The Washington times., 1894-10-03
WAGES DOWN; ANGER UP.
Employees of the Anacostia Street Car Line
Arc Indignant Because Their Salaries
Have Been Cut Ten Per Cent.

Employees OF the Anacostia Street Car Line
Arc Indignant Because Their Salaries
Have Been Cut Ten Per Cent.
Considerable indignation exists among the
employees Of the Washington and Anacostia
Railroad over the reduction Of 10 per cent. in
wages. which went into effect on the first of
the month. From information to DE CLEANED
from the men last night, it is probable that
some of them will leave before the order
provididg for new overcoats is put into oper-
alton. which will be about next week.
The company is now operating over twenty
cars and giving employment to about eighty
men ali told. 1t is about the only road IN the
city upon which the driver oficiates as con-
ductor as well as tending the reins and
brakes, and yet. according 10 the men, It IS
the poorest road to work for, from financial
standpoint in the city.
One year ago a reduction in wages OF 10
Der cent. was MADE, and at that time the men
were promised that the old rate.would be
restored upon the revival OF business.
Now the president OF the road, Mr.. h. A.
Griswold, has deemed ii necessary TO meet the.
still further decline OF traffic by another cut,
down of like amount. The drivers claim that
the road is carrying more passengers than
some OF the other roads on the cars OF which
there are two men al better wages than are
being paid the AnacOstia employees. The
present reduction IN wages has been gen
eral one and includes the salaries being paid
the president and secretary OF the company,
as we'll as the drivers hill boys, and hostlers,
A reduction of one man has also been madei
in the force employed at the office. 4
President Griswold was seen at his pleasant
home on Maple street. AnacOstia, last might
and explained to TINES reporter the stu
alton as he viewed il. He says in consequence
Of the depression of business. especially in
those trades which employ the brassworkers,
carpenters brickmakers, etc, upon the pa
tronags OF which his line largely depends, the
travel over the road has materially fallen of
and at this time necessitates a reduction in
the expenses.
The stockholders of the company" said he,
"haye never received dollar IN the past tit-
teen or sixteen years. ana II is not the policy
of anv corporation TO run at a loss, ana this
we cannot do We have deemed it best 10 re-
duce the wages paid rather than TO cause in
convenience TO the public by taking OF any
cars on the route. If any OF our men cannot
afford 10 stay With Us. then ! will be glad 10
give them letters 10 any other line, and wish
them the best OF success wherever they may
70. We can get plenty of men at even lower
wages than We are now paying, but we pre-
fer 10 continue with cur old force. <
AS for the oyercoats. said Mr.. Griswold,
when that matter was suggested, lone of the
men came TO me recently and represented
that the drivers didn't want to go TO the eX-
pense Of getting @l6 overcoats, when a suit
able garment could be obtained for about half
that amount Several samples will be sent
over in day or two. and an examination
made by the supervisor. As yet the matter
has not been decided. The men on the line
seem to have the idea that they will be re-
ouired to purchase SIS coats, and many say
that they will leave rather than do this.
some of the men are only receiving from
Sl.l6 and Sl.26 or slightly more, according
to The time they have been in the company 5
employ. These men work twelve hours. and
are paid extra time should they not get to the
stables within this limit. The swing men.
who work about ten hours. get but little over
: a day. They are all allowed one day off in
fifteen
The men on the Anacastia line are not
union men as a rule, and no trouble is ex-
pected from any organized effort upon the
part Of the employees. Those who cannot af-
ford on account of their families TO work at
such small wages will seek employment else
I where