New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-21
TROLLEY LINES TIED UP.
BROOKLYN SURFACE ROAD EMPLOYEES
OBJECT TO BUYING UNIFORMS.

A COMBINATION OF STRIKE AND LOCKOUT on
THE ROUTES OPERATED Ply THE ATLANTIC
AVENUE CoMPANY-BOTH SIDES FIRM
NO VIOLENCE BY THE MEN
An attempt was made by the conductors and
motormen employed by the Atlantic Avenue
Railroad Company in Brooklyn to stop the oper-
alton Of cars on the various lines Of the COM
pany yesterday owing to differences in regard
to the requirement by the company that the
men appear in new uniforms yesterday. There
are about 900 employees and Of these nearly
200 complied with the order and purchased the
summer uniforms required. The suits cost each
conductor Sl1 Is and each mOtorman Sc 10. and
the men required 10 purchase them from
certain tailor. The majority Of the men rebelled
at the requirement. and held indignation meet
ings last week. They decided that instead Of
getting the new uniforms they would refuse to
go to work yesterday. When the company
heard Of this police protection was asked for. as
It was feared that the men would interfere with
the operation Of the on the lines by the
men who should appear for work. Notices were
posted at the office of each line that only men
In the new uniforms would he allowed to work.
The result was combination strike and lock-
out. and the operation of the cars of the COM
pany was crippled
The Atlantic Avenue Company operates eleven
lines all trolley roads. The main route in the
city is on Atlantc-ave. and II controls the
Brooklyn and West End Railroad to Concy
Island. 1t for a long time managed by 1.-The
late William Richardson. but was sold 10 n syn
dcate about three years ago. Benjamin Norton
is the president and w. J. Richardson secretary
and treasurer The Fifth Avenue line runs in
Atlantic and Fifth aves, from South Ferry TO
Greenwood AT Thirty -sixth-st. Alternating with
the South Ferry on this line arc those which
run in Boerum Place and Adams-st.. from At
lantlc-ave. TO the Bridge and Fulton Ferry
The Fifteenth Street line runs from Hamilton
Ferry to Nlnth-ave.. and Twentieth-st The
Bergen Street line runs from South Ferry to
Bergen-st and Rochester-ave. The Butler Street
line extends from Fulton Ferry in Furman-st At
lantic-ave. Washington-ave. and Butler-st.. to
New-York-avc The Seventh Avenue line +
operated from Fulton Ferry and the Bridge 10
/ NInth-ave and Twenteth-st.. in Adams-st, At
lantic Flatbush and SEVENTH aves. The Van
dcrbilt Avenue line extends between the same
terminal points in Washington. Concord and
Navy SITS. and Park. Vanderbilt and Ninth aves
| The Park Avenue line runs from the Bridge 70
! Central-avc.. I'm the Eastern District There are
! besides these two cross-town lines. in Hoyt-st
! and in Hicks-st, connecting the Bridge with
Hamilton Ferry.
|
few cars were run yesterday on all these
! lines but they were far apart. The majority u
the men were al their headquarters at Fifth
ave and Twcnty-thrd-st- and they held re-
pcated sessions The cool-headcd ones advised
/ that no overt actions be rcsortcd to. and sad
that II the company could not operate thc cars
the obnoxious demand would be wlihdTaWh.
/ The majority OF the men felt that owing 10 the
hard times and the fact that many Of them had
! not been able 70 make full time and 80 set full
! pay. II was ar imposition - compel thcm 20
| spcnd a good share Of a weeks pay for new
| suits when the old ones nrc not worn out Most
| of them got new suits last fall A committee
| which called on Superintendent Ncwburg pre-
scntcd their side II tho case 20 him. but he re
! piled that the ril" would hav" 10 BE- enforced
| and that the men who ala not appear in ne" uni
| forms would not be allowed 10 run their cars
! So far reported yesterday afternoon ih"rc
were no obstructions placed On tne tracks ana
no Interference with the cars.
The Atlantic Avenue Company has had several
serious strikes The last - these was IN 1883.
when the road was tied mp for several days but
the company won. There were n number of
| efforts 10 keep the cars from running ana they
were operated for time under police p'otecu'h.
40 CARS RUN At NIGHT
The few cars run in the day were taken on at
night and after 7:20 p. IN. no cars were started.
| The company informed the police that no effort
would be made TO run the cars az night. as It was
not deemed safe. since acts Of violence could be
readily perpctrated under cover of the darkness
! The motormcn who had operated the cars In the
day were not willing T. Do 50 after dark. VWlnE
! 10 the storm the travelling public was by no
| means as much incOmmoded by the ue-up yes
| terdav az would have been the case on nne
! SUNDAY. and the company suffered fnuch less
! loss. The operation or inc uplIey cars on u,c
| Brooklyn Bath and West End Railroad OUTSIDE
| of the city was not nierfered with yestcrday
| and the cars were run on schedule time Ponce
| ,yera on duty all day at the powcr-house, AZ
| Third-ave and Thrd-st and AZ the various car
| houses but there was no call FOR thrlr services
The company claims that the mon have struck
! but the men on the other hand. claim that they
have been locked ont. The fact appears 10 De-
that the majority Of the men-those VINO nav,
not procured new uniforms-were precludrd rom
p,fnR Z, work while most Of those VINO hhd got
the new uniforms out of sympathy win thelI
fellows refused 10 90 10 work unless the others
were allowed to do 50.
CoNFERRING WITH PRESIDENT NORTON.
At a meeting OF the men Yesterday afternoon
a committee Of six. representing the chief lines
was appointed and went 70 President Nortor
and stated that. while they did not wish to be
unreasonable many Of the men could not afforC
10 comply with the order OF tie company with
out taking bread out Of the mouths "i thPll
families. After hearing what they had To say
president Norton told them that the best nc
could do would be to give them until a. III
to-day when. II they would report for work u
new uniforms, they will all be taken back. lh'
nrorosition was reported back to the men 10y
the committee, but IT was not approved by th'
great majority Of the mon. VINO declared WA
they would stick TO their resolution not 10 pun
chase the uniforms condition or returhln'
| 10 work The men say that they reported 10
work yesterday morning. and II was rciuHeu =
them. They will report again this morning al
| o'clock. 49,. =. -,
Mr. Norton said for the company that It woul'
insist upon It's demand being compiled WIN an an"
II the men did not get the uniforms to-day tnel
nlaces would be filed promptly as possible
He did not think there would be any d'IncuI'y !. !.
securing in a short time all the men required u
operate the cars Of the company IN place
| those who had left work go,
schieren Yesterday to ask his aid in securin'
their rights. and the Mayor told them that n
must see that law and order were maih'dine
in the city.