The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-25

| turn to work this morning.
Boston, December 24.-With the excep-
tion of the cars of the Lynn and Boston
railroad which use the power and tracks
of the West End company from Chelsea
through Charlestown to Soollay square
and the oars of the United States mail
service there has practically been COM
plete tie-up In street car service in this
city. During the afternoon and evening
all the thoroughfares have been crowded
with pedestrians despite the biting wind
that prevailed. Passenger barge lines
were started under. the management of
the strikers to accommodate people liv-
ing in districts where no cars are rum
ming.
Oars on the steam railroad have been
SO over crowded that travel thereby was
decidedly unpleasant and In many cases
absolutely dangerous. During the late
afternoon and early evening the subur-
ban traffic over the Boston and Albany
road was immense. The station WAS
packed with dense mass of humanity
and although trains were run every 10 or
Is minutes the carssswere filled like so
many sardines boxes, the crowd pushing,
jamming and trampling upon one
another in the crazy rush for seats or
even standing room. II en- shouted, wo-
men nearly tainted In the excitement
and ipnumera BILE bundles amt boxes con-
tanning presents and breakable articles
were crushed by the crowd, which re-
sem bled q packEof freDzied animals rather
"a, lit. had
similar scenes were enacted at the other
railway stations.
This afternoon the committee of the
conductors and motormen's union that
held conference with the West End di-
rectors last night and agreed two weeks
pOstponement of the strike, called upon
President Little to place themselves right
in the eyes Of the West End officials
They explained the apparent violation OF
agreement entered into last night By say
ing that the men took matters into their
own hands and the strike was fact even
before the supreme council was aware Of
Ii. All this and more was submitted to
President Little and it was again inti-
mated that nothing would avail until the
agreement was signed. The president
reiterated his statement of yesterday,
that ne was powerless to sign the agree
ment and that, even if he did 40. it
would be. worthless without first being
accepted by the executive committee of
the company.
By noon the strike was on in every d.
vision. Before that time messengers
were sent from headquarters with orders
to see that no Gals left the stables, after
that hour. After that time, as fast as
men came in from their trips, they were
ordered to quit.
reserve police force has been kept in
every station in the city since early this
forenoon. During the day officers vera
detailed for special duty only at the West
Lenox street stables and in Charleston
Not the slightest trouble thus far has
been reported on the part of the strikers.
The West End street railroad company
has issued a notice to the employees III
which it states that all employees who
continue in the service of the company
will be protscred, but al who voluntarily
absent themselves from service will he
considered rs having withdrawn from
the employ ofithe company. The COM
pany advertised for rnotornen and con-
ductors today. Tt is sair tonight that
large number Of men have been
secured.
The state board of arbitration and con-
ciliation had conferences with rspresen-
tativea of the company and of the strik-
ers this afternoon in an effort to btina
about reconciliation but the board has
no power to order q sett lemenr and can
only use its good offices in harmonizing
the opposing factions