The San Francisco call., 1895-12-24
By It the Men Who Went Out
Will Take Their Turns in
Getting Work.
NEW HANDS NOT DISPLACED
Scenes of Riot and BloodShed During
the Last Day of the Con.
troverSy.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. 23.-After
lasting seven days the ruinous strike of the
motormen and conductors of the Union
Traction Company came to an end to-
night by the employees accepting the
terms of the company. The men struck
for working day of ten hours, 81 per day,
and the recognition of the Amalgamated
Association of Street Railway Employees.
The terms of the agreement are as follows:
PHILADELPHIA Pa, Dec %, 1895.
To the Committee Of Employees of the Union Trac-
ton Company, ladelphia-GENTLEMEN: Con-
sidering your proposition seriatim would say:
First-We do not propose to govern the men,
bership or connection OF any employe with any
lawful association, but such connection with
such ASSOCIATION of any character whatever
must not enter into the relations between en-
ployes and the company, and cannot be recog-
nized in the business conducted between US.
Second-That any grievance of whatever
character that any man or men may have will
always be considered fairly and promptly be-
fore such men and the officers OF the company,
and the company will afford such men an OPP
portunitY to examine the records OF such en-
ployes to their entire satisfaction.
Third-We accept your statement that all
men discharged September 10, 1895, except
those discharged for just cause. Will be re-
instated upon examination of the records of
such employees, the committee representing
the employees to furnish the list OF names of
those they believe to have been unjustly dis
charged, and the men allowed to divide the
runs, other than the runs laid out for the pres
ent employees, meaning those who have entered
our service since the evening of December II.
The above proposition, I think, should be &C
cepted by the employees and will be cheerfully
accorded by the management. Yours very
truly, J. r. BEETEM, General Manager.
The employees of the Union Traction Com
pany have conferred with their committee who
presented the communication to J. r. Beetem,
general manager, dated December %, 1895,
making three propositions OF settlement of the
strike now pending. They desire to say in re-
ply, in view of their anxiety to meet the views
of the company and in reliance upon the fair
ness of the Traction officials in considering
their workmen, because of the general desire
for quick and peaceful adjustment of exist
ing difficulties, they accept the three propo-
sitions stated, earnestly asking, however,
because of the losses already incurred by
such large body, that the president, directors
and managers OF the Union Traction Company
will endeavor to find an honorable settlement
OF all contracts with new men, so that the old
men may find employment soon as possible
and until such time they will equalize the
employment of all the men as far as possible.
Respectfully, ED BYRNE,
CHARLES BINGHAM,
WILLIAM THOMPSON.
Witnesseth: GEORGE GRIFFITH.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. %, 1895.
William Thompson, chairman of the committee
Of the employees Of the Union Traction Compang-
DEAR SIR: We have your favor of the 23d
inst. in reply to ours of even date, in which
the conditions are clearly stated relative to
hn n dinr in ba md for pria
ances occurring IN the future. We accept your
letter in the spirit in which it is rendered,
with the understanding that the officers repre-
senting the employees are to Immediately de-
clare the strike off and the employees to present
themselves for work tomorrow morning upon
the old basis and the same rules governing the
road 1t is also repeated that any grievance of
whatever character that any man or men may
have will always be considered fairly and
promptly before such men and the officers rep
resenting the Union Traction Company; and
the company will afford such men an oppor-
tunity to examine the records of such employees
10 their entire satisfaction. Yours, very re-
spectfully, j. R. BEETEM General Manager.
The settlement of the strike is the result
of numerous conferences throughout last
night and to-day between the executive
committee of the strikers and the Union
Traction Company officials. Propositions
and counter propositions were made by
each side, when the agreement decided
upon was finally adopted.
Throughout all the conferences the
Union Traction Company resolutely re-
fused to recognize any one in the negotia-
tions but its own employees, and the Off
GERS of the Amalgamated Association
were not permitted to be present at any
time. The victory is with the company.
The only point partially gained by the
men was the unofficial recognition. On
the other points for which they struck
they have gained nothing, and are worse
off by weeks salary and the occupation
of the places of 1900 of them. These 1900
new employees will have the preference in
the runs of the cars, and the old men will
have to act as ''trippers" (extra men, All
of the 1900 new men will not remain here,
as a majority of them were specially sup
piled during the strike by contractors.
Still some 200 or 300 of the new men will
remain here permanently.
At mass-meeting of the strikers to-
night the agreement entered into by their
executive committee with the traction Off
cials was ratified. The conclusion of the
strike will be greeted with Joy by citizens
of all classes
The disturbances in the streets, the dan
ger of riding in the cars, the inconvenience
of walking long distances and the enor
nous financial loss to the city has made
the strike the most disastrous ever known
in Philadelphia. The Christmas shopping
trade was killed, and directly and indi-
rectly it is fair estimate that the seven
days strike cost the company, its en-
ployes and the merchants of Philadelphia
100000.
Aside from the satisfaction caused by
the settlement of the strike from busi-
ness standpoint, it is most fortunate that
it has come to an end. as lawlessness and
outbursts were on the increase, and were
each day that the strike was continued be-
coming more serious.
The disturbances in the streets to-day
were worse than on any day since the
strike began. The company started out
more cars on its various lines this morning
than at any time since the start of the
strike. With the exception of the Market
and Chestnut street lines, there was hardly