The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-09
PRESENT THE GRIEVANCES.
THE STREET-CAR MEN AND The
SUPERINTENDENT.

City Railway Line. and Ask for shorter
Hour.-say They VIII Not Strike, But
Want Relief.
The committee Of eight representing the
motormen, conductors and drivers Of the
various street car lines In the city, met by
agreement Yesterday morning at II O'Clock.
The following constitute the committee:
Messrs. James Winston, W. j. Dodd, j..
n. schonberger, Edward Mccormack, NJ. j..
Martin. Edward kelser, Samuel Collier ana
Charles Bloom.
This committee was appointed last Mon
day night, or rather Tuesday morning, at
.he meeting OF the Motormen's Union, of
which Mr.. w. J. Dodd is president. 1t was
the object of the men 10 have conference
with the two superintendent, Messrs. sell
den and Wilbur, and 10 ascertain from
them II they were authorized 10 act in the
premises; II not, they then proposed TO wait
ON Mr.. Fisher, the president Of the system.
WHERE THEY MET.
The committee proceeded at once TO the
Leigh-street stables TO see Mr.. Selden, super
intendent Of the City Railway, but not find
ing him there subcommittee was sent IN
search Of him. When seen by the sub
committee, he agreed to meet the men at the
last-named place at O'Clock, but MIR. Will
bur's engagements were such that he could
not be present.
Promptly at 2 O'Clock Mr.. Selden drove
up to the stables, and the men were soon In
his office.
Mr.. Collier acted as spokesman, and
stated TO him that they were committee
representing the car men OF the city, and
that their object in waiting on him was to
present TO him, provided he was the proper
person, certain grievances, chief among
which was a request for shorter hours.
Mr.. Selden's conversation at first was
rather formal.
WONT BIZ INTERPRETED WITH.
He said that he wanted it distinctly
understood at the outstart that the com
pany intended 20 manage the road, and that
they did not purpose TO have the men inter-
fere.
"If this union business leads up TO
strike" he said. land it is almost certain to
do so, every man on the road VIII suner,
and You ought TO know it. These cars are
going TO run whether you are on lnen vi
not"
lie said he had no proof that the commit
tee was authorized to demand anything IN
the name Of the men, and that he did not
believe all the men were dissatisfied, espe-
cialy those on the Main-street line. some
men. he said, never knew when they had
enough, and turning to one OF the members
of the committee, with whom he has been
acquainted since both were boys, he
said: 'NOw here is man that never was
satisfied in his lite, and | don't suppose he
ever will be. 1t is not in the power oil the
road TO satisfy some people"
WON'T STRIKE.
The committee assured him that they did
not propose to strike or TO cause any
trouble. and that very few if any of the men
in the union would have joined had they
believed il would lead to strike. Their
only object, they said, is to stand by each
other in case Of sickness and death, and that
they only asked that their hardships be
lightened, believing that if they met their
EMPLOYERS face TO face and stated their
grievances as honest men that they would
be righted.
Their main trouble seems to be that
hours are too long. Under the present
system of shifts there are three men to eacn
car. As two have to run at once, II gives
each man from twelve to fourteen hours,
the relief man working six hours In the
morning as motor man and six hours at
night as conductor. They claim that this
arrangement breaks into a mans hours so
that he is robbed OF much of his rest and
sleep, and that he has no time whatever
with his family.
WHAT THEY WANT.
They told Mr.. Seldom that they would be
satisfied as far as hours went II he would
put four men TO each, so as to allow one
crew TO run nine hours in the morning, or at
least until 3 O'Clock in the evening, and the
other crew until midnight. Several men,
bers of the committee told him that while
no strike was intended, that they, as well
as others on the road, would have 10 seek
for employment elsewhere. 1t Is impossi-
Bile, they say, 10 stand the long hours.
During the winter, standing continually
in one position, they said, for over twelve
hours without minutes time, even at the
terminus, was undermining the health OF
many of the men.
When Superintendent Seldom saw that
their object was not TO strike, his bearing be-
came more gracious, and he told them that
he would investigate the matter and see
what could be done, though he said he did
not know that he could put four men to each
car, and that the whole thing wOulu have
10 be referred to the president. He told
them that he could not act on it until II
came before him in writing, and in more of
business-like way.
THEIR PAY.
They refused 10 tell him what pay they
expected for nine hours work, pTefering, as
they said, to have the company make an
offer, but it is believed that they are willing
to work for little less than they now get.
The pay Of motor man now is Sl.oO per
day, and a conductor gets $3.50.
The committee, after bowling themselves
out of Mr.. Selden's office, boarded an electric
car and went directly TO Twenty-ninth and
p streets. Mr.. Wilbur was found in his
office, and as he mad been notified
by telephone that they were COM
ing, he was on the lookout for them
and received them in very cor
dial manner. lie told them he was glad
indeed that they had come to see him, as he
| thought the surest way to right such diff
culties was for the parties TO meet and talk
the matter over. While he stated that he
had no authority to grant all the requests
made by them, he promised them that he
would do what he could TO make things easy
for them.
In conversation with a TIMES reporter Mr..
Wilbur said that the committee was gentle
manly and conscientious set 0fmen that in
their whole interview they had shown him
entire courtesy, and that he appreciated
their position.
THE DECISION.
1t was finally agreed between the COM
mittee and the two superintendent that as
soon as President Fisher arrived in Rich
mOnd the whole matter would be laid be-
fore him in written form by the commit
tee in the presence of the superintendents.
The committee seemed well pleased at
the progress made ana think the outlook
very bright A meeting of the MotOrmen's
Union has been called for Monday night at
II O'Clock, at the New Market Hall, when
this committee will report and future line
nf action Decided ANN
The president has requested that every
member be present AT the next meeting.
even though he may be tired or sleepy, as
there will be important business 10 trans
act.
Given $500.
Mr.. John L. Massey, State Superintendent
of Public instruction, who has just returned
from his bridal trip, was yesterday pre-
scented with $500 in gold by the officers and
teachers Of the public schools as
testimonial of their regard and es-
TEEN. Among those present were
Governor =. w. Mckinney, Attorney-Gen-
eral X. Taylor Scott, Rev. Dr. George
Cooper, Rev. DR.. J. William Jones; Profess
sor Hogg, of Texas; X. c. hurry, of the
Norfolk Landmark and superintendent of
schools for Norfolk county. Sunprintpndent