New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-15
THE REOOELYN STRIKE.

prookIvn surface railroad strike The most in
teresiing is that about half million PERSONS
not without some warning, but suddenly never
theless found themselves compelled 10 stay III
home Yesterday or work hard 10 get where 'ii'!
would be- The amount OF discomfort, Worr!
and loss which general paralysis OF II great
city's transportation system infiic's IS lhc"i'
culable. and a grave responsibility Is III
Cured by those who produce IT, Hence we
come nj once to the question of blame IN the
nrosent case Where does II lie. wholly or
chiefly? Both sides Of the controversy az al
w,vs I'm similar troubles. are strenuously advo-
c,trI II NAV be conceded at the outset tnat
this is not q time when men can afford 10 quit
work for trivial reasons. The number or unem-
Moved is large. and strikers whose cause is good
cannot rely on winning easily. But the en-
n,ovcs of the Brooklyn roads may hope 20 sue
coed If their demands are just and II Their CON
duct is rrcproachable; for in that case pubic
oninion will count powerfully in their favor
Tho moro important facts in the case are
stotod we believe with substantial accuracy
on .ouows. Tho companies involved In this con-
,est have gradually adopted the trolley as a
motive power within the last FEW years i'i'
now mode of opcration is harder on the en-
mjght not be greater. on the average. il the
men were machines. but the strain. ahec''hS
the mind and through the mind the body, Is
much greater. They are compelled by scneuu'o
and authority 10 direct the progress Of cars FAR
heavier than the old horsecars ana running III
,oost ono.holf faster. The companies. while thus
regulating the service, have declared lheir pui-
nose so far as the law can be made To permit
10 nut all the blame for accidents on 'heir ein'
Moves. and they nave steadily anronted puphc
opiniOn by refusing TO equip their cars WIN
suitable tenders. The trolley service IS gener"'!
nopular with those to whom shocking success
sion of mishaps has not brought personal s"iie'-
ing or bereavement: but nevertheless the com
panles, not the motormen, are commonly heio
srliltv In this respect by the community ""u
therefore they enter on this struggle uhu'r pop
ular condemnation for wilful neglect OF pam
duty. This fact does not touch the merits oi
the case. but 1t may influence the result. IL ~
however a vital fact In the controversy mat l"'
their extra labor and responsibility the men gel
no extra pay. They want - 20 n DAY ils'eau
Of So the old horsccar rate. III CONCESSIONS ."
other points were made 10 them. they wouiu
probably waive this claim. but II is now an III
nortaut part Of their case. The companies III
replv say that they cannot AFFORD 10 raise inc
wages Of their men: yet the brooklyn he2h's
Company, which Is altogether the most lilpor-
tant one in the combination. leased TWO years
ago all the lines which it now operates, except
ing one line few blocks long nj n rental OF w
per cent on a capital raised from SGVo,oop 10
SD 900 900 rs part of the TRANSACTION ms
circumstance certainly does not evoke synpa-
,hetlc interest in the assertion that the com
panics cannot afford TO increase the pay OF their
emplovcs In connection with this II Is to be
noted that the company Of which Mr.. Slocum
| &c nresdeut. and which IS not believed TO he
earning much more than It's expenses, has come
TO terms with its employees on basis OF higher
wages.
Whether the companies now tied up can or
cannot afford To- pay more than thcy Formerly
| maid for less onerous service. they have a com
plete legal right to pay only so much as the!
have to pay provided they discharge their obi-
cations 10 the public, and violate no agreement
with their men, But just at this point appears
the most serious question in the controversy
| The men declare that they decided not to strike
| n wear ago I'm consideration OF a promise that
their wages should be raised at this time. III
the fact is as they state II, II Is susceptible or
proof II proved. their case will be good in
morals and In public opnion; and In ordinary
circumstances that would forecast the issue
Public opinion seldom errs long in an affair OF
| this sort Thus far as ii seems TO us from the
evidence at hand, the immense annoyance to
which a multitude Of persons are subjected has
exasperated them against the railroad companies
rather than against the employees. The tide
will surely turn, however, II the apparent merits
of the question are obscured by lawlcss conduct
on the part Of strikers. As TO other points ut
issue relating TO time passed without pay on
| waiting orders and 10 extra trips, the companies
maintain with apparent reason that they are
bound 10 operate their lines to the satisfaction
| Of the public. and cannot be intcrfered with in
| making their time tables The claim worth In
sisting on II any Is is the claim to fair pay for
| good work. and especially to the exact perform
ancc OF promise. if promise was made. In
| the mean time the situation In Brooklyn Illus
| trates once more the necessity Of obtaining such
| a recognition Of mutual obligations on the part
Of employers and employed In the transporta-
| ton business as shall secure the public against
the constant menace and frequent infection OF
such a vcritable calamity this.