Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-15
WASHINGTON STRIKE E
STREET-RAILWAY EMPLOYEES RESIST
A WAGE REDUCTION.
Sympathy of the People With the Strikers,
and Wby-some Disorder-Cars
Turned Awry.

WASHINGTON, December H.-Wash-
ington has big street-railroad strike on
its hands. The road affected Is the
Metropolitan. which traverses the best
residential part OF the city and COM
municates with the Capitol. The strike
took place about y. NJ. to-day, at the
time Of the heaviest traffic, when thou
sands Of government employees were
leaving the various executive departments
for their homes. 1t was brought about
by notification given the drivers and
conductors last night that their wages
would be cut from 500 per day to sl6S
Further than this, the men have
"a grievance with regard 10 the number
Of hours they work. Twelve hours Is
supposed to constitute a days service,
but the men claim that they are COM
PEELED TO work from thirteen to fourteen
hours without relief or intermlssion. 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 n law providing
that this and other companies dispense
with horses and provide some other
motive power. The other chief railroad
complied with the conditions, but the
Metropolitan company. on various pre-
texts, secured an extension Of time.
Senator Hale and others roundly de-
nounced the company because Of this,
and Congress made IL obligatory on the
company TO change its motive power
within few months. The expense en-
tailed by this change is one OF the
reasons given by the company for taking
the cost out OF the wages Of its en-
ployees.
STREETS BLOCKADED
AT o'clock all the streets traversed
by the road were blockaded with driver
less cars The president OF the company
came to the scene. and by threats and
cajOlements attempted to get the cars
going The police We're brought into
play and one or two cars were started
by their aid. After they had been moved
the crowd becams somewhat disOrdeTly.
and charged around the leading car
until the police used main force to clear
the streets. A patrol-wagon was called
out, and drove through the streets TO
keep a clearing
Two stalwart men rushed up 20 the
rear platform. and lifted 1t off the track.
then disappearing In the crowd. This
seemed 10 be a signal for more such
work. All the way down the line cars
were lifted from the track and placed at
various angles, until the climax was
reached at Thirteenth and i streets.
where one car was hauled directly across
the street.
The crowds were all with the strikers.
and when President Phillips appeared
along the tracks he was greeted with
boots and jeers
The road remained blocked for several
hours. when. It being found that the men
could not be prevailed upon to continue
their trips, the cars were returned to
the barns.
4 COMPROMISE.
Late tonight a conference was held be-
tween the strikers and railroad officers
and an agreement was reached. The men
compromised on sl75 per day Of twelve
hours. All the strikers will be taken
back. The line will resume its operations
tomorrow morning as usual.