Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-06
THE RAILROAD STRIKE
The Situation Shows but Little Change
Since Yesterday.
Admirable Behavior Of the lexington Rail
road Strikers-A Benefit Excur-
sion Proposed.

There has been practically no change in the
situation of the local street car strike during
the past twenty-four hours. On the lexington
line there were eight cars running today, about
half the usual number, but still enough to &C
commodate the traffic.
On the main line, the trolley division, four
cars were trimming on ten-minute schedule
and like state of affairs prevailed on the G
street branch. The cars we're manned for
the most part by new men, although there
are about eight Of the old men who have
signed the agreement and are now drawing
their 81 for a days labor. Receiver Downing
said to STAR re iorter this morning that as
far as possible they were securing the services
Of men who have had some experience as
railroad men, but when this was impossible
they took the best they could. and SO far they
had succeeded in getting high average Of
men. He thought that by tomorrow morning
the road would be running along as though
there had been no strike at ALL No effort has
been made to enforce the Objectionable con-
tract on the 18th street line, and there is no
son to believe that there will be any trouble
there
ABANDONED HOPE.
There is one thing that seems evident today
and that is that the strikers on the lexington
limo have practically given up all hope of win
ming the fight The company stated
that unless the men signed the contract
by the 9th of July they would be out of
a job. and since then they have said that they
would not, under any conditions, take back any
of the men who voluntarily went out. The
strikers. on the contrary. say that they are sat-
isfed that If they would give up the struggle now
the company would be willing and glad to take
them back at any terms. As proof of this they
say that two or three of their men have weak
ened and gone back to work at the old rate of
pay. One conductor signed the agreement and
gave bond for $500. secured on his brothers
house. He was at work TODAY.
The strikers say there will be no difficulty in
filling their places. The only trouble will be-
they contend. when the new men start to work
on the electric line. They say that
the company will regret taking on mex
perienced hands. There we're about fifty-four
who went out from the lexington road alto
gether. This number is comparatively small
and rs there is no labor union of street car
men in this city the men admit that the chances
of ultimate success for them are very small
indeed.
THE MEN ARE STILL FIRM
Still they insist that under no circumstances
can they be induced to put their names to the
odious paper. Manager Schoepf has
stated that he had no intention Of
applying that agreement to the horse
car line But the strikers point out that
he insisted on this so far the G street horse
car line WAS concerned They say that if it had
not been for the trouble it caused on the Eek
ington line he would have endeavored to put it
in force on 18th street as WELL The strikers
have been told that il they persist in staying
out they would be put on a black list by the
manager OF the line and will never hereafter be
able TO get employment in this business in
Washington or Baltimore.
In view of the fact that they have little hope
of carrying the point a number Of men have
already begun to look around for other work to
do. Some have succeeded in getting it, while
others are still on the lookout
ABENEFIr EXCURSION.
The younger men and those without families
have not begun to worry themselves about this
matter as yet. They make their headquarters
Mt the corner OF 5th street and New
York avenue and discuss the situation
by the hour. The proposition was made last
night to get up some sort Of open air excur-
6on for the benefit of the strikers ard the idea
met with hearty reception. meeting
held on the corner this morning and commit
tee was sent off to see what arrangements
could be made for an excursion either
down the river or at same nearby point by
rail- The matter not definitely decided.
but the excursion will probably be given in the
course of couple OF days
As COMPARED WITH THE FORMER BOSS.
One Of the strikers said to a STAR reporter
this morning.: Things have been altogether
worse since this syndicate got possession
of the road. Under the old management we
had twelve hours DAYS work and were allowed
to lay off one trip for dinner or supper
as the case might be and our place was taken
by one OF the extra men. As 1t is now. we have
to make more trips and we are not given that
trip off tor meals. All we have is an
eight-minute rest. That's not very
long for dinner. Then. too, it is a rule
of the road that if one Of the G street cars is
above street on 5th. the electric car must
wait for it. This might mean three or four
minutes off our eight and the result would be
that We would have to eat our meals on
the jump, while the car was going.
II a trolley should slip off the wire and break
the conductor would have to pay anywhere
from 81 10 to 90. 80, although it might really
be no fault of his ut all. For instance. if a
trolley is well filed when it starts off from
It'll street the car would probably
get as far as LIST street before the conductor
would be through taking up fares and have
chance to get out on the back platform again.
If the trolley should fly off and break it
would certainly be no fault of the con-
ductor. but he would have to. pay the bill
just the same. The condition Of the road now
Is bad that the trolley is likely to slip off at
any time. The agreement that they wanted us
to sign was the last straw that broke the camel
back"
WILL NOT RESORT TO VIOLENCE
There has been nothing like trouble among
the men since the strike began nor is there any
tendency to resort to force in settling their
difficulties. There have been one or
two minor difficulties, but these we're
rather side issues to the main affair.
This morning Receiver Downing got into an
alteration with man named Austin, who was
formerly An employee of the road. but was dis
charged about month ago. They came to
blows, but no serious harm was done to either
party. They were both arrested, however, and
left collateral for their appearance.