New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-22
THE DELINQUENT COMPANIES.

Late on Sunday night Mayor Schieren III
formed the presidents Of the companies ih'oNeu
in the Brooklyn street railroad strike mat the
troops guarding their property wonld pe re'n
forced by the First Brigade early the next morn
ing. and that. being amply protected, the roaos
must all be put into full operation. More IMAM
1000 men were under arms yesterday In Brook
lvn and doing their duty firmly and thoroughly
but not one-auartcr the usual number OF cars
were running Some important lines were
closed entirely TO traffic. and on only few OF
the rest was anything like the regular service
re-established. Except at few isolated points
the peace was perfectly preserved. and only an
insignificant amount of mischief was accom-
nlisbed by lawbreakcrs There is just one rea-
son why the companies did not run their 'ars
as usual vester,lay-they couldn't without com
ing TO terms with their old employees. For a
week they have been declaring that they needed
nothing more than guarantee or protection 10
enable them 10 do their business acceptaDiy
Though they were not generally believed 'here
was no certain proof until yesterday that they
were merely blufiing. But from the moment
when the First Brigade Joined the BrooKi!h
regiments the truth was apparent 10 all. Inc
cars did not run because the companies had not
succeeded in procuring new men 10 handle thein
and so their claims were quickly shown 10 ne
false and impudent. Mayor Schieren was not
quite convinced at last accounts that the Time
had come TO take legal measures TO compel
fuflment of public obligations but II is prop
able that another days delay will end his
doubts
We have received two letters, one of them
anonymous. in which The Tribune is accused
Of encouraging lawlessress in Brooklyn The
writer's are either careless or dishonest. FROM
the beginning Of this contest we have explicitly
said every day that the preservation OF order
was the first necessity, in comparison with
which everything else was insignificant. We
have said repeatedly already, and say again.
that these disturbances. Of every KIND ana dt-
gree which have kept the police ana the militia
busy are shameful, intolerable and deserving oil
swift and rigorous punishment. But we also
say now, as we have said before, mat Only
small minority of the strikers have taken part
in them; that the companies, instead OI Delhe
blameless. are themselves gross offenders against
law; that they have treated the community as
we'll as their men inhumanly; that public opin
ion is arrayed almost solidly against them, and
that every hour and incident Of this contest has
extended and intensified the feeling of mingled
Indignation and contempt with which they are
regarded They have obtained. in many cases II
is believed through bribery. Immensely lucra-
tive franchises for which they pay little or
nothing 10 the public in whose name these priv
ilcces were granted. And because they were
unwilling TO pay faithful employees fair wages
for efficient work the transportation facilities
OF great city have been paralyzed for week.
bo had iuIisuu1 lo right 10
hire men, If they could. on any terms they chose
10 offer provided that the men were competent
that the terms did not involve any violation Of
law, and that the replacement Of the old force
did not prevent a reasonable performance Of
their duty TO the public While their property
was in process or in danger Of destruction they
were justified in refusing TO run their cars. and
their claim TO prompt and complete protection
has been unqucstoned. Such protection they
are now receiving at large expense 10 the com
munity. and in return the community demands
an immediate and full restoration Of traffic on
their lines. The proof that they spoke falsely
when they said that all they needed WAS So
crrity in the exercise Of their rights and the
evidence that they are anxious TO avoid doing
their plain duty constitute a strong motive and
an apparently trst reason for breaking their
vain and stubborn temper as q means Of break
Ing the strike. Their old employees have offered
to abide by the decision Of arbltrators not APP
pointed by themselves and pending their de-
cision to resume and continue work on the old
terms. The companies had a legal right 10 de-
cline this offer, if they saw their way clear TO
perform their obligations otherwise. But il was
bad citizenship TO decline 1t. the circumstances
being what they were; and there is something
more than bad citizenship in the course which
they are now pursuing.