The evening times., 1896-05-21
COMPLAINT OF CAR MEN
Chevy Chase Line Employees
Want Better Wages.
THEY WORK LONG AND LATE
1t Is Asserted That the President of
the Road Has Not Kept PROMISES
He Made-Mr. Dunlop Says He Can
FIJI Their Places In Two Hours
Time.

Among the fifty conductors and motor
| men OF the Chevy Chase division OF the
CapitaI Traction Company considerable feel
ing against President Dunlop exists. They
bitterly arraign him for the injustice with
which lie Is treating them in the matter or
wages and hours, compared with those OF
the city men, as the employees running
on the Avenue, Fourteenth street anu
Seventh street lines are termed.
The Chevy Chase men work nine hours
a day, and are paid 20 cents Il trip. They
usually make six trips, averaging 81 90 per
diem.
The city men have nine hour run for
which they are paid 500 Last January
a committee of Chevy Chase motormen aud
conductors called on Mr.. Dunlop and asked
Cor an increase, arguing that no discrinii-
nation should be made between the EN-
pIoyes on the different divisions OF the
road.
Mr.. Dunlop said, the men assert, when
the travel warranted it, their salaries would
be raised, and all wages made equal.
III the travel doesn't warrantIt now. I'd
ike to know when it will" said two OF the
men To a Times reporter today. 1T is enor-
nous. and we are much harder worked than
the city men. Here is a fair instance OF
the truth of hat say: on our heavy days.
like Sunday, when extra cars are put on,
ten or fifteen OF the Washington and George
town men are detailed TO trun hem, and
none of them like the job; they say IT is
twice as hard as their own.
Another point TO be considered is that
we are compelled to lose day every week
FOR the subs who are Kept in reserve in
case the regular men get sick. The city men
are laid off every ten days. Before the
roads became absorbed We never had to
wear uniforms now it is different. Since
last fall here is what we have expended for
uniforms: overcoat, S13.75; winter suit,
ST.. and now summer suit, $3.50
total, S3S.25. Pretty tough, amt ii, on
men who are averaging S39 month";
Again. where we lose is in nissuiDg transfers.
If they a re punched wrong it costs the con-
ductor . cents, and in The terrible rush on
the cars in the evenings that often occurs.
We make transfers three times, twice
at Fourteenth and W, and once at Sew
enth and U. The city men at Fourteenth
and L and the Peace Monument The
last place doesn't count. beca use so few
people change cars there.
'uf late our work has been increased.
and the men running from $50 n. m. to
2:30 p. m. are required TO report at 6
O'Clock, and take cut extra cars. Often
we make three or four trips, and it is very
late before We get through
The Chevy Chase men insist that these
additional burdens are imposed to cause
dissatisfaction and make them quit so
their places can he filled with city men.
In the last two weeks they say Mr. Dun
lop employed fifteen men on the road with
the strict understanding that they would
be content with ST so a day.
That doesn't look like we are going
TO get our raise" said a conductor gloom
ly, land If We make a kick that is Just
what they want and are after--a chance to
fire u.s.
The men have not contemplated a strike.
knowing its absolute usclessHess. They
rather incline to pacific measures and a de-
pendence on Mr.. Dunlops recognition of the
fairness and justice OF their claims. 1t has
been suggested that they draw up a petition
and present it to Mr.. Dunlop, accompanied
by recommendations for an increase in their
salaries from the regular patrons of the
road.
President Dunlop, when seen at his office
this morning, said that he did not believe
bis men had ever made the statementabore
given No complaint had ever come into
his office regarding unfair trea tment
He characterized the story as newspaper
attempt to bring about the discharge OF
the men, as such fate. he minated. would
surely overtake the employees of his com
pany If they made any complaint.
The conductors and motormen on the
Chevy Chase line, he said, worked fewer
hours than the city men, besides their
work was considerably lighter. The city
cars were obliged to stop at one-half of the
street crossings from one end OF the line to
the other, while those on the U street d.
vision made comparatively few stops. in
fact. perhaps not more than three or four
times on trip. Rarely. if ever. did they
have to 90 through the car to collect fares
but once, while on the Washington