The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-03
THEY REFUSE TO SWEAR.
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAYS EN-
PLOYEs' OATH.

The President of the Conductors and
Motormen's Union Declines to Take
IL and p Strike Threatened II the
Oath IL I7slsted Upoa-supt. McFar-
land Saws the Men VIII Have to sign
it or Go.
The Electric Railway Company is having
trouble with its motormen and conductors
LAST week Supt. Mcfarland drew up an
oath for its employees to sign, ssiDulating
that they shall faithfully execute their
duties and enforce the rules OF the company
while in its employ. A number of the
motormen and conductors took the oath
without question. but when B. f. Smith,
one Of the Oldest conductors on the road,
and q sort Of leader among the men heard
of the new departure, be announced thai be
did not intend to sign anything or the kind
even if the penalty were the loss of his Job,
and advised other mot1rmen and conduc-
20 refuse.
Smith was finally sent for from the Office
to sign the oath. In refusing 20 sign It he
said the fact Of the employees attiKlng their
names to the rule book was sufficient
guarantee that they proposed TO perform
their duties. Smith considered the oath in
the nature Of questioning the honesty Of the
men.
A COMPROMISE PROPOSITION.
He finally agreed to accept it provided
the railroad cor pany entered into a similar
oath with the moJormen and conductors to
retain them 10 its employ as long as they
faithfully carried out its rules aud regula-
tions.
This proposition the company would not
listen to and Smith was again asked to take
the oath.
t.yUou 90 tboyo 10 rotbino, IN the oath
there is no necessity or reason for it," re-
piled Smith, and he refused a second time
TO sign.
S1pt. Mcfarland then told Smith be
would have to go, and the latter answered
all right, but be said all the men on the
road would go with him, as they had an
organization and the injury of one con-
cerDed all. This changed the situation OF
affairs and Smith was told to go back to
his car.
sUPT. M'FARLAND EXPLAINS IT.
Supt. mcfarland told MORNING News
reporter yesterday that while it is true that
the requirement of signatures to the oath
was suspended when Smith objected the
company does not propose to abandon the re-
oulrement, There is nothing illegal about
the oath, j" Supt. mcfarland SAID, land every
one Of our employees will either have TO take
it OF quit. A large number have already
taken H. Eul LuH UJubiu Will uhhu " GO ~.
The oath is designed only to make ell the
employees diligent In looking after the COM
pany's interests. They are not asked to
sacrifice anything. Smith will have to take
the oath eventually"
Smith says he will not take it, and in.
Inmates that if be is discharged the Electric
company will have strike on its hands.
THE UNION MAY TAKE A HAND.
Smith is president OF the motormen and
conductors union. which, it is said, includes
every white street railroad man in Savan-
nah. This makes the strength of the organ
ization about 1856. The Electric company
employs fifty men, the Belt Line sixty, and
the City and Suburban about seventy-five
The conductors and motormen get the
same wages, Is cents an hour. and as they
average about twelve hours a day, their
daily wages foot up only 81 80. A man has
first to be q motormRn be fore
he becomes a conductor, and has
TO have fair idea of machinery
to be successful at the work. Two
thirds Of these men belong to Savannah
and the other third halls from the country.
They are taught the work of handling the
electric cars at the power houses and have
TO osubstitute work for several weeks be-
fore securing permanent employment.