The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-15
STREET CAR HANDS STRIKE.
The Road Tied Up the Metropolitan Of
Washington.

A Reduction in Wages the Cause of
the Trouble - Traffic Brought to
Standstil at 5 O'Clock When the Gov
ernment Employees Were Leaving
Their Buildings Cars Aban-
doned Wherever They Hap
pened to Be-strikers Deran Them
After Police Are Called Out.
Washington. Dec. 14-Washington has
big street railroad strike on it's hands The
road affected is the Metropolitan Street
Railroad Company. which traverses the
best residential part of the city and COM
municates with the capitol. The strike
took place about p. m, to-day at the
time of heaviest traffic. when thousands
of government employees were leaving the
various executive departments for their
homes. 1t was brought about by a notif-
cation given the drivers and conductors
last night that their wages would be cut
down from $2.03 per day to $1.6s. Further
than this the men have grievance with
regard to the number of hours they work.
Twelve hours is supposed to constitute a
days service, but the men claim that they
are compelled to work from thirteen to
fourteen hours without relief or intermis-
sion, or the privilege of leaving the car
even for five minutes for meals or for any
other purpose. The striking employees have
the full sympathy OF Washington.
Some years ago congress enacted a law
providing that this and other companies
dispense with horses and provide some
other motive power. The other chief rail-
road complied with the conditions, but the
Metropolitan company on various pretexts
secured an extension of time. Senator
Hale and others roundly denounced the
company in the Senate and congress made
IL obligatory on the company to change its
motive power within few months The
expense entailed by this change is one of
the reason given by the company for taxi
ing the cost out of the wages of its en-
ployes.
At o'clock all the streets traversed by
the road were blocked with driVerless
cars. The president of the company came
to the scene and by threats and cajole-
ments attempted to get the cars going
The police were brought into play and one
or two cars were started by their aid
After they had been moved, the crowd be-
came somewhat disorderly and surged
diOuliu the ltdulHS car until the ponce
used main force to clear the streets. A
patrol wagon was called out and drove
through the street to keep clearing
Three stalwart looking men rushed up
to the front car, placed their shoulders to
the rear platform and lifted it off the
track, then disappearing in the crowd.
This seemed to be the signal for more such
work. All way down the line. cars were
lifted from the track and placed at vari-
Gus angles until the climax was reached
at 18th and f. streets, where one car was
hauled directly across the street. The
crowd were all with the strikers and
when Mr.. Phillips appeared along the
tracks he was greeted with boots and
jeers.
The road remained blocked for several
hours, when finding that the men could
not be prevailed upon to continue their
trips, the cars were returned to the barns
Late tonight a conference was held be-
tween the strikers and railroad officers
and an agreement was reached The men
compromised on S1.75 per day of twelve
hours. All the strikers will be taken back
The line will resume its operations to-mor-
row morning as usual