The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-25
FACTS OF THE STRIKE
The State Board of Arbitra-
ton Hear the Line
mems Story.

ll6 fOLdt6 IOdIu I'll <tlDttIatlOh INV ~
Kelly's Hall. on Newark avenue and
Grove street, at 1870 today, to investi-
gate the strike of the New York and New
Jersey Telephone Company's linemen
The members of the Board are
Lewis d. Robertson of Frenchtown;
Patrick F. Doyle Of Jersey City; Joseph
2. Macdonald of Paterson. The Secre-
tary is John w. Romaine of Paterson.
Today's proceedings are called an in
vestigation by the board in contra
distinction from it's session of arbitra-
tion. No arbitration has been agreed
upon by the company and the board
merely undertook today to get at the
facts of the case. Then the board will
consider what ought to be done next.
Patrick F. Doyle. the Jersey City
member, was still absent when MIR.
Mcdonnell called the board to order.
Superintendent H. G. McCulIy. of Jersey
City, was on hand early, and Snperin-
tendent of Construction Leland was
present, when the hearing began.
Among the -linemen. present were:-
Grand President Henry Miller of the
National Brotherhood OF Electrical Work
ers; First Vice-President Heally, VINO
has been in this city du1irg the strike;
Charles A. Duso. g. E. S~hackford and
Nathan OsDorn. Others came in later.
PRESIDENT MILLER'S PLEA.
President Miller made Il statement for
The linenien, reciting the history of the
strike. He SAID the constitution OF the
order shows it is not organized for the
purpose of striking. but for the general
good of the linemen. The Committee OF
Three who presented the petition for
higher wages in Brooklyn were not
given q hearing. Assistant Superintendent
1[oornou of RrNaktuu lnmAdiQfply dig
charged the three men without looking
at the petition. He said they were trying
to start a strike. He believed the men
were justified i'll making the demands.
They receive less now than ten years ago
although greater skill is required. They
risk their lives for the benefit of me puD-
lie. IL their service Is not worth $3 II day,
he was willing to work with a pick and
shovel in the street.
THEJERSEY CITY MEMS PETITION.
Charles A. Duso SAID that the Jersey
City men had believed for a year hat
they were not receiving proper compen-
sation. A committee was appointed
which drew up aud presented u petition.
Mr.. Duso showed a copy of the petition
to the board. 1t read as follows:-
We, the Undersigned. ask permission to petit
tioE the n. Y. s. N. j. Telephone Co. for an in
crease of wages of fifty cents per day. nine
hours to constitute a days work. All overtime
10 be paid for at the rate of time and one
half, holidays to be paid in full
and all work done on such days to be paid for
at time and a half and no lost tune for rainy
weather Oh other inconvenience. Hoping your
committee will make q favorable reply we re-
main.
Yours respectfully.
THE PETITION IGNORED.
This petition was signed by all tie Jer-
Sey City linemea VINO quit work because
the petition WAS not granted.
Mr.. Russo said that the company did
not tx any tine Tor answering the Pc
titiop, and the men understood The peti-
tiou was rejected. Therefore they quit.
In answer to Mr.. McDonnelps inquiry.
Mr.. Duso said the company's ageut re-
fused TO say when he would give an
answer. He Ignored the petition.
President Miller explained That the
petition emauatad from the telephone
linemen, n not from the Brotherhood
of Electrical workers.
&. L. Shackford spoke to the same
effect as Mir. Duso, but was more specific
III saying that Superintendent McCully
wouia not state whea he would give All
answer. The li;,eoien were still waiting
To hear from etieir netiiioH.
PATERSON HEARD IRON
John Kane, Que OF the 5 rieing iinemen
from P;ierson. was next DuE on tho
stand. He testified that the Paterson
men were the last TO go out, and gave as
q Ceo vi ShS EO1AR CoA OhO u 1
of the company 10 acced to their demands.
THE SUPERINTENDENT TEsTIFIEs.
The last witness called was Superin-
tendenJ McCully of the New Jersey
Division. He rscited the history of the
strike. In addition. he said:-"I certain
ly treated the boys cautiously. l read
their petition and told them at
the time that some OF their
demands were conceded to them.
II told the men hat | was powerless to
give them an answer at the time OF
presentation of their petition, aud added
that l would refer it to the gem
erai Superintendent, whose office is
in Brooklyn. But they would
not wait, and the first thing / knew was
that they had all Quit work. l have en-
gagged new men. OF course they are not
the skilled men that our old boys were.
but We can get along all rightif we are not
molested in any way. Had the men sent
one man to me to ask these changes In a
friendly spirit. l can assure them
as / did in the first place that
| would have recommended that the
advance in pay be given" At this point
Chairman Mcdonnell ordered a recess
unfff I yvn n,clock