Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-30
EN- TO BE ARD
Directors If Metropolitan Read Will Hold
Another Meeting
Discharged Employees to he Given n
Opportunity to Deny Charges
Letters Come In.

Pre6tdent Philips OF the metropolitan
Railway Company today consented to call
a meeting Of the board Of directors Of the
company for the purpose of considering the
case Of the discharged employees Of the
road, as he was yesterday requested to do
by General Secretary-treasurer John w.
Hayes of the general executive board of
the Knights of Labor.
Mr.. Phillips letter to Mr.. Hayes was
dated today and was as follows:
Il am in receipt Of your letter Of June
90 I will at once communicate with the
directors for the purpose of inquiring Of
them when 1t will be convenient for them
to meet, and will at their meeting lay be-
fore them your letter above referred to-.
The following Is a copy of the letter that
Mr.. Hayes wrote to Mr.. Phillips and which
ELECTED the above reply: "A number OF the
members of Local Assembly. No. 1896,
Street Car Employees, were discharged from
the service Of the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company on Thursday, June rs. 1896.
as We are informed by order Of the board
Of directors.
there must have been some misunderstand-
ing of the cause which led the directory to
take this action, and therefore respect
fully request the privilege of presenting
the case from our standpoint, through our
authorized representatives to the board of
directors. In session at the quickest pos
sible moment. The Hon. J. W. Babcock.
who has been acting for us, reports that
after conference with you on this sub
1ect, he is firmly Of the opinion that all
that Is required Is the meeting above re-
ferred to for an honorable adjustment of
this dispute, and has directed me to write
you Immediately. requesting such a con-
ference. You will confer favor II you
VIII kindly say to bearer when the meeting
will take place."
Mr.. Hayes letter was delivered to Mr..
Phillips last evening by Mr.. F. NJ Dent
just as Mr. Phillips was about to board a
train to go to his summer home at Rock
vilie Md, and as he did not then give Mr..
Dent q reply. Messrs. Charles W. Beckwith
and William p. Smith were appointed by
the executive board of the Street Railway
Assembly committee to call on Mr.. Phil
lips this morning for his answer.
When Mr.. Phillips reached his Office In
Georgetown at D am. he found Mr.. Beck
With waiting to see him.
MIR. Phillips then prepared his reply as
above.
Other Letters.
This afternoon the executive board sent
another letter to Mr.. Phillips. but they de-
clined to disclose the contents of the COM
munication in advance Of it's reception by
Mr.. Phillips.
Master Workman Lawrence of the Street
Railway Assembly this afternoon received
q Ruter, or winch lh1S Is copy, from Mr..
Henry Storey, secretary Of the South Wash
nigton Citizens Association, the original
having been sent to Mr.. Phillips:
Il have been instructed by the members
of the executive committee of this associa-
ton that 1t mas been represented that GER
tain late employees Of your company were
discharged because of their connection with
labor organizations, and that these men
were discharged for that reason only They
desire to express their dissatisfaction with
such action by your company and earnestly
hope that You VIII reconsider your action
and rcinstate those employees"
A message was received from President
Babson of the East Washington Citizens
Association, stating that he had sent a let
ter on the subject of the discharge of the
men to Mr.. Phillips, and from the tenor of
the communication. it was thought to be
similar in general tone to that of the South
Washington Association.
Conductors on the 18th street line of cable
cars who today conversed with Star re-
porter on the subject of the pending trou-
bles of the Metropolitan. relating to the
recent discharges, said that their receipts
had increased nearly 50 per cent within the
past few days
Inere are some persons who are advising
the executive board of the assembly to de-
clare boycott against the METROPOLITAN
company, but so far the board has declined
to adopt such an extreme measure. and 1t
Is believed that not only will such a course
be avoided, but that the entire difficulty
will be adjusted and the men who were dis
charged restored to duty in the course of a
day or two.