New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-09
PART ii.
PAGES II TO a.
THE BROOKLYN STRIKE.
,rpoRT OF THE ASSEMBLY INvEST1GA-
TON COMMITTEE.

SEVERELY CENsURED.
,,.. ,ssomhlv committee appointed TO nvesu
cate the Brooklyn strike has, with the aid Of Will
90 II Wins its counsel. prepared a report Of
r,netv-three printed pages containing an abstract
=. .ha testimony taken during the investigation.
observations as 10 the causes. consequences and
s, of the strike and copy Of a bill submitted
=. tho I.eeislatur to license employees OF railways
ctbin The state. BY the committees computa-
tim. the strike in Brooklyn lasted from January
a until February "a. Railway employees TO the
,r,,har Of 1000 remained unemployed. and the
military force on duty in Brooklyn ranged from
400 10 1900 men. As to the responsibility FOR the
strike the report says:
Il Is undoubted that the employees considered
,benselves called upon. under the new system TO
az = class of work requiring greater skill anu eN-
rertness than that whch preValleu VIII ~
We're motive power, and before the nirOauCoh a H
ne trolley system. Nevertheless. the employees ga
not stand upon any demand for an increase o. @
except In the case Of the Brooklyn Olty anu New
tHwn Railroad Company. Their demand was rather
70 sJr Of the proportion of regular cars to
trinoers to neCessitate the employment at tui uaN
M there was general feeling on the part OF the
smoloves that the railroad company. under the new
9yod,s as incident to the introduction OF that sys-
tenn and that they as empoyeSs UI ,ne TO- "a ece
which exacted closer attention. and made larger
s,r s,ran6e This feeling undoubtedly helped pre-
innate the strike Il was Indirect cause Of it,
,Se unwiingness Of the committee to recede IN
anv respect from the propositions contained III theI
%n5T,33posed articles of agreement.
CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
Tho real cause Of the strike. in the opinion Of
our committee is not the mere failure TO agree,
which was d symptom only. but the fact that the
relation between capital and labor had been pecu-
uarlv strained in this case-labor demanding more.
notwithstanding the very large advantages ~, mad
lyh
ceding eight years. and capital creauns an az.
Pef oP5n s "n 6 a opp9E,u mSH d e gas
large and unusual profits by methods the Legality OF
some OF which is questionable; all in such manner
as 10 bring abou; feeling on the part of the men
that they being unfairly dealt Win, Whl;e
nrorrtes for the purpose OF stock speculation and
Tor the amassng OF fortunes. .,
tons which have been slowly and steadily gained
tations and amicable relations win the Companies:
in addition % having sacrificed their employment
1ected themselves and their families in some in.
stances TO hardshps ana suffering Oh inc H'oS'
dreadful character
In speaking Of the disorder which occurred in
Brooklyn during the strike, the committees re-
port sharply critcises the conduct OF Mayor
Schieren and Police Commissioner Welles. as fol-
lows:
All Of the evidence goes clearly to demonstrate
the fact that during the first TWO days GI 'h l1
strike the municipality was strangetS o SisorGeriy
element TO realize The fac; that it had the police
by enCouraged 10 creater dsorderness and more
frequent and serious breaches of the PUBIC peaoebi
evidence that at this juncture the Mayor Of the
city we'll as his Police COMM ssio1lei snow 9 b
Offices which they hold. We may say, IN passing.
examination showed strange unfamilarity with,
and in some cases ignorance Of, the machinery OF
seSTe cSe he Weakness and want Of
on the part Of the administration which pre- ai,cd
III arl.- d. avs ~ Ia
municipal Authorities had permitted the disorders
the situation was becoming pecuIarIy serious ana
exceeded the requirements OF the case in calling in
the militia az they dsrerarded them in not having
eminent sry Itself before the militia was called in
COST OF THE STRIKE.
An attempt to estimate par, of the cost Of the
strike is thus made in the report:
Of the employees q the roads who went out
Loss Of the raiirold companies themselves be-
cause Of the paralysis Of traffic and tho loss
1njury 70 property Of the railroad companies tno,
the either Of the two foregoing casesl
CT sf an to d 'ng i' for 5 Of SO 10000
Extra COS, % for police service during nm
I, impossible estimate the loss 70 the citizens
through ne paTaiysi5 Gi traoe ana me b nen
or partial deprivation OF their means or ransporta-
ton in ana about the city 1t IS also impossible to
estimate 10 VIVA; extern; the courts may possibly
hold the city responsible for damages caused by the
failure 10 maintain order.
The committee declares that the question Of
municipal ownership Of street railways. which
has been suggested by many as containing the
solution of such problems. is Of too serious i'm
pOrtance 10 be passed upon in such an inquiry. |
Although the BIZ 10 license street railway COM
panies is presented possible means Of pre-
venting railway strikes, the committee declares
IN ending its report:
We do not believe there is any radical legislative
remedy for such condltions ana 1sofders as "a d
economic conditions which are too deep for radical
cure by legislation The only ultimate cure mus
come naturally from better relations ana greater
feeling of sympathy between employers and en-
poyed and the feeling OF antagonism or dinerence
removed so long corporations are permitted prac
tically through thsr own conduct and through the
mako themselves superior to the law
Albany, April s-Unoffcial word has been re-
ceived by the State Railroad Commission TO the ef-
feet that the Brooklyn trolley companies have
agreed 10 the rules recommended by the board as
q safeguard against accidents. This will obviate |
the necessity OF any action on the part OF the A.
10 compel the roads 70 pay more |
attention 10 the laws and the rights OF the puDIle
HE CAN FIND NO SAFETY TENDERS.
PRESIDENT NORTON SAYS HIS COMPANY HAS |
TRIED SIXTY KINDS
President BENJAMIN Norton, in speaking yesterday |
of the fender question, said that the Atlantic Ave-
nue. Railroad Company Of Brooklyn. had tried sixty |
different kinds and knew Of no good one He added:
To my way Of thinking after all the experiencing |
we have tried the most successful! FENDER Is a rigd
set of rules and regulations. which all notormen |
should be required TO live up 10. ana especially 70
run cars at a moderate rate Of speed MOS, on me
regulations just put in effect by city ordnance nance
with reference the operation OF elecfc cars nave
in OgtIe