Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-01-16
BROOKLYN CARS STOP.
Nearly 5000 Trolley Line EN-
ployes, Including Electri-
clans, Quit Work.

Brooklyn, n. Y, Jan. 14.-At ) o'clock
this morning all the trolley-cars in Brook
Ign were tied up, the employees refusing to
take out the cars. Over 5000 men quit
work. This includes. motOrmen, conduct
crs, electricians, switchmen and others en-
ployed at the various power-houses. All
but one Of the surface roads, and that Il
comparatively minor concern, are affected.
/ IS claimed that the strike Will extend to
the lines of the Brooklyn Elevated Rail
way company. The contract between the
Kings County Elevated Railway company
and its employees is such that it is believed
there can be no strike on that line.
The District Assembly 70 knights of
Labor, which has control of all the troll
ley line employees in Brooklyn, has held
weeks, and after the meeting on Saturday
their executive committee waited upon
President Lewis Of the Brooklyn Heights
road and again asked that he grant their
demands. They discussed the question
four and a half hours in President Lewis
office, and finally Mr.. Lewis refused to
grant their demands. The outcome of
this was that the committee held Il meet
ing which ended at 1 o'clock this morning,
when it was decided to tie up all the troll
the exception of the Smith and Jay Street
line. This was done this morning, and
not a car outside the Smith and Jay street
line is running. The companies expected
that the men would so out this morning
and determined to anticipate them. They
asked the electricians, about 1000 in NUM-
ber if they would take out the ears this
morning. Every one of them refused to
do so. They were then told that there
was no work for them. This morning the
people had to use the elevated roads. The
trains were made up with extra ears to
accommodate the rush. The public was
greatly inconvenience.
The Court street line of the Brooklyn
City company ran out seven ears, begin
ming at s o'clock. The cars were
manned. front and rear, by two police
men. There was no trouble. There was
one car running on the Fifteenth street
branch
The mems grievances and demands are
thus stated: THE state law provides
that a days work of street railway en-
ployes shall be ten hours, within twelve
consecutive hours. It is alleged that
corporations have required the men to
work eleven hours and even, latterly,
twelve hours, with no interval longer
than ten minutes for lunch, and even de-
priying them of that brief time in most
instances. The wage rate agreed upon
Il year ago was 50 for the statutory days
work. The companies, it is alleged, have
made no allowance for overtime. The
men demand adherence to the law re-
garding hours in days work or So %
for day of ten hours
President Slocum of the Jay and
Smith street line when seen denied the
report that he had conceded anything to
the men. If the men should order a tie
up he was prepared, as he had a large
force of men on hand to work if the po-
lice protection was adequate.
The tie-up is materially affecting the
United States mail service, as the trolley
cars We're used for mail transfer. None
of the trolley lines delivered the mail this
morning. Postmaster Sullivan said he
would have to go back to the Old system
of collecting mail by aid of wagons. He
had called upon every substitute and LAY
off, conencted with the Office to do duty.
At II o'clock United States mail car No.
102 of the Elatbush avenue line with four
blue flags came down Fulton street. A
letter carrier was in front and the pas
sengers were on the inside. 1t contained
the Fiatbush mail. Extra detachmentS
of police were detailed to patrol the
thor0ughfares through which the various
railroad lines run.
An attempt to overthrow q car on the
Court street line by sympathizers with
the strikers was made this morning
The police have made several arrests
The entire police force, consisting Of
1900 men, is in readiness in case there
should be any trouble.
All the old stages that could be resur-
rected in the city were pressed into serv-
ice and a line of Transportation was es-
tablished between Flatlands through Flat
bush avenue to the city hail, - cents be-
ing charged for the trip. 1t was rumored
that 5000 men had been engaged in Chi
cage, Newark, Patterson and other cities,
ard were on their way to take the places
OF the strikers.
Washington, D. c.. Jan. 14.-The gov
orr hos for
troops on account of interference with
the mails by the Brooklyn strike, and
it IS said at the war department that it
is not expected any such call will be
made. It is not believed that any neces-
sity for troops will arise. While inter
ference with the mails is contrary to
federal law it is also in violation Of state
law, and no reason is seen why the au-
thorities of New York state are not en-
tirely competent to deal with the trouble
without calling on the national govern
ment.