The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-08-15

wich To prevent the men from getting
more than one sandwich boys were com
PEELED to pass them out one at time
Although we worked so much overtime
we were never paid anything extra.
LAS soon as the Eastern men were
bounced out of offices of trust to make
room for the Western men, wages began
to be reduced. Stablemen have had their
salaries reduced three times in two years
Clerks have been cut down and so have
all the other employees Not content with
reducing our salar es men were discharged
right and left and those who We're re-
tanned were forced to do double work
The clerical force was at one time made
up of men who were quite well paid. The
Western management upon taking con-
troll at once began to remove the ex-
perienced men, until today the clerical
force consists of boys who are being
paid from $40 to $25 month. That Is
the way we have been ground down
We have not been treated like human
beings since the Western men have been
in control,
being forced to work twice as long as
men in other branches of business, we
are subject to dismissal by men who
know actually nothing about how much
we do or how much we earn. Men who
have spent the greater part of their
lives in the business have by honest
work secured promotion only now to be
thrown out of a place and no explana-
ton given why they were dismissed.
We do not propose molesting the company
in any way. We believe in the justice of
our cause and believe merchants and Cit
liens. who learn our grievance, Will
sympathize with us. Even now when the
company is doing a tremendous business,
the working force has not been increas-
ed. We have been forced to do double
duty, but we have been given no extra
pay. We are not striking now because
we think we can cripple the company
more than we could later, nor are we
doing it to inconvenience travellers. This
strike forced and we nope
to win on the merits of our cause"
At the express pier the only signs that
strike was in progress was that there
were no wagons. The. freight coming
in by train and boat was easily handled,
but it had to stop at the Dock at least
that freight to be forwarded by wagon
My work is all up said Agent
Temple this morning to News" man;
s'of course we are crippled a bit here, but
I have all the men want to handle the
freight. l have no wagons That is
matter under the control of the transpor-
tation department..
The strikers held a long session in
Franklin Hall today. 1t was suggested
by some of the men that they call out the
stablemen at once. The suggestion was
not adopted, the majority of the strikers
being of the opinion that the company
would experience no trouble in finding
new men to take care of the horses. 1t
was reported at the meeting that the
men who took out the single wagons this
morning were John Meehan and James
Barry. 1t was the opinion of some OF the
men that an error had been made in start
ing the strike on Saturday. Saturday be-
ing a half holiday and Sunday following
practically gives the company two days
it was argued, in which to engage new
men.
1t was reported at noon today that SUI
perintendent Peter Miller is IN Philadel-
phla engaging men TO take the places of
the strikers 1t is said that there are
hundreds of men in that city who have
already applied to the officials to be sent
to this city and New York The strikers
do not fear the employment of new men
for the reason that they win be unac-
quainted with the streets and as a eonse-
quepce will be unable to do the company $
work
The strikers are confident of victory.
1t was reported to some of the strikers
this afternoon that the United States
Express Company was assisting the Ad-
ans people in disposing of its accumu-
lated freight. The employees of the Unit
ed States Express Company are sorganiz-
ed and will, it is said, refuse to handle
Adams freight. If the company insists
that they must do it. it is not considered
improbable that there will be strike of
the men at once. The strikers say that
when the proper time arrives they will
be able to put on the screws and force
the company. into adjusting the trouble.
The organization of which the strikers
are all members is said to be strong finan-
cially and until the strike is settled the
men will be allowed enough to keep
themselves and families. The men say
they are prepared to make a long fight
President Weir when interviewed in.
New York today said that the salaries of
the men have not been reduced.
There has been" he continued, chow
ever. an equalization of the wages of
the men: that is to say, we pay them
here the same wages as they, receive in
our other offices throughout the country
The wages of drivers have, however re-
mained unchanged, the average rate be-
ing about $12 a week. 1t will be easy
for US to get drivers to I'LL the vacan-
cies."
The President said that the work was
not affected by the strike. and freight was
being received AT the New York stables
about 20 wagons were idle. there being no
one to take them out. The strikers are
near. the, stable seeing if non-undon men
are hired.
It was learned that only. four wagons
had left the Stable this morning and the
strikers are keeping careful watch. A
brick was thrown at one of the drivers
as he proceeded along Church street with
wagon. but it missed him.
The officials of the company do not am
ticipate any trouble in handling the
freight, and say there is no fear the
strike will spread to other cities