The evening times., 1896-08-15
ADAMS EXPRESS MEN OUT
All Strike in New York and
Washington May Follow.
CLAIM TO BE oyERWoRKED
Also Charge That Salaries Have Been
Reduced-President Weir Blamed
for Having Caused Retrenchment In
This Line-EmpIoye es Belonging to
Organized Labor in DtsfavOr.


About 500 employees OF the Adams Ex-
press Company baye gone on strike in
New York. 1t Is feared the ue-up may
become general because OF the dissatis-
faction existing among the employees all
over the system :.
Trouble has been brewing for some time,
and the elimination OF what is believed will
be j big strike came when the company dis
charged several Of its employees, who are
known to be members OF the knights of
Labor.
The Adams Express Company has since
Its organization pointed cut that its eIn-
pioyes were not arfiiited with labor organi-
zation. In fact, Er many years there wYs
no need for such course on their part. The
company treated its employees in the best
manner and gave them reasonable wages.
This condition Of affsirs has chang ed consid-
erably aud from East tn West orders have
spread for an economical change in manage
ment.
The plan was ipaugurated by President
Weir and the new executive board. ard
even Washington has feitits effects. owing
TO the existing grievances among the em
ployes here there is reason To believe they
may join in the strike OF their comrades in
New York, 3s yistf
IL has been known for Some time that
the employees here have been in state
OF discomfort. 81 f-t..,
STRIKE HERE VERIFIED.
T A strike here was narrowly avertcd last
May and only because the men were not
organized They feared to affiliate with
any labors organization and were unable
to cope with the Company
what different. There has bee n worse treat
nent OF the men, and. not being able to
stand 1t. they have etIected an Organization.
Hundreds OF the employees of the Adams
Express Company were represented at
meetlng held IN Jersey City last evening 10
discuss grievances After long confer
ence. il WAS dec.;icd to declare u strike, 20
go into effecs I midnight
Trouble has been brewing among the
cumpany's employees ever since last Janu-
AIRY. The new president, L. c. Weir, it
was declared, had not only reduced wages,
but had heightened the number OF working
hours each day. The culmipaiion or The
dissatisfaction came in Nay. when there
was a small strike Of porters and n threst
OF u general tie-up OF the company's sys-
TEN in this city and Jersey City.
The officials agreed to give Il guarantee
OF shorter hours m the general strike WAS
averted But there was still dissatisfaction
among the employees. All their grievances
had not been disposed OF, and they were not
in any better frame of min afterthe truce
than before.
Recently, 1t is alleged, the company has
undertaken TO get rid OF some of the Oldest
employees, those being specially marked
who were active in eaginee eriug the strike
movement IN May
The company has GEO employees in New
York and New Jersey. A majority Of
trem are Knights OF Labor, and the men
say that the officials are determined to
ge. rid of all of these il possible.
QUIT WORK AT MIDNIGHT.
One hundred and forty mcn are en-
ployed in Jersey City. Thirty OF these
form night gang On the company's
pier. adjoining the Pennsylvania Railroad
station. All OF these quit work at mid
night. thus leading IN the strike.
The men are thoroughly organized and
are confident they will bring the COM
pany 10 terms, as this is the busy season
and q tie-up now will cause a tremen-
dous loss.
New York Supt. Moss OF the Adams Ex-
press Com pany In this city, said to Times
reporter:
That is the first heard oft. Thought
the differences had all been adjusted, and
only this week when our man returned
from New York l asked him if there was
any appea rance of trouble. and was in
formed there was not the slightest. There
is no grievance aHiOrg our men that /
know Of
Mr. Moss denied that there was any cause
for discomfort here, because there had been
noreduetion intte eforcenorrcduction in pay.
This statement does not, however, tally
with what some nf th.. men say.
Among some Of the employees 1t is elaimed
positively that soine OF the mcn have been
reduced in salary.
In fact. within the last two years several
men have had, their salaries cut. One
OF these was ulric T. Mengert. the agent OF
the company in 2lmrEe OF the office at No.
1928 street northwest.
Mr.. Moss IN speaking of the trouble said
he was under II c., impression that last
May in New York two or threee men be-
| longing to the Knights OF Labor made a
kick against wprkinE eleven instead Of
ten hours and succeeded in stirring up
tn etenIporary strife. They were imme-
diately discharged by the conlpaDy and
| the other men went hack to work
When asked if any OF the men here had
| organized, Mr.. Moss replied in the fol-
lowing words:
| mo, don't think they have. or course
! they can join whatever they like, but the
| company reserves the right to dispense
| with their services