The Washington times., 1894-12-22

''Yes," said General Supt. C. c. Sailer, of
the Washington and Georgetown Railroad. to
a TIMEs reporter last evening" "soon after
the organization OF the Railway Mems Union,
which resulted from the tie-up on the Metro
politan road, requested certain OF my as
sis,ants 10 inform our men that they had bet
ter keep out OF that or, aniZation (meaning
the new protective union) or they might
get themselves in trouble. / meant
that the Washington and Georgetown Com
pany conductors and gripmen had a good
organization OF their own and shonld not in
Volve then selves in the troubles of others"
Yes, said one of the trusted employees of
the Washington and Georgetown Railroad to
a TIBEs reporter last night. Mr.. Saiers
order was communicated TO Fore
man Newton at the Navy Yard
station by Mr.. Sailer, and he
tNewton) in turn communicated it 10 the
conductors and gripmen on the line. until 1t
had spread rapidly over all branches OF the
road This statement was in effect that if the
men connected themselves in any manner
with the newly formed protective railway
union. they would get into serious trouble.
The men construed this verbal order to mean
literally that if they joined the new organiza-
ton they would be discharged from the SER
pany."
Yes. said one of the Oldest conductors on
the Washington and Georgetown line to n
TINES reporter last night, Il. in common
with nearly all the conductors and gripmen
on the road. were notified of Superintendent
Sailer's statement that we would get into
trouble
IF WE JOINED THE UNION.
"I construed that to mean that should l
connect myself with the organization my dis
charge would follow The other men with
whom 1 talked placed the same construction
on the promulgated statement, which was
cons .dered in the light OF verbal order from
the superintendent.
NO, said President Dunlop, of the Wash
in-tOn and Georgetown Railroad, to TIMES
reporter last night. there has been no order
issued 10 our conductors and gripmen
threa' enDg them with dismissal should they
ON the proposed railway protective union.
The whole thing is false"
Wien informed that Supt. Sailer had ad-
mitted leE hours previous that he had re-
Cuested his assistants % inform the men that
they might get into trouble should they join
the Prute tive Railway Union, President Dun
lOV al led the statement that the only author
ized orders 10 employees o. the road must come
through the Presidents Office and not from
the superintendent
Tbs. j nutshell. illustrates the situation
OF affairs on the Washington and Georgetown
haiiroad as respects The newly organized Pro-
ta.tiya. Street 4. halfway Union. and which
caused the publication in yesterdays TINES
oithe uCthele slEs.eTihe caption, WHISPERED
Along the Gable Lines" There can be no
dolR.t that AEr. Saiier requested the dissent
nation among The eI p!oyes OF the statement
that they might SCI into trouble if they
joined The rrote tive Railway Union, for he
says himself that he
ISSUED THE REQUEST TO HIS ASSISTANTS.
Nor can there be any doubt that the order
for such it undoubtedly was-went from grip
man TO conductor and from conductor to grip
man over the entire Washington and George
town system, because among the numerous
gripm, and conductors talked to by TIMES
reporters, every one lad heard Of the request
of Supt. Sailer, and not one man of them had
the hardibood to disobey it, whether it was
an order or request.
Now. as to Supt. Sailer's authority to issue
orders: "If he would come out on the Avenue
and command every car on the line to come
10 standstil.' said an old conductor.
'whether the command was verbal or writ
ten, every car would stop, and not a wheel
would turn until he mad given the order
to 90 ahead. His order or request
would be obeyed with as much
alacrity as one from President Dunlop, be-
| cause he (Saiier) makes nearly all tn ap-
| pointments and orders all the discharges. He
! has charge OF the practical running of the
! main road and its branches, and his word is
therefore law with the employees. Therefore,
if he informed the men that they might get
into trouble by joining the Protective
union you had better believe no man i'll the
! company's employ would join it unless he was
readyto step down and out Ishould regard
| a verbal request made by him to be as forcibIe
and foil Of meaning as written order
WITH HIS SIGNATURE ATTACHED TO IT"
4 reporter Of THE TIMES also asked Supt
Sailer about the alleged discharges that were
made when the men expressed their dissatis-
faction at the quality and price OF the over
costs they were required 10 pay for at the
| comm encement Of the cool season.
Il was away at that time, - he replied. ''but
I unders tand some of the conductors and
! gripmen held a caucus and were considering
! the advisab.lityo of striking, when several OF
! the men who were in the caucus were dis
missed from the service, and the matter OF
| striking was then promptly dropped"
Supt. Sailer's statement about the discharge
! of these incipent strikers was confirmed by
the trusted employe. quoted in the first part OF
| this article. He added that the name of one OF
! the dismissed conductors was West. who
claimed TO be nephew of President Hunt. the
| absent chief OF the road.
Both President Dunlop and Supt. Sailer
| praised the relief association of the Washing
ton and Georgetown Railroad employees, and
said they believed the employees were per-
fectly well satisfied with the company and its
treatment OF them.
1.-The feeling between the men and the
road,'' said Mr.. Dunlop. sis of the most
cordial nature, and when an employee is dis
charged it is for cause. We have rules and
regulations just the same as any other COM
pany, and they must be obeyed or those dis
| obeying them must take the consequences. -
Would an employe Of your road be dis
charged should he join the newly-formed
| protective union?" President Dunlop was
asked by the reporter.
81 know your purpose in asking that and
| decline to answer" was his reply.
The same question was asked Supt. Sailer
''He certainly would not be discharged" :"
/ was Mr.. Sailer's answer.
Under existing circumstances, would you
! join the Protective Street Railway Union?''
was asked the conductor on whose car the
| reporter rode from President Dunlop's resi-
! dence last night.
mo. Not unless was ready to receive
my discharge from the company" was the
| prompt reply.
-R