The morning times., 1895-09-18
TRYING TO GET TOGETHER
Conference of President Phillips
and His Employees.
HEARING THEIR GRIEVANCE
Removal of Supt. Elliott, of the Ninth
Street Line Their rObject-MenHope-
full of FavOra BILE ConSideration-Dis-
pute With the Protective Street
Railway Union Still Unsettled.

The settlement of the differences be-
tective Street Railway Union is still
distant contingency.
He was engaged yesterday morning and
afternoon in hearing the complaint OF
employees of the Ninth street line, who had
pettioned him for the removal of Supt.
Elliott from that office and his return to
a car This investigation, while IL was
an extremely important matter to the
Ninth street men, does not touch the
matter in which Mr.. Phillips has become
involved with the executive committee
of the Protective Street Railway Union,
which is composed of Messrs. Thomas ].
Lawrence, president of the union, and
Messrs. Trainer and Casey.
This committee was not present at the
hearing yesterday. 1t was a case in
volving only the Ninth street line. These
employees object to Mr.. Elliott.
committee waited on Mr.. Phillips,
who told them that if they could get the
signatures of majority of the men on
the Ninth street line to sign q petition
lie would take their grievance under CON
sideration, aud he dictated a request for
a hearing.
GOT SIGNATURES ENOUGH.
The men got the signatures of sixty-one
men out of seventy seven, thirteen of whom
were non-union men. They could have
had a larger number of signatures, but
they did not have time.
The testimony yesterday was taken by
a stencgrapher, but during the progress of
the evidence Mr.. Philips suddenly said
that he had heard enough, and the evi-
dence was closed.
During the taking of testimony Mr.
Clark, who is in charge of the road for
the electric company, said that it was his
experience that promotions from the ranks
did not secure the best Officers. Against
this statement the men urged cases in
Washington where prumotions from the
ranks had given their companies good
officers, such as Hurt, of the Washington
and Georgetown; SUpt. Lowery, of the
F Street Line; Deneile, of the Ninth Street
Line, and Moffatt, of the F Street Line.
The investigation adjourned about
O'Clock, and late yesterday afternoon Mr..
Phillips was still immersed in the evil
dence.
Themen are ofthe Opinionthatthec casehas
been decided in their favor, inasmuch as
President Phillips intended TO CONVEX that
he don't want cumulative testimony ON a
point that had been proved.
- UNSETTLED QUESTIONS.
All the other matters of complaint af-
fecting the street line and the others, in
Guiding the hours OF work are still un-
settled. The union has invited Mr.. Phillips
and his secretary to the meeting of the union
which will be held tomorrow from a. m.
until midnight and after if necessary.
The idea in this appears to be to bring
Mr.. Phillips face to face with the men to
make his promises and redress grievances.
The complaints will be presented to him
in full meeting and ne will have an oppor-
tunity TO defend and explain himself.
The proceedings of yesterday do not
materially affect the intense strain which
has arisen and which Will likely continue
until all things shall have been adjusted
to the satisfaction of the executive COM
mittee, which has been invested with su-
preme authority 10 order a strike, and
there is little doubt that it win be general
The Anacostia men have grievances in
the shape of unfair treatment of three Of
their men. President Lawrence had a II in
terveiw with President Griswold on these
cases yesterday, but without satisfactory
results. The storm appears to be gather
ing on all sides, and perhaps general tie
up is not the remotest of contingencies.