Evening star., 1896-06-26
THE DISCHARGED MEN
Those Removed by the Metropolitan
Railway Company.
<. OF |. TAKE Up THEIR CAUSE
Hope to Bring Mr.. Babcock Here
to Influence Mr. Phillips.
THEDIRECTORs' POSITION

The officers and members of the executive
board of the Street Railway Assembly, No.
1886, X. of L., who, as stated In The Star
Of yesterday, were discharged from the
service Of the Metropolitan Railway Com
pany by order of the board Of directors
because, it was understood, of their being
connected with the X. of L., held a con-
ference this morning, and during the ses-
sion an intimation was received by them
from a source entitled to credit that it was
probable that Representative Babcock Of
Wisconsin, who was chairman Of the House
District committee and Is now in New
York, will return to Washington this even
ing and while here will. it Is expected, see
President Phillips of the railroad company
and ask that the discharged men be rein
stated.
Mr.. H. B. Martin, a member Of the ex-
ecutivo board Of the General Assembly of
the K. Of L., left the city at midnight to go
to New York to attend to some matters in
reference to the discharges, and also to
call on Mr.. Babcock and urge upon him
that his presence in the city at this time
is imperatively necessary.
Blame Mr.. BnbcOck.
The discharged employees are inclined to
blame Mr.. Babcock for the trouble that
has fallen upon them. and they claim that
but for his exertions in behalf of
legislation in favor of the Metropol-
itan Railroad Company, the request for
the privileges asked for by it would never
have gotten beyond the District commit
tee, and that he reported to the House and
had passed unnoticed an amendment to a
bill in behalf of the lexington road, which,
through the aid of an amendment, granted
the metropolitan all the favors it had ask
ed for under its own name and which were
rejected by the majority of the District
m O. AG fe o11
Bahcock's amendment to the bill was dis
covered when the bill reached the Senate,
and the general officers of the knights OF
Labor pounced upon it with such effect as
to cause its defeat.
The Knights of Labor, both those con-
nected with the headquarters of the order
here and the local assembly, have not re-
Trained from glorying over their victory
as IL was termed, over the railroad COM
pany, and this fact coming to the knowl-
cage or the president and directors of the
road, angered them greatly, and brought
ON the crisis now existing.
Reports have been circulated that some
OF the general officers of the Knights of
Labor had, In the past, threatened Mr.
fhiiilps as to what they would do unless he
yielded to their demands for reforms asked
for by them, on behalf Of the men, but this
was today denied at the K. of L. headauar-
tiers by general officer, who said:
What n X. of L. officer Says.
No threat was ever made to Mr.. Phil
lips by the Knights of Labor officers. But
the plain and business-like statement was
made to him that until he granted just
and fair treatment to his employees we
would ask Congress not to grant privileges
to him. And this point we will insist upon
to the end. Every Senator and Represen-
tative has constituents by the thousands
among the wage workers and farmers who
will and do sympathize with the wronged
employees OF the Metropolitan Railway
Company, and If we cannot get justice
meted out to US by the members Of Con-
sovereign citizens who send them to Wash
1Egton to replace all known enemies of
labor with those more friendly to the cause
Qf the man who tolls, and less friendly to
notwithstanding corporations.
The following Is copy Of what the gen
eral officers Of the X. of L. asked Mr. Phil
lips to grant to his employees. and until he
does give 1t to them, the f. of L. will fight
him and his road no matter IL It takes
years Of hard labor to beat him:
The Fifteen Demnnds.
First days work on straight runs
shall not exceed ten cons ecutiye hours. in
cluding not less than fifteen minutes for
dinner. such time to be arranged for as
nearly as possible in the middle of the run
Second. The rate Of lay for days
work shall not be less than g. -.-.-
Third. That no employe shall be dis
charged or suspended without good and
sufhcient cause being given to him OF his
representatives, in writing, If requested
and when called into the office on any
complaint he shall have full and impair
tial hearing, and If proven innocent shall
be paid for all time lost. Before, an en-
ploye is suspended both sides of the case
are to be heard, IL practicable, before the
suspension Is enforced
Fourth. When employees are suspended
from their regular positions they shall not
be required to stand extra or attend
changes, unless they SO elect Suspensions
Tor onenses shall not exceed seven days.
Firth. Motormen, conductors or drivers
shall not be required to clean cars.
Sixth In all cases where car Is de-
tained through fire or other unavoidable
accident, not the fault of the employe they
shall be paid as if running on the road
Seventh. No employe shall be discharg-
ed or Disseminated against because of his
connection with Local Assembly 1896
Eighth As motormen, conductors and
drivers are excused their names shall be
placed on list and posted, when first out
Is through, at each depot, where it can be
seen, and extra shall be assigned to their
places.
Ninth. Conductors, motormen and driv-
ers shall go out on all days according to
seniority Late car motormen. conductors
and drivers shall have preference for ear
lier runs as vacancies occur.
Tenth. All extra trips shall be paid for
at the rate of 80 cents per hour; If more
than one hour and less than one hour and
a half. one hour and half shall be paid
for: if more than one hSur and half and
less than two hours, two hours time shall
be paid for. Extra trips to be run at the
option of the men.
Eleventh. That in changing from horse
power to electric system, the men shall re-
tain their positions and places according to
seniority.
Twelfth. Motormen, conductors and
drivers who report late for duty shall lose
their run for two days for the first offense,
second offcnse three days, and should they
report late three days in any one month
they shall go to the bottom Of the extra
list. Extras shall not lose their place for
work unless they are absent when called
upon to go out on duty.
Thirteenth. In case the parties to this
agreement should fail to agree or arrive at