The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-09
DEMANDS OF THE EMPLOYEES
Street-Car Men Explain Their Position
Fully to President FrenZel.
Numerous Suggestions Made with Which He
Is Not Likely TO Agree-Mr. Skaters
New York Journey.

Yesterday morning the brotherhood COM
mIttee-Messrs. Newhouse, Lanihan and
Ingram called upon President Frenzel. of
the street-raIlroad company. and presented
to him the statement Of the brOtherhoOd's
position upon various questions in dispute.
Mr.. Frenzel received them blandly in the
back office of his bank. assured them of his
good will. and promised to give an answer
at his earliest opportunity. He did not
read the document over in their presence.
and this was wise; he might have
tainted. The statement was first made
out by subcommittee of the
advisory committee composed Of the heads
of the various unions of the city, and thus
indirectly bears the Endorsement OF all or
ganIzed labor but it was adopted by the
Brotherhood of Conductors. Mortormen and
Drivers and goes to Mr.. Frenzel as coming
from his employees. 1t is said to have been
prepared by Charles w. Martin. and the
fact that it reads considerably like the de-
mands made upon various railroad cOrpo-
rations gives some color to this story. 1t
Is probable that the statement like the
petition of lawyer in court. IS to be taken
with q grain of salt; the lawyer usually
asks q great deal more than he expects to
got, anu Is tQtu In II pOcition w COihphO-
mise. President Frenzel probably took it
with few grains OF gunpowder, when.
In the seclusion of his own back Office, he
read the following document:
To the Citizens streetrailway Conf ny, John p.
Frenzel, President:
The following are regarded as essential points
TO be considered between the company and the
Brotherhood OF Car-drivers, Motormen and Con-
ductors
/. one ride to and from work is the present
rule OF the company.
The position of the brotherhood upon this ques-
ton is that q system should be adopted whereby
car-seryice men will be allowed 10 ride free any
where upon the lines while not on duty.
2. The compensation paid by the company, In
view OF the limited riding privileges Is mad
equate.
question is that an increase OF wages; not less
than cent per hour, should be granted.
3. Under the ruling OF yourself as president,
A. j. Smith. conductor; Ii. II. smith, driver;
E Iah HsndreEs ,condnctor and William CONN
dynamo-man, now stand discharged. These men
are members or our brotherhood. and our posi-
ton Ia that they are discharged Tor Such slight
offenses that the penalty was more severe than
the offense warranted. and should be relnstated,
as they have lost enough time 10 constitute a
sufficient punishment.
4. The present system under which men are
employed provides that extra men. or subsu-
tutes. shall receive lower wages Tor stated
length OF time than the regular employees.
The position of the brotherhood upon this
question is this: Extra men, or substitutes, by
virtue of having the same work to perform as
paid TO regulars. When extras or substitutes are
given regular runs, they should at once receive
and continue to receive the same wages as were
paid the regular men upon that or similar runs.
D. The present rules OF the company allow
any employe to be discharged, or otherwise pun
lshed without trial or appeal
The position of the brotherhood upon this
question Is that when member OF our brother
hood Is taken or duty for any cause NE snai DE
within three days. He should be entitled TO
representation in such investigation by any
member of the brotherhood OF his own selection,
and should have the right to appeal from the de-
cison to a higher authority, II any exists. III he
should be found innocent, after such investiga-
ton, he should be paid In full for lost time.
Ofienses which do not entail loss Of property
exceeding 500 should not be punished by dis
charge unless repeated by negligence OF en-
ployes.
q. The rules of the company now allow pro-
motions ia car service to be made without
reference to circumstances.
The position of the brotherhood upon this
question Ia that promotions should be made from
bro therhOod men according TO age in the car
ability being canal. When. from any alleged
cause, member Ia held back from promotion,
the reasons for such action shall he reported In
writing by the secretary or the company TO the
president OF the brotherhood.
z. During the late troubles many nonuni on
men were hired by the company for the appar,,
ent purpose of filling the places of strikers, and
with a full knowledge that they were hired for
such purpose. They are thus scabs in spirit and
The position of the brotherhood upon this
question is that all non-union men and drivers,
conductors and motormen who entered the sery-
Ice Of the company after the 9th Of January and
remained in said service during the strikes after
that date should at once be discharged from SAID
service, and not be re-employed until they first
Join the brotherhood
8. No Oifenses should be punished by fines,
but suspensions or discharge should substitute
all penalties Respectfully submitted,
NJ. M. DUGAN, President.
Last evening after Mr.. Frenzel had had
all day to digest this morsel. he was asked
by Journal reporter what he thought of it.
81 am not talking" he replied. Il will
give a written answer at o'clock. or there
abouts. in the morning What do you
think of Iti"
The reporter declined to be interviewed.
on the ground that the public did not care
Q continental for his opinion.
Judging from Mr.. Frenzefs past attitude
1t is not likely that he will agree with the
brotherhood upon all or even any Of these
propositions
II think Frenzel will make two conces-
sions," said well-informed gentleman last
night. HE will probably offer some ar
rangement by which the men can have a
certain amount of free transportation when
Oft duty. and he may reinstate all the
men mentioned except Eli Hendricks. lie
will not discharge the new men taken on
nor will he turn the power of hire and dis
charge over to tn e brotherhood"
The brotherhood's committee met at MIR.
Martins office in the CYclOrama Building
at o'clock. hoping by that time to have
an answer, but they were informed that 1t
would not be ready until this morning