Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-05
TIED up AGAIN
Anacostia Railroad Employees Are
Out on a Strike.
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION
The Controversy is Over Wages
and the Company is Firm.
CAUSES OF THE TROUBLE
CAUSES OF THE TROUBLE

CAUSES OF THE TROUBLE
For the second time in less than four
months the employees Of the Washington
and Anacosta Railroad Company have
gone on strike, and the road is now tied
up In every department except the eXecu-
tive from one end of the line to the other.
This condition of affairs is exactly what
has been predicted would be the case by
The Star for more than q week, and eX-
pected by the officers Of the company since
Tuesday last, at which time a committee
representing the Street Railway Union and
the employees of the Anacostia Railroad
Company waited on President Griswold and
asked that the wages Of the drivers be in
creased to s1.50 per day, and that the pay
of the stablemen be advanced proportion
ately. 1t was explained to Mr.. Griswold
that it was impossible for the men to sup
port themselves on the pay of 1-3 to 10 IL
cents per hour, which, as they could work
put twelve hours per day, amounted to but
S6.I2 to SI.5G per week, provided there was
no docking of their wages for the acct
dental breaking of a pane of glass, the de-
facing of a car by some one driving a We
hicle against 1t or from any of the many
other contingencies that are likely to arise
on street railway. The stabemen were
in an even worse predicament, as their pay
amounted to much less than that of the
drivers.
Raise in Wages Refused.
Mr.. Griswold listened to what the men,
bers of the committee had to say, and then
politely, but firmly. declined to grant the
request basing his refusal on the ground
that the finances of the company were in
such a condition that to do SO would be
an impossibility..
The committee reported the result of the
visit to President Griswold to the author
tiles of the Street Railway Union, which
had the matter In charge, and it was de-
termined by both to allow the matter to
remain in statu quo until the regular meet
ing of the union last night. When the ses-
sion was called to order 1t was found that
not only was there large attendance, but
that important developments were about to
take place.
The chairman of the committee that had
waited on President Griswold made re-
port, during which he stated that it was
useless to ask that gentleman for an in
crease of pay, and that If anything was
to be achieved in that direction it would
only be through the medium of a strike.
A Strike Agreed Upon.
The entire question was tfen discussed
many of the leading members of the union
participating. That there should seem to
be any necessity for strike was deeply
deplored, and 1t was agreed that while the
Railway Union had no authority to order
the Anacostia men to strike, yet If the lat
ter did 50 they were assured that they
would receive the support of the union.
After the regular meeting of the union
adjourned a session of the executive COM
mittee and those of the drivers of the Ana
costa road who were present at the meet
ing was held, and a strike, to go into ef-
feet this morning was determined upon
President S. J. Lawrence of the Railway
Union and Messrs. NJ Casey and James
Trainer of the executive committee of the
same were appointed to take charge of the
strike. and plan of procedure was agreed
upon.
AS there was no desire to Inconvenience
any more than absolutely necessary the
laboring people of Anacostia who are en-
ployed in the city, and who are required to
be at work early in the day. a few of the
cars We're allowed to make a round trip
to the terminus at 11th and G streets
northwest and back to Anacostia.
Cars Lifted From the Tracks.
During the second trip, however, all ar
ranGemeits for striking the intended blow
had been perfected and shortly after 8
o'clock. when the first north bound car
reached Missouri avenue near AZ street, it
was stopped by order of the strike COM
mittee and lifted across the track. This
was the spot agreed upon as the place
where the cars should be stopped pending
the decision of the company as to what
should be dCne with them. The cars which
arrived from the opposite direction were
served in a similar manner. AS the cars
continued to arrive from the Anacostia end
of the line, they, too, were lifted from the
track, until the ontlre complement Of the
company were parked on Missouri avenue
between Sd and Az streets.
While the movement was in progress the
committee from the Street Railway Union
Messrs. Casey, Gwynne and Taylor. pro-
ceeded to the Office of President Griswold in
Anacostia and asked Mr. Griswold to ad- l
vance the wages of all the drivers and
stab!emen in his employ to s1.50 per day
Mr.. Grswold refused and the committee
then informed him that the strike which
mand is conceded
President GriswoId's Position.
President Griswold yesterday told busi-
ness friend that he was expecting his men
to strike, and that if they did he would do
rothing to settle the difficulty. He had, he
said, done all in his power to keep the
road in operation, and while the wages are
small yet they are the best that can be
paid under the circumstances which now
surround the road. Mr.. Griswold added
that there would, he believed, be no diff
Guilty between him and his men We're it not
for the Railway Union, and he thought
that it might be better if the union, in the
event of strike would take hold of the
Anacostia road and run it.
Cause of the Controversy.
The trouble which has today eliminated
in second strike began a little over three |
months age. At that time the employees, |
who had then just united with the Rail-
way Union, struck at the order of the lat
ter because a demand for increase Of pay
was not conceded by President Griswold. |
The tie. up was ended during the ensuing
twenty-four hours by the acceptance of a
proposition by the men from President
Griswold that the pay for April should re-
main a the same figures that had previ- |
ously prevailed, but that If the travel for
April should show an increase of receipts |
over the corresponding month of last year.
the excess should be divided pro rata
amorg the employees.
The returns for the month showed that
there was but S4.9I to divide among the
forty-tive employees. and it was at once
seen that the new arrangement was en-
tirely devoid OF all benefit to those who
expected TO be helped by 1t.
MIR. Gris,voId Gives Fifty Dollars.
Mr. Griswold learned that his men were
much disappointed over the result, and