The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-15
DEMAND FOR WAGES.
EXCITING SCENES AT A COMMIT
TEE MEETING

Eighth Street Tunnel BOnd-Ihe kich-
mond and Chesapeake Railroad Com
pany.
There was called meeting Of the Com
mittee on Streets held IN the Office Of the
City Engineer last night at o'clock. Pre-
sent: Mr.. Lewis u. Crcnshaw, Jr., chairman,
and Mossrs. Capcrs, Curtis. siraiton. Glover,
Wmgdeld, Higgins, Bahen and White. Mr..
Oliver ". Barnes, OF the Richmond and
Chesapeake Railroad, and the attorney for
the road. Mr. II. a. Atkinson, were also
present. as were also several other gentle
men interested in the road.
Mr.. Atkinson handed TO the committee the
bond entered into hy the road. for the sum oil
100000 guaranteeing the lives and property
off the citizens Of Richmond, from loss That
might possibly grow out of the construction
of the Eighth street tunnel. which the Rich
mond and Chesapeake road, proposed 20
construct for use Of the road. The bond
was drawn By City Attorney, q. . Mere
dith. ana was signed by 4. w. Mackay,
president of TIE r0ad. and Mr. oliver w.
Barnes. a power oi attorney from MI
Nackav and Herman BaltIer. 90 Oliver W..
Barnes was also read. These papers have
been authenticated. and the city attorney
explained 90 the committee that the bond
was in proper form. The question was, is
the security satisfactory 10 ihe committee.
lie did not know Mr.. Nackay. hut Doe had
been informed chat he owned property OF
the value of 100000 i'm and near Atlantic
civ. Mr.. Barnes said that Dir. Mackay
owned about 10000 in the Atlantic City
Hotel. besides railroad property IN that
part of the state. H. was also stated That
Mr.. Baltzer owned LARGE landed estates 10
tine county of Augusta
BOND INCOMPLETE.
Mr.. Meredith, however expressed it as
his opinion that the bond would Doe incom-
piete without the signature, of Messrs.
Mason and Hove. the gentlemen who bad
contracted 90 build the road. Tie had been
given 90 understand that these gentlemen
would hc present and sign the bond.
Mr. Barnes stated that Mason a. Hove
were willing t0 sign the bond. and had
started 20 Richmond from Frankfort. Ken
lucky. but had been detained hy an acci-
dent-a landslide ON The fOad-and that 100
first they bad tclcgraphed that they would
De here by o'clock, but suD-cI uenill
be chad learned that they would not reach
the city until S O'Clock tomorrow
fo-davl. Dir. Meredith explained that
the thirty days given The railroad would cN-
Dire to-day and that as Doe understood lt. Do
was the sense of the committee, 10 accept
the bond. provided it received the signature
of Mason ana Ioye. Mr. Capers moved
that the matter De passed by, until Mason
and ll0ye arrived, bat ana not press DDS
motion.
Alr. sfratton asked IL 10 would not bl
practicable for the committee 90 rise. and
not adioHrn. and consider the session con-
iinuous until it became apparent whether
Mason and Hove would arrive o' not.
Mr.. Meredith answered. "no.'
COMING TO TERMS.
Mr.. Curtis then moved that the bond
signed hv Mr.. Barnes. for 100000. as proxy
for Ncssrs. Mackay az Batter. Doe accepted
c0nditi0nally, and the chairman authorized
| TO receive 10 as soon asitrecoiVcd the sigma
ure of Mason g. loye. and the $1,000 in cin
bonds De deposited with the Auditor. be
| fore Mr.. Curtis motion was pat 90 vote
! Mr.. Stratton called attention tO the fact thai
there were "a number of lab0rers present
| who had been clam0ring for pay from thl
road. aud he asked that they Poe heard.
THE MANAGEMENT DENOUNCED.
Mr.J.W. D0dson. representing tine labor
ors. came forward and addressed tine COM
miftce. lie declared that they had been
shamofully treated; that they bad not ro
coivod one cent of money for six weeks. and
/ that their wives and families We're suffer
| ing Whenever they went down town O.
/ try and get paid of. 10 was almost imposst
! be 90 lind the authorities. and when iound
/ they put the men of with promises. Ito
said the white men had been treated This
way. while the negroes had been informed
where they could 90 and get sefCniy-iife
] I... ID. NnH %. fI
Mr.. Barnes at this iuncture said hl
would see that the men were paid OF. AZ
this. am Italian labOrer- very much excited
declared Doe was tired of promises. and rush
| ing into the room. threw upon fine table @
/ handful of pawn tickets, eXciaimlng as hl
/ did so: "1his is the way / have been rob
bed and cheated by these men. ] cam
go home in amy peace tonight Doe
/ cause my children haven't % mouth
ul 10 eat. Mr.. DOhs0n said tine engineer ln
charge was Neutrality-suspicious.. AN,
did AN Doe could for them. Tie declared THAI
there ought tO Doe some check put upon ODD
shameful treatment the men had received
and Doe denounced the authorities of th'
road as " lumbugs, cheats, sWlndlers anl
frauds
Mr.. Higgins asked If there could Doe amy
thing done 90 aid the men, and Doin Dice and
Mr.. -tratton said they were willing to vote
for Mr.. Curtis motion 10 amy assurance
were given that the men would De paid. Mr.
TRAINER said they would Doe.
ii wouldn't take his word for anythn.
be saws" shouted am Italian.
Wv hen viii you pay them| asked Mn
! Curtis.
..ln few DAYS" said Mr.. Trayncr.
.sWhy did YOU pay the coiorcd hands an0
refuse 90 pay the white ones" qucried Mr.
Curtis.
81 deny that ever did
"Nou know you did. and J can prove it4
| said Mr.. DOh-0n.
Mr.. Meredith. DO response To- question "a
90 what the committee could DO. said Cha
while the complaints of the men were irul.
narrowing. yet the committee was pow
erless TO do more than act upon th
question before IT,, which was th
bond. Whatever the results might Dbl
he was certain that the city of Rchm0nl
had mo- desire 90 reap benefits of amy s0r.
implied or expressed. i'm the granting OF
franchise 20 any corporation under sucl
circumstances. Bat the assurances iron
\ Mr.. Barnes would remove objection in thi
direction.
Ar inrfilf motion was fnau uIoUfoI