New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-15
WHAT BOTH SIDES SAY.
PRESIDENT LEWIS DECLARES THAT EVERY
EFFORT WILL. BE MADE TO RUN CARS
OF,

PRESIDENT LEWIS DECLARES THAT EVERY
EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO RUN CARS
STATEMENT OF THE STRIKERS.
Pres!den, Daniel +. Lewis. when questioned re-
garding the tie-up. said:
1t is without aGy just The demands for
increased pay and arrangements regarding labor
methods are more than the company can pett.
committee from District assembly no 49, "n men
the company's officers Oh Saturday and discussed
tod shs com 10 WIN" that II they tied tn road
UP before could get circular In me hands o. ouI
the committee responsible a circular letter to
our men was prepared by Sunday noon, but, II
before the men laid off, for the day. The com
pany appreciates the serious inconvenience, which
the tie-up will cause 10 the people, ana VIII ''"e
every effort 10 run It's cars.
Mr. Lewis sent letter 10 Mayor Scheren. ask
ing for police protection FOR the safety OF en-
rloyes and the property OF the company (; also Il
letter to the Railroad Commissioners at Albany
informing them OF the strike ard OF the company's
inability accede to the demands OF It's employees
Mr. Lewis said that notice or warning was
posted in al TIE company's depots. informing
ali the that any who should refuse TO take out
cars would he discharged; that unemployment
would depend upon the fitness OF the applicants
that former employees would not be taken back IN
a body after the engagement OF new men; that
discharged employees must leave the company
premises be arrested for trespass; that the
company most DESTROYS OF operating us cars
for public convenience. and that applications Tor
employment could be made at the companys office
or any OF Its depots
GRIEVANCES OF THE MEN.
The strikers issued a long statement addressed
to the public. substantially as follows:
The Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company. having
endeavored to force men in the electrical depar,
ment TO take the places OF motormen, anu OF
their refusal having summary iald men b on
been clearly demonstrated that the various CON
public Will suffer Inconvenience. but hope we VII
not be condemned without n full understanding
Since the Introduction OF electricity az a motive
power. the number OF daily trips mas been increarsd
mental and physical strain on the men mas p.e zen
hours Of labor V or increase the rate Of payment
The men compelled TO lay on for necessary rest
more frequently than formerly. and their pay IS
that no days work on surface railroad shdl eN-
coed ten hours, but the company refuses TO recog,
nize that provision and Insists that It's employees
shall give some OF their time for nothing ana that
the single TRIP under the pretext Of accommodntns
the public The minimum price for running a car
port Of family, even n the wage-earner should be
eU %en ff be- yaaa ~ enrn rom to 81
day. which would be slow starvation or sure death
i'm ias he yr s he imS wSr When
extras could earn would be reduced almost ~ per
cent. The companies are prohibited by law from
running cars at rate Of speed exceeding ten nils
company in Brooklyn has attempted to comply with
the law All companies have schedules posted At
their depOis. requiring the motormen To- run cars
nj "A rate OF speed averaging from fifteen o. twenty
miles an hour. AMI failure 10 make schedule time
has been punished los suspension from work AMI
sometimes by discharge Since the Introduction ~
,roIley-cars in brooklyn they have caused nearly
100 fatal accidents. and have malmcd hundreds 81
people FOR f~ and these fatal accidents anl MAIN
ngs due almost entirely to the selfishn"ss ~
the COMPARES. When accidents occur the motor
men are almost invariably discharged or otherwise
punished. "" desire thai the shall De-
with safety - the public and the motormen. but
the companies say No. AMI even now schcm-
ing TO crowd more trips and sill further Increase
the rate Of speed The motormen 30 not wish 20 be
called reckless or murlerers but want the blame %
be placed where Il properly bclongs-on the COM
panlcs which compel the mo,ormen - run az reck-
less rate OF speel or be discharged
ION these grounds the address concludes. We
ask the indulgence and sympathy of the public 70
assist US in freeing ourselves from the numerous
abuses beape-l upon us by the corporations
Resolutions OF sympathy with the strikers the
trolley rond- adopted by the regular Demo
cratic General Committee In brooklyn las, evening
The resolutions called upon tho United States
authorities TO cease using ordinary trolley for
carving the mails.