The morning times., 1896-07-03
MEN SET 4 time LIMIT
Metropolitan Road Must Reply
by This Afternoon.
INSIST UPON A HEARING
President Phillips Demand for a
Written Statement Not Complied
With-One Firm Asks TN Annul-
ment of Its Contract for Car Ad-
vertising.

President Phillips of the Metropolitan
Railway Company has been heard from by
the discharged employees OF that railway.
but in manner which has been regarded as
unsatisfactory. In Drier, Ar. Phillips says
to the men that il they have anything to say
they must put IL In iitinS anu submit 1t 10
the directors.
10 Inis Il spirited reply has been made by
the representative or general secretary,
Hayes to the effect that the men are not
conscious OF any defense being required, as
they have not been officially declared TO
be guilty Of any ofrense eXceptas they have
heard o. such offenses by ruiior. tits stated
that the directors nave niaue no IOrIIial
charges TO which reply could be made
III writing or otherwise.
II is further re joined that the ruinors state
specific a cause IN that the men are alleged
TO have opposed legislation IN behalf OF the
company. This they would ike the oppor
tunity to disprovc; otherwise tile men are
Justified in believing that the sole cause
of dismissal was their allegiance to the
knights of Labor. The reply complains
that the directors have not spoken deIinite-
ly and asks for a positive understanding as
to a hearing by this Afternoon. The reply
asks FOR the reinstatement OF the men.
IGNORE THEIR REQUEST.
This reply OF Mr.. Phillips, so uDsatis-
factory ana apparently defiant, Is In some
measure a confirmation of the news &. .-.ssi
yesterday in The Times that the directors
had agreed on Wednesday night pract-
Notwithstanding this attitude of the coln-
pany the men are stii preserving the
position of iorbearance until the limit mas
been reached. Everywhere IL Is regarded
as putting their case in a steady light,
that as soon as they heard that they had
been accused by Mr.. Phillips of s.gniLs
L petition to Congress against the interests
or the company. the men frequently Went
into the newspapers and denied such ac
ton. This, as already stated, left only
the assumed charge that they were Inem-
hers of tlp kntputd of I.ahDr.
Up to a late bour last night the Street
Railway Assembly had made no change IN
its policy. The delegates OF the assembly
attended the meeting OF District Assembly
66. X. of l., and the statements on the
new situation made by Mr.. Dent and Others
were temperate in tone as usual. 1t WAS
to wait reply TO the communication
from the general headquarters X. of l.. to
Mr.. Phillips. which is limited TO this after
noon. What will then take place will de-
pend on the character OF the reply.
STOPPED THEIR CAR ADS.
The interest of tie merchants generally
in the case will be inferred from the follow
ing Communication, which was read for
information by Master Workman Simmons
at the District Assembly meeting last night:
Washington. d. c., June 81.
Metropolitan Kaiiroad Company:
Dear Sir: The Knights OF Labor have
determined. as will be seen 10y an article III
this mornings Post. to declare an official
boycott against all firms advertising in th q
cars OF your company. We have six
months contract with your company. ana
request that you consent to its annulment
and the removal OF our sign from your cars,
at le;rst until the difficulties now pending
between the Knights or Labor and the Net
ropolitan Railroad Company are adjusted.
a n immediate reply will favor
Yours truly,
WASHINGTON BREWING COMPANY.
III. T. Woodward, Attorney"
1t was of course an error to state that
the Knights OF Labor had declared an Off
cial boycott against the Metropolitan Rail
road Company. us published in the Post.
which statement had been denied by Master
Workman Simmons. The letter nevertheless
shows the attitude OF the company to this
assembly or the Knights OF Labor.
TRAFFIC SAID TO DECREASE
There is, however, an unofficial boycott,
one which large part of the community
has declared unofficia II y against the
Ninth street line, and from daily reports
this boycott has begun to hurt the COM
pany In the pocket nerve. 1t was stated
yesterday OH good authority that high
officials OF the company had admitted
the decrease 10 be a fact.
President La wrence of the Street Rail
way Assembly has been urged repeatedly
to take strong measures against the COM
paDy, and was again urged TO that end
yesterday, but he declines to pursue such
4 policy pending negotiations.
The Metropolitan Railway Company is in
daily receipt OF communications from Con-
rlof n rh.tf hl tz. srft-