The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-24
Street Car Strike in BOS-
ton Postponed.
Employees Decide to Give
West End Company Time.
Holiday Shoppers in Modern Athens
Will Not Have to Walk.

Boston, Dec. 24.-Boston's great sur
face railway system will not be tied up
today, as threatened. The trouble Ia TIL
impending. however, being delayed for
one week, or until Dec. 80 to enable
President Little Of the West End street
railway to call a meeting OF the direc-
tors, many OF whom are at present out
OF the state for the holidays.
This decision, which means so much 10
the merchants of Boston, TO the thou
sands of holidays shoppers, and, In fact'
10 the peace and serenity OF the beautl-
ful Christmas tide in this city and It's
environs, was reached at :45 y. m, just
q quarter of an hour before the time
scheduled for the general tieup, as per
the strike ordered yesterday afternoon
by the executive committee OF the Con-
ductors' and Motormen's union or the
West End road.
II was decided to leave the matter In
allegiance until Dec. 80, but IL no confer
ence was called for by the road before
then the tieup would take place at mid
night on that date.
This postponement Of threatened hos
tilities Is practically victory for Presl-
dent Little, as during a conference In
the early part OF the evening ne had
rointed out to the conference committee
of the employees that he had not the
power to sign the agreement before the
matter had been placed before the dlrec-
tors of the road, and 1t was then I'M
possible to reach many of those. who
were out Of town, at so short notce'
and to get together or TO receive an ex-
preston of opinion from them on the
subject Immediately after decision
was reached on the question telephone
messages were sent TO the nine divi-
sional headquarters, where the union
/ officials were awaiting the signal to
commence the tieup. AS soon as the de-
cision was made known the men, VINO
were holding meeting in the various
halls. departed to their homes In order
to prepare for today's work. 1t Is con-
fidently expected by the union men that
a conference will be called early next
week and an agreement for 1897 VIII
eventually be signed.
Trouble has been brewing for several
months. the men complaining that the
| sub-officials of the road were gradually
encroaching on their privileges.
If the tieup had occurred 1t would nave
| involved between 5000 and 1000 men In
| the various departments. oNSi """' VI
| these were members OF the Conductors
| and Motormen's union, while the re-
mainder are organized in their various
trades unions, and who, having numer'
GUS grievances of their own, were II
sympathy with the conductors ant
motormen, and. 1t is alleged, have
pledged themselves to assist the latter
In the hopes that the conditions undel
which they complain would also be ad
| justed.
The narrow escape from tieup on th'
scheduled time was illustrated at tn
suburban car shops, where several ca
crews refused to take out cars at mid
night, they not having heard OF th'
truce At Everett the day and nigh
foremen took out the midnight car, ant
this led to a report of a strike in Charles
town.
Many Of the railroad men do not lik
the truce, and are saying bitter thing
against she committee and the directors
1t is predicted that the men Will be NOR
than ever ready TO strike at the ap
pointed time.