the second largest in the
city, resolved TO tie up the various lines The deci-
sion was carried into effect at five minutes past 4
o'clock yesterday morning. and no cars were taken
out OF the stables after that hour.
About $50 men quit work in all. and they were en-
poyed the eight lines Of the company, two in Fifth
ave. one each in seventh ave.. Ninth and Vanderbilt
aves., Butlerst Bergens;. and Fifeenth-st and the
crosstown. or CanaryS line. from the Bridge to
Hamilton Ferry. The men are organized in three
District Assemblies of the Knights of Labor, and
tiaons have been going on between their represent
aves and President William Richardson, Of the con-
pany, for a fortnight The men made substantially
the same demands upon him that they did upon the
other companies.
WANTING A DRIVER REINsTATED.
At first they wanted a driver reinstated, who, they
said had been Illegally transferred, but Mr. Richard
son would not concede this, and the waived IT,.
But no agreement was reached and negotiations were
broken of a few days ago. Then Mr. Richardson
issued n circular saying that the company did not
desire any man to work moro than ten hours unless
be wished to do So but that only six trips could be
made in that time, for which the pay would be 81 IL.
The men had been making seven trips for 81, and OBJ
jected this reduction Of their pay under the guise
Of complying with the ten hour law This precipi-
tated the action Of the men, who decided to resort to
Tho extreme measure OF strike in order TO obtain
their demands. They issued statement yesterday
that they had exercised their undoubted
rights as citizens in refusing 10 work
undcr che existing conditions, and regretting
tho inconvenience to tho public.
NO WORK BUT FEEDING THE HORSES.
None of tho men offered 10 work yesterday, save
stablemen delegated TO water and feed the horses.
At the Greenwood Stables they wero relieved by
agents OF the Society for Prevention OF Cruelty to
Animals. The men met az their headquarters and
discussed the situation and awaited Developments,
but there were no overt acts The company advertised
for 500 American citizens to act as conductors
and drivers. Mr. Richardson recently decided
that only citizens would be employed by
tho company. Up to late hour yesterday
not enough new men had been secured 10
warrant any attempt to start the cars, but every
effort was made 10 be able to car at an early
hour to-day, and so save the charter Of the company
President Richardson sent communication TO
Mayor Chaplin, saying that effort would be made
10 run cars and that the company demanded OF the
hold the city responsible for any loss or damage by
reason OF lawless acts Letters Of similar purport
vero sent TO Sheriff Rhinehart and Police Commits
sioncr Bell, and sheriT's deputies and platoons of
police were made ready for instant service.
MEN ORDERED TO REFRAIN FROM DRINKING
Chairman Coopoy, Of the Executive Board Of the
Knights OF Labor, said yesterday We sent no notice
OF the ile-up 20 Mr. Richardson, but no knows tho
reasons for A. for we have had hvo interviews with
49, ~. atfuIa fhn lqtV
By voluntarily working ten hours IS tho fact that
he does not pay his mon as well as the other com
panles No man IN his employ can earn 81 in ten
hours wo propose 10 prevent any trouble II the
cars arc taken out 70 far in our power, and VIII
furnish fifty deputy sherins TO maintain peace All
the men havo been ordered 70 refrain
from drinking and 10 avoid all breaches Of the peace
We arc ready to pay married men 81 week ana
single ones s5 a week whllo the striko lasts
ono Of tho great grievances Of the men Is the fact
that tho company employs moro mon as trppers'
than are allowed TO make regular runs. ripper
works only in the busy hours Of tho day, and Is Idle
In the slack hours between tho morning and the
evening r,shes of travel. They arc paid 81 so for
,he days work while who hayo regular runs
get 81.
A MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT.
The Executive Board OF District Assembly No.
rs was In session at Atlantic and Flatbush aves.
last evening when reporter called and members
said that they would mako no efforts tn bring about
an agreement between tho company and the men,
unless tho eompany's officials approached mem,
They had no control over the stfkers they said, ana
Soro powerlcss to prevent violence should tho com
pany attempt to run IT'S cars with new mon. They
thought Il probable that Arbitration Commissioner
Donovan might mako somo attempt TO restore peace,
but they said they would rcfuso TO take the militia
tive. Mr. Donovan went TO Brooklyn yesterday.
President Richardson last night issued a. circular,
which win be given to the strikers to-day, from which
tho following arc extracts
To the Conductors and Drivers lately working for the
Atlantic Avenue Ralroad Company Of Brooklyn;
vyord reached mo At 4 o'clock this morning at my
bonsa IN which have been confined by illness for the
past four days that you had stopped work. without CIV
ing notice 10 any Ofecr Of tho company OF your ihen
lion TO do So 10 been evident from the nrst that IL
IVES the desire OF hofNeeuye Board Oh Dstrict NO 30
knights OF Labor 10 embarass this company as far as
s IN their nower 10 do so On January IL 1888. this
eompany made an agreement with Its employees
Abou, twelve days before tho hrst day OF January
Thomas Coopey Master Workman OF District Assembly
Ma 75 and a member OF tho Executive Board, served
n,eo an tho enmpapy that said agreement would temin
a,e January l. 1880 At o'clock a. M Had IL not been
for that notice tho said agreement would still be In foicc
The committee inquired what objection had TO tho
.s,ae,nont thew proposed / replied, because IL would
very materially increase the expenditures OF the company
,hoyt snv corrospondng increase OF service and
ming was certain the company could not and would not
arree TO increase the ratio Of is expenditures for labor
performed in 1850 over that made by II In 1883 then
offered 10 the Board to renew in It's entirety tho agree
ment made January IL 1888 This offer was declined by
the Board. without any being assigned We then
took up tho agreement proposed by me and went through
t section by section out Of twenty-five sections eleven
were agreed upon on Monday afternoon again met the
Board at the company's Office. Az this time It became
evident that the Board wanted this company 10 pay tho
samo for six trips as had last paid for seven which
tho committee was Informed could not be done. Tho
statement made by mo on January 90 addressed to tho
employees OF tho Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company was
Intended only 10 assure you that tho company until an
agreement should be made would pay the same rate Of
wages FOE tho service that it haa uono III Vho year
1883
You havc chosen Inconvenience the pubic by stop
ping business OF company, Without any notice OF
your Intention to do It Is our intention 10 resume
tho service on tho different lines by putting oher mon 10
your places unless you promptly report Tor WORK Con
ductors and drivers who report for duty o. the office OF
tho company before next Monday the 2sth Instant viii
bo allowed to resume their previous employmehts. ne"
men who arc put TO work viii not be discharged 10 make
place for those who have left the companys employ
A CTANcF on A STRIKE IN THIS CITY.