Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-24
NO COMPLAINTS YET.
THE COMPANIES NOT INFORMED OF
ANY DISSATISFACTION.
Number OF Employees on Each Line and
Amount of Wages Paid Them
Relief system Explained.

While the Street-Car Brotherhood has
prepared q lengthy list OF the hardships
imposed by the various companies upon
their employees no official notification
Of their action has as yet been served
upon the corporations or any of their
officers.
The formal declaration OF grievances
published was prepared by committee
after the Meeting Of last Tuesday morn
ing, and was a great surprise to many OF
the men, who had been given to under
stand that the organization was to be
purely and simply for beneficial pur-
poses This committees report has not
yet been presented to the general body
for its approval.
UNION PASSENGER hallway.
This is the oldest electric line in Rich
mond. Superintendent Williams was seen
by a DISPATCH man last night. He beg
ged 10 be excused from expressing any
opinion upon the situation, inssmuch as
he had not been officially notified by the
men OF any dissatisfaction on their part.
He said that the regular men on his line
so to work at $50 A. NJ, and are on
duty about twelve hours each day.
There are thirty-two or thirty-three regu-
lar motor-men, the same number Of con-
ductors, and O number Of relief men.
The motor-men are paid 21.80 per day OF
twelve hours the conductors, Sl.5O.
CITY RAILWAY COMPANY.
This system comprises the Broad and
Main-street lines. The former is ope-
rated by horse and mule-power, the lat
ter by electricity. Their force is di-
vided as follows Regular motor-men,
thirteen, at S1.S0 per day of twelve
hours regular conductors, thirteen, at
$3.50 per day Of twelve hours relief
motor-men, seven. at Sl.S0 for twelve
hours; relief conductors, seven, at 81. 80
for twelve hours horse-car drivers,
fifteen, at s1.75 per day OF twelve hours !;
relief drivers, five, at S1.50. All over
time is paid for at the rate of fifteen
cents per hour.
soUTHsIDE ELECTRIC LINE.
The force on this line is rather limited,
its cars having not yet been running a
week. There are five regular motor
men, five regular conductors, and three
helpers. The pay is about the same
as on other electric lines.
MaRsHALL-sTREET.
These cars are not run much after
dark on this road. and the men come in
early. There are five drivers, each OF
whom does about twelve hours duty per
day.
MANCHESTER HORsE-CABs.
Six cars are operated on this line. The
drivers are not relieved, and do duty
something over twelve hours.
The first man out in the morning is tho
first to come in at night, so no driver Is
at work during the entire running time
Of the cars.
The street-car officials assert that the
men are better paid for the amount and
class OF labor rendered than in any other
business. In many instances they have
taken boys out of stores where they were
making 81 cents per day, made con-
ductors OF them, and paid them sL5O.
THE RELIEF SYSTEM.
The present running time of most oi
the Richmond cars is eighteen hours.
One man is on duty twelve hours, when
he is relieved. The hardest work is or
the rehef man, who does duty generally
early in the morning and late at night. II
he runs through the entire day he is paid
accordingly. The regular conductor ol
moter-man goes on duty either at 6 A. NJ.
or u NJ. and stays on for twelve hours
The relief or substitute goes on at 8 II
the morning, stays on six hours, goes on
again in the afternoon on a different cal
at 6, and works until midnight. As soor
as a regular position Is vacant he i
given it,
THE REMEDY.
Taking the motor-man for example
81. 20 is paid out 20 two men for eighteen
hours service. 1t is understood that the
companies are willing 10 make The
amount 50 per day and divide it and the
work equally among two men, who
would be on nine hours each and re
ceive Sl.50. They are doubtful, how
ever, il man who has been receiving
l.s0 per day will be willing TO tak'
Sl.50, even if his hours OF work are
lessened.
NO EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.
IL u,