Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-17
OFFICIALS RESIGN.
A NEW PHASE OF THE ELECTRIC STREET
RAILWAY TROUBLE.
Superintendent Harrington and Other Officials
Tender Their designations With
the Action Of the Board Of Directors

A new phase in the electric street rail-
way trouble developed yesterday morning.
when Superintendent w. E. Harrington
rendered his resignation. AS soon as this
fact became known the other officials Of
the road, who took charge of their respec-
tive positions at the same time as Mr.. Har-
rington, also handed in their individual res
ignations.
The trouble started with the discharge
of seven men employed in the Forty-second
street barn last Tuesday morning. Three
men were employed TO take their places in
the new barn which was occupied for the
first time on that day. Two of these men
were practical machinists living in this city,
and the third was Mr.. De Haven, of Pitts
burg. who assumed the position of foreman.
The Road Committee of the Electric Rail
wav Employees Union, in which some of the
discharged men were members, asked for
and held a conference with the Superin-
tendent for the purpose Of securing the re-
instatement of the men. Mr.. Harrington
declined to do this, and the committee ap-
pealeG TO the Directors. On Thursday
evening the Board failed to secure a quo
H..
Mr.. Harrington before the hour set for the
conference with the men. Mr.. Harrington
met them afterwards, and after discussing
the matter for two hours and half agreed
10 reiustate the men whom he had dis
charged.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Harrington
handed in his resignation 10 President
John NJ. Sweeney, TO take effect as soon as
the Board can select successor.
During the day the following officials also
rendered their designations upon similar
conditions: CD. Harrington, electrician;
Joseph h. Kearney, chief engineer, and
C. 70. Starr, chief car dispatcher. In con-
versation with REGISTER reporter yes
terday Mr.. Harrington made the following
statement:
Eyes. have rendered my resignation.
When the new barn was built below Forty
eighth street, il was with the expectation
of reducing the expense OF operating
the road Dy means of improved facilities
for handling and repairing cars, and a
reduction in the force of men necessary to
do the work At meeting of the Board
of Directors on Monday evening, brought
up the matter of discharging the men and
personally they all gave me their hearty
support and said they would stand by me.
Tuesday morning the men were discharged,
and the Road Committee demanded their
reinstatement. ! met the Board on Fri
day night and the members all left before
the men came in. They instructed me TO
make the best possible arrangements with
the men in order to avoid strike, and sug-
gested that give them places upon the
cars. After talking with the Committee
for two hours and half, found that the
only way to avoid a strike was TO relnstate
the men. That l decided to
do and then to resign this
morning. l was forced TO reinstate
men who, in my judgment, were unable to
cone with the new conditions. The change
would have meant saving of 800 week,
in round sum, TO the company. / had no
fault to find with the men who were dis
charged, but ! did not think any of them
were competent to do the work required at
the new barn. Under the circumstances
felt that | could not be responsible to the
company for the work Of men who in my
Judgment were not qualified to meet the
new condition of affairs, and therefore ten
dered my resignation.