Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-11

copy Of the same TO each paper." At
1880, messenger boy entered the
iELEGRAM-HEsALD ofhce bearing the
foil0singt typesritten statement:
The oftcers OF the street Railway
have not received any communication
from the employees. aud they are some
what asionlsned Al the pFeposterous de-
mands published IA the morning papers.
The rate OF pay per hour ~as the
same on both systems. The rate VAS
higher than the revenues of the COM
pany warranted. The rate for all
classes OF men was higher than similar
employment IN TINS city. Tue rates
were higaer than street railway rates Ia
any city OF the same size. The CON-
paay has been making repeated conces-
slons TO the cable men, until the point
has been reached where further conces-
slons would be SIMPLY surrendfng the
property ~ the employees. The COM
pany knows that this difficulty was
brought about by q few agitators. some
or whom have no interest IN, or know
ledge OF, the street railway business"
MIR. Chapman Explains.
The reporter called at the Office,
after receiving the above statement
when Manager Chapman spoke AS fol-
lows concerning the statement gwen;
ave speak OF repeated concessions
having been made. Perhaps, for the
Information OF the public who have not
been intimately acquainted with the
detailed work of the company and it's
employees a more extended statement
OF what We mean by that may seem de-
sirable. We say repeated advisedly
anu the following are some which l
happen To- cali TO mind. Let me pre-
face however b. saying, that the COM
plants recently have entirely orlglnst-
ed among the cable car men. The
horse car men are perfectly satisfied
with their work and emoluments. IL
IS not for any such reason that they
are out on this strike. 1t is because
they have been il not physically. at
least morally coerced into this action.
There has been one constant succession
OF conferences with committees ana in
almost every case their requests have
been complied with; at least rs far as
possible. The street car men do not re-
celve as much pay as do the cable men
and neither do they work as long.
An Offer of Equal Pay.
In answer To the cable mems conf
plant on this point, we have said, we
will give you the privilege of the same
pay aud the same hours that the street
car men have. The option of taking
the same hours and pay that the street
car men have is still open. Then again
IN regard TO the hours of beginning, q
change was made winch reduced the
average time over twenty minutes per
man for all the cable employees. Then
in regard to the regulations for men
being late and going At the foot of the
extra list, a cnange was made very
greatly in their favor. Formerly the
washing of street cars was done on Sun
day morning. This matter was entirely
rearranged. Another matter that
caused complaint was that conductors
off duty We're required to report at the
Office to turn IN cash, taking some of
their oil time. This was altered. Now
we send for the cash. | could mention
many other changes that have been
made in favor of our employees" Mr..
Chapman was asked If the statement
gwen out by the company was to be
interpreted as refusal TO make the
concessions asked for the men. He re-
piled, s'In the first place we are not Of
ficlally cognizant of the existence of
the demands. The statement may
seem ambiguous, but anyone is at lib
erty to interpret 1t as they please. We
do not care to explain it further"
To Give Formal Notice.
Last evening a meeting that lasted
until after III o'clock was held by the
street car men. During the day twenty
nine new members were initiated and
the men state that every man eligible
Will come into the union today. Today
the street Car company will be given Of
ficlal notice of the demands published
Sunday morning. 1t is supposed that
this committee will consist of ofticer.o of
the Central Labor Union. All negotia-
tons with the employees union will be
conducted through this committee. One
OF the men stated last evening that the
company refused to receive the COM
mittee who Saturday evening would
have presented the demands they are
striking for. The strike followd. 1t was
tue straw that broke the camel's back.
Another OF the men stated that there is
no symptom Of detection in the ranks;
that they are all as one and that the
movement has the sanction of every
union IN the Central Labor Union.
Some of the men that would not quit
work last year were Initiated as unon
men yesterday and are in sympathy
with the strikers. Meetings will be held
today.