Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-24
THE CARMEN SPEAK.
THEY PRESENT THEIR GRIEVANCES
PUBLIC FOR CONSIDERATION.
Two and a Half Cents per Hour Allowed
for Extra Time and Fifteen Taken
OF When Les.eued.

The following ia the full text of the adj
dress TO the public adopted by the Street
Car Mems Union at their meeting held IN
the early hours Of yesterday morning and
TO which reference was made in the Dis
pdic''s report of the meeting:
To ns Editor Of ths Dispatch:
sir-You will please allow us space IN your
columns that ne mag give the public tne trus
light Of come Of our grievances nni troubles anu
lei the generous and ,air-minded judge Tor
themselves IL We are unressonaOle IN our peN-
tlons 20 the cnr lines, In tue papers OF thls cly
on The 18Th instant with the heading OF the con-
ference between Mr. Fisher and the strect-cAr
employees It wae stated that the men wanted
shorter hours and more pay. which is calculated
70 mislesi the public aud prejudice them aga'hs'
us The facts In the case are that we were ask
Ing for shorter hours and shorter pay also but
not as short as Nr Fisher wishes TO make IT,
PAY COMPARED.
During the nausgament Of the roads under
Messrs. Burt. Farrell, Traylor. old Dsbney, re-
spectveiy, the mOtor-men's pay Tor tHciVe
hours work was a. 25 srd conductors pay Tor
twelve hours work was si1j. and motor mems
pay for ten hours work was si.15 and conductors
pay for ten hours work was sl21 But under
the management OF the present oilcials the
hours and pay were changed the last OF this
summer ard the present hours and pay are
inOtor-men for twelve hours WORK. sl.oo, and con-
ductors for twelve hours work $3.50. You soc
this is cut down OF moior-men's pay in twelve
hours hours work OF 50 cents and 70 cents IN con-
duc,ors' pay in twelve hours work.
In another way We will show how u was done.
Tho company dispensed with ten houre work
and added two hours more time TO BON MOTOR
men and conductors and only added 3 cents 10
rae motOr-men's pay and - cents 10 the conduct
orsi pay Now, twelve hours Is TOO long for the
men 10 stand in front Of these cars during eli
weather and be pdnished and contract Sickness
and some Of them have died from the cold and
exposure caused from working on these cars
whom tho hours we're shorter than they are now.
CAN DIVIDE EASILY.
IA the cars run eighteen hours day the men
asked MIR, Fisher 10 divide the tme-say niue
hours 10 each shift-and they were willing TO
take 30 cents of motor mons pay, making tnelr
pay ti.50, and p cents on conductors pay,
making their pay 81 q, and Mr.. Fisher was not
willing 70 DO ihat. When he added two hours
time 10 our days work and only added cents
for The two hours, which IA ~ cents per hour,
and we are willing 20 take of 30 cents Tor tho
threo hours, which IA 10 cents per hour, and lie
ls unwilling 10 do this. but wants - cents on
motor-mens pay for three hours. which Is 10
cents per hour for the 2H cents he added, ana he
wants 37sc. of from the conductors pay, which
is at the rate he sdded when he put two hours
on their time. Now, we leave this % the public
TO Judge II we are unreasonable In our pstition.
WHAT rHsY HAVE TO DO.
Mr. Fisher proposes 20 reduce these con-
ductors' pay for nine hours Work 70 Sll2T-
those men who have 10 collect OH tue money OF
this cot poration, except the branch lines where
they have no conduct0rB; aud yet out OF this
small amount they are required 20 comply with
the rules OF the company and Uniform them
selves with caps a. any price the company may
choose TO pufcnaHe for them; keep themselves
clean and decent 10 honor tho position they Oc-
cupy: be polite and courteous 20 the travelling
public, snd preserve order on the carr and re-
port all disorderly persons: and they must loso
the time attending Police Court 10 appear
against oil such parties; make good all shortage
IN their reports. wnen often they have not time
nj the end Of the line 10 examine their reports
20 see II any error exists; and lastly, Gnd least
with the company, tney have 70 pay doctors
bills house rent, and feed an clothe their fam
lies out Of this sl.l2L. Now the lowest paid
employees In the city government get 81 80 for
ten hours' work, such a. the ditch-diggers, city
cAri-driyers, ami stroet-sgeeper-, With plenty OF
time 70 eat their meals and other duties, and
with no uniforms % buy and no responsibilities
on them Ike the carmen have.
Now. we again AJAX the kind public TO Judge
for Themselves I'm this matter n We are unrea-
.onable in our requests nnd all those who think
our requests not unreasonable viii please use
their Influence ia helping us 10 get these
grievances abatod aud IN obtaining the little ro-
lief We ask tor.
Hoping this VIII DO fayorsbly considered By
the citizens Of this city and that they will lend
"a a helping hand 1t will be Highly appreci-
ated by tho
sraEEr-CAR MEMS BRorHsRHooD AND BESSFI-
lflT IfsIoN.