The morning times., 1895-09-17

The relations between President Phillips,
of the Metropolitan lire, and his employees
are now 60 strained that a general tie up
of TIE roads controlled by him may be I'M
inediately expected, if he does not Sieid
TO certain demands to be made on him this
morning by the executive committee OF
the Protective Street Railway Union
The Morning Times gave yesterday
fun ard exclusive report of a meeting at
Bunch's Hall on Monday night, at which
the grievances Of the men were discussed
As a matter of precaution ard business
like method the men determined to do
nothing until after conference with
President Philips, which is to be held
at Ii O'Clock this morning, but from the
temper Of the men yesterday and last night.
if there is TO tie any yielding this time IL
must come from President Phillips.
1t was indeed a surprise to some. who had
known of the present status, that decided
action was not taken at the meeting on
Monday night.
The employees were not disposed TO 90
much talking yesterday or last night but
| they are determined that MIR. Phillips shall
| answer their ultimatum, to be presented
to-day, in plain unmistakable terms ana
with sufficient guarantee of faith, and the
best possible assurances that faith will
hereafter be kept.
PHILLIPS PET SCHEME.
The meeting on Monday night was one
decidedly representative OF the Protective
Railway Union and of all the lines in which
Mr Phillips is interested.
His latest move has been In transfer men
from the Ninth street line, and vice versa,
trying by this means to get the members nf
the union at war with une another, and in
this way consummate his pet scheme Of
disintegration.
Another thing which the men bitterly
complain of is the employment by Mr.
Philips of man named Elliott, who,
while he enjoys the title of a supervisor
OF the line, is, they claim, nothing more
than 'spotteT," and has used every means
in his power to make trouble between the
president and the men, taking advantage
of every opportunity to report them for
the most trivial orfenses.
This has been going on for some time past,
and the men have made repeated demands
for his removal. Mr.. Phillips has promised
to retire the man, but, like the other prom
iSeS he has made, has failed to keep it.
Elliott has always, it seems, been in bad
odur with the members uf the union. He
was employed in the same capacity he now
enjoys under Mr.. Persons regime, but
but became so obnoxious that that official
found il necessary to relegate him to- a car.
FOR SHORTER HOURS.
Another demand that VIII be made upon
President Phillips at the conference
is that the men shall only work ten
hours instead Of twelve and fifteen as they
do at present and that vo sets of men
shall be employed on the road.
One instance of this treatment is that
men on Swing" runs are gwen fr,'m l
O'Clock to in the morning FOR st and
then again from 2:30 to 1 p. n. his, t..ey
say, is enough to kill anything la. an i!on
man, and tue men believe it is hr. th:llilIs'
intention to break the men GDyn 50 trat
the union will be forced TO pay them sick
benefits and in this way 10 Ce9lete the
treasury.
AT all events it was the unanimous
expression of the meeting that
Mr.. PbilIips' me cthods are thor oughly
autocratic and unreasonable, and the men
have made up their minds to take Ho more
promises, but To make demands and if they
are not respected to let him suffer the con-
sequences.