Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-04
THE EN- PROTEST
Metropolitan Street Railway Employees I'm
peach Statements by the Z. of L
The Company Represented as Doing
All 1t Can for Its Men, and They
Have No Complaints to Make.

The fight made in Congress by the
Knights of Labor on the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company promises to be
bitter one. The executive council Of the
knights of Labor have issued circular
which has for its stated object the an
tagonism of the public to the company.
The company Is charged with hiring a
number of new men, not protecting it's
men from storms. requiring twelve hours'
continuous work, with but six minutes
for meals, discharging men without giving
reason, which in effect blacklists dismissed
employees. The charge that new men are
being hired was denied today by employees
of the company, who are members of the
Street Railway Assembly Of the Knights
of Labor, and 1t was also stated by them
that no new men have been hired for some
time past
A full resume of the situation as between
the Metropolitan company and its EN-
Ployes was printed in Tine Star several
months ago, and there has been no change
oil the status of affairs since that time.
Mr.. s. l.. Phillips today made the follow
ing statement in regard to the matter:
There was published this morning a cir
cular letter addressed to the various or
ganiZations of the Knights of Labor, and
issued by its general executive board, COM
planning of the treatment CT the employees
OF the Metropolitan Railroad Company.
The officers of this company were threat
eDeG with this letter some weeks ago, and
this knowledge prompted number of the
employees to cause to be signed the follow
ing petition to the Senate and House COM
mitteeS of Congress, stamping the circular
of the knights of Labor as untrue and
malicious.
This petition of the drivers motormen
This petition of the drivers, motormen
The undersigned conductors, drivers,
motormen and employees of the Metropoli-
tan Railroad Company having been inform
ed that certain parties are urging members
OF Congress not to favor the extensions of
the Metropolitan railroad on the ground of
improper treatment of it's employees, We de-
sire to enter our earnest protest against
this action, and to characterize it as I'M
warranted and hostile to our own inter-
eStS.
I'VE beg to assure your honorable COM
mlttees that the Metropolitan Railroad
Company and its officers do treat u.s. and
all its employees, with uniform kindness and
justice.
We are credibly informed that no divi-
dends have been paid by the company since
pany is as liberal to us as it's finances at
the present time will allow.
The Metropolitan railroad employees
nave recently and almost unanimously eS-
tablished a relief association on the lines of
those of the Capital Traction Company and
the Pennsylvania Railroad Comply This
association has the appreciation of the Met
ropolltan Railroad Company, and has al
ready been partially endowed by It, and 1t
promises, as sooT as its finances will allow
TO make further contributions.
This petition is signed without fear or
favor, and with the sole desire that Justice
may be done. The Metropolitan railroad
Signed by 2s9 drivers, motormen and
conductors"