The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-25
THEIR REQUEST REFUSED
Employees of Traction Company Will
Not Get an Increase Of Wages.
MANAGER SILLIMAN'S LETTER
Copy Of 1t Was Received by All OF the
Men Iesterday-Many OF the
Grievances Complained Of
win Be Rcmcdiod. '
MANAGER SILLINAN'S LETTER

get the increase of wages prayed for by
them.
Each received letter yesterday from
| General Manager Frank Silliman. jr.,
in which he set forth In detail what the
company would do as to the request for
an increase Of wages and in relation to
the grievances concerning which COM
plaint was made
The letter was not received with any
marked show of enthusiasm by the
workmen and will be considered at a
meeting of the Motormen's and Con-
ductors' union Saturday night. The
letter which is signed THE Scranton
Traction Company, by Frank Silliman.
jr." Is as follows:
Your petition, setting forth certain
grievances, and asking for a redress of
-them mas received careful consideration
by the management Of the company. and
We desire to address to each one Of you,
the result OF the consideration given to
the various matters touched upon in your
petition. 1t Is our desire to make plain to
each OF our employees our reasons for de-
Gliding the various questions brought up,
as we have decided them, and thereby
convince each and every one of the justice
and reasonableness Of our proposition.
And we desire to assure you of our inten-
tiOn to treat these and all other questions
in fair and reasonable manner. We will
take up the different paragraphs seriatim.
Treatment of Men by Division Supern-
tendents and ispatchers-Personal ami
mosities or any other personal feelings Will
not be allowed to control the actions Of
any employees, be they in one position or
another. and fair treatment of our en-
ployes will be given in all cases; and gen.
tlemanly conduct insisted upon in the case
Of all. whatever their positions may be.
Method of Making Charges Against Men
We cannot always reprimand Il man for
a breach of the rules In private. but use
loss fntt tNI, tad
charge will be carefully and fairy tried.
II is not aways right and entirely imprac-
ticable to prefer charges In evey case with
in two days. and to have all charges signed
by the complainant. '... 20.
Lost Time In Investigation of Charges
Men will not be called before the superin-
tendent unless there Is good ground for be-
lieving that breach of the rules has been
committed. The superintendent will, as
heretofore attend to these cases as
promptly as is practicable. Men will be
paid for this time only when proved inno-
cent of the charges.
viii Protect the EMPLOYEES
Insult and Abuse of Men by Passengers
We are now defending in court a case
where conductor was accused of assault
on passenger. and We believe unjustly.
and will continue to protect our men
aginst insults and injury to the extent
permit our men to engage In any broils,
except in self-defense Respect for our
passengers makes 1t obligatory on us to
insist upon our men not becoming involved
in any quarrels except when absolutely
necessary to preserve order.
Supply OF Extra Men and Objection to
Discipline for One Days Absence-We will,
as nearly as practicable, keep up our extra
list 10 replace men who are sick or who
desire temporary leave Of absence, but we
cannot nemit men to be absent without
leave or without notifying us. This would
not only interfere with regular service.
bat mt hn fnf 70 =, t.n
who would have to be called out in large
numbers, uselessly, and would necessitat..
an extra list so large that the men would
get a small amount of work.
Supplies for Cars-Hereafter mOtormen
and conductors will not be required to get
tools and supplies for cars. but will be re-
quired TO see that the car Is properly
starting out in the morning. The proper
performance Of this work will be required
of the master mechanics force and will be
very much facilitated by motormen and
conductors II they will not transfer appli-
ances from one car to another, and care
fully report any defects or omissions In the
equipment of the car. on the condition re-
ports furnishedSfor that purpose.
Increase of Wages Refused.
Increase in Wages--With respect to this
we would call your attention to the fact
that during the recent business depression
the mOtOrmen and conductors. although
almost all industrial corporations did. and
in many instances the former rate OF
wages is not yet restored. This was not
an easy matter for this company, and was
only accomplished by strict economy in
other ways, and by waving anv possi-
bility Of return to the stockholders. The
motormen and conductors should not for
get that not only were their wages not
reduced, but they were given steady and
full time work: whereas almost every
other class Of workmen here in Scranton
and throughout the country. were reduced
in wages and working tirre. We would
also call you attention to the exceedingly
heavy EXPENSE to which the company has
been put by reason of much-nepded repairs
to roadway. including track and ravement
n LARGE amount to do. which means the ev-
perditrre of large sums Of money We
make this frank statement Of facts to
show the unfairnass Of any pronositiOn to
increase wages. The business of the rom
pony does not warrant It, and we must de-
cline to make 1t.
Arrangement Of Runninr Board--with
reference to this we would say that we
will at any and all times try to adjust the
running boa I'd TO suit the men. and to give
each man the best run possible.
With Regard to Sunday Work.
SUNDAY Worl-We will do our best to ac-
commodate our men who desire to have a
SUNDAY morning or Sunday afternoon off.
would fail to short DAYS work on on sun. SIM
day. night work against some who desire
to work.
Fenders-A fender which IL carried from
one end cf the car to the other. Is almost
universally in use, and experience proves
that 1t IL almost as convenient to move
them az 10 fold one IN and let the other
down. We would cite Puffalo and Brook
running the GAYS in the central part Of the
city, has greatly rednced this trouble and
we contemnlate further changes in the
sare direction.
Latch Turner's. Headlights. Overcoets.
etc.--Our reeulations for the nee and dis.
position ri latch turner's. headlights. ETC..
are based on results obtained from ev-
perience. and we mnst continue to exercise
CONTROL OF these pattPrs.
Tir,e OF Round Trips-The public de-
mard Is for ran'd transit. end we dee'~e
~ give this within tho limits of safety.
The present schedules do not seem to us to
be too fast.
ASSIGNMENT Of Mpr to Puns-Tbe rule nj
seniority in the servire. is almost univer-
rsllv followed In assienlne vren IN runs. !
y cannot he applied Invariably with per-
Reto OF Wages o. Discnarped Men who
ave pe-emr'oyed-Thc circumstances e.
tondipr each case will have to govern 81
" would not be fair 10 nut a man who
tas honorablv resigned and cor'e back. on
the same footing ns man discharged and
reinstated without exoneration.
New Quarters for tho Men.
Dining Room and Pay Day-We are ne
gotiating for new quarters for the men,
and will provide them at the earliest date
possible. We will arrange for a regular
pay day. With reference to the other COM
Dlaints made. viz. payment for damages;
the relation Of regular men to the extra
list when put there for cause: and also the
regular extra list; and with regard to the
character of the men In the general man
ayers and superfntendentS of1ces and