Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-16
GRIEVANCES HEARD.
The STREET-CAR MEN CONFER WITH
Mr.. FISHER BY PROXY.
Complaints Presented by sIr. Smith. But
the Committee Not Given an Au-
dience-rhe Union Meets.

the Committee Not Given an Au-
dience-The Union Meets.
After many weeks OF waiting and
anxiety the street-car men have got
ten their grievances before President
George +. Fisher, who is the controlling
spirit in all OF the Richmond companies.
This result was accomplished yester-
day afternoon, and Commonwealth-At-
torney II. NJ. Smith, Jr., was the friend
ly medium through which the paper set
ting forth four complaints OF injustice
and hardship was presented to the New
York financiers.
The conference was at the company's
offices. on Bank street, and though ar
ranged by appointment was conducted
by proxy. This method of procedure
was not IN keeping with the wishes OF
the men, who desired aud expected 10 be
granted full hearing, but they had no
other alternative.
THE COMMITTEE on HAND.
The full committee appointed several
weeks ago to present the grievances was
present promptly at o'clock, the hour
named for the conference. The horse
car line WAS represented by Messrs.
/ Samuel Collier and G. Bloom, the City
railway by Messrs. T.. ID. Mccormick,
A. 7. Martin. +. L. Kaiser, and j. Y.
Condrey, and the Union Passenger by
Messrs. W. J. Dodd, j. Il. Winston, and
j. Ii. Schonberger.
onwealth's-Attorney II. NJ.
| Smith represented the motor-men and
conductors as counsel, and Messrs. Pres
ton Belvin and w. $. Gum, OF the
Board of Aldermen, were also present rs
their friends.
A PRIVATE CONFERENCE HELD.
AT half past Mr.. Fisher announced
that he desired to have n private confer
ence with Messrs. Smith, Belvin and
Gum. and these gentlemen retired and
were closeted together in an adjoining
room for over an hour.
The committee representing the street
car men were confident that at the end
of that time Mr.. Fisher would discuss
with them their grievances, and they
were somewhat surprised when that gen
tleman LETT after his talk with Messrs.
Smith, Gum. and Belvin.
FOUR COMPLAINTS.
Mr.. Smith, however, announced TO
the meeting that Mr.. Fisher had met
him as their representative IN the kind
est spirit and listened TO their demands
with the utmost consideration. All the
list Of grievances, continued he, had been
summed up in four complaints-viz.,
first, the question about the shifts and
| the number OF hours each, man Was 10
work second, the regulation which re-
quires the men to furnish so in change
from their own purses; third, the dis
charge of men on anonymous complaints,
and fourth, that the men should be paid
off Friday and Saturday instead Of Mon
day and Tuesday.
MIR. FISHERS REPLY.
Concerning the first complaint Mr..
Fisher was unable TO make any definite
answer, as the subject was one which
would require consultation with the
stockholders of the company. lie, how
ever. intimated that it would be almost
impossible to pay more to the men than
the present rate, - cents an hour or
81. 95 per diem for the total cost Of run
ming a car. As for their working for
only nine hours day he was willing for
them to do that, provided they did so at
ID cents per hour.
In regard to the $40 change which the
men are required to furnish, Mr.. Fisher
stated that ne would consult the super
intendents concerning this matter.
The question about men being dis
charged on complaint of anonymous
communications was not worthy OF dis
cussion, Mr. Fisher said, as his COM
panies had never regarded such messages
as worthy of notice, and certainly did
not act upon them.
The request of the men that their pay
day should be Friday and Saturday In
stead of Monday aud Tuesday WAS
very difficult one to fulfil, MIR. Fisher
said, and 1t would be almost impossible
for the company to do 80.
COULD NOT BE POSITIVE.
Mr.. Smith informed the men that Mr..
Fisher could not give positive answer
TO any of the questions, as he would oil
course have TO consult others about
them, and this would take some time.
| The committeeman were somewhat
disappointel at the result OF the inter
view and the fact that Mr.. Fisher had
not talked to them in person. Several
of them remarked that nothing had
been accomplished by the conference
whatever, although they all expressed
their willingness to wait until the proper
authorities could be consulted.
An Early Morning Meeting OF tho Men.
A meeting of the motor-men and con-
ductors of all the street-car lines in the
city was held at Lee Camp Hall last
night after midnight.
A representative OF the DISPATCH APP
plied for admittance, which was refused,
and nothing concerning the exact object
of the gathering could be learned,
although from fragments OF conversation
heard by the newspaper 1T was evl-
dent that the result of the conference OF
the Committee on Grievances with Mr..
Fisher yesterday evening was among the
topics to be discussed.
One of the street-car men expressed
great indignation at the manner IN
which the committee had been received
10y Mr.. Fisher, and intimated that they
were not at all pleased with the man
ner in which they had been received.
The utmost secrecy was maintained
throughout the entire meeting and the
doors we're carefully guarded. AT 2:3O
O'Clock this morning when the reporter
left the neighborhood the session had
moi closed, and it was understood that il
would probably continue until o'clock.
TIE NEWS OF MANCHESTER.