The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-09
STREET-CAR EMPLOYEES WAGES.
Central Labor Union VIII Back "A
Strike if Cut Is Made.

AT the meeting of the Central Labor
Union last night all labor organizations of
the city pledged themselves, far as
action of the central body goes, TO support
the employees of the Citizens Street-rail-
road Company in case a strike should
suit from attempt the part of the
company to reduce wages. The passage of
the 3-cent-fare bill by the Legislature is re-
sponsible for the action. John +. White,
formerly member OF the City Council and
later of the Board of Public Safety, is
delegate to the Central Labor Union from
the Typographical Union. lie introduced
the following resolution:
. Whereas, The Citizens Street-railroad
Company has threatened that in the event
of a 3-cent tare being enforced 1t would re-
duce the wages OF its employees; therefore.
be it
Resolved, By the delegates to the Gen.
trail Labor Union, representing all organ
lied labor in the city, that we go on record
protesting against such d course as being
unnecessary and unjust, and We pledge the
support OF the labor organizations OF the
city in the effort of the employees OF the
Street-railrOad company TO prevent any re-
ducton of wages"
The resolution brought out a great deal
of comment There was no opposition to ii,
however. Everybody who spoke declared
that the resolution could not be made too
strong on the subject. There were present
men representing machinists ana cleo
thing of the cost of operating the street.
car system. They claimed that the COM
pany could stand the reduction of fares
and pay larger wages.
A resolution introduced by Edwin Gould
denounced as a fraud certain company
party of men who soliciting adver-
tisementS for circulars, representing that
they are doing the work for the benefit of
local labor organizations. In debating the
resolution it was shown that the merchants
of the city have given loyal support TO la
Dor organizations when called upon in a
legitimate way, ana 1t was the determine
from sharpers who sought to swinde them
by falsely representing that a labor or
ganiZation was back of them.
committee of Roman Catholic printers
between the Typographical Union and the
Catholic Record. 1t is claimed that the
Record is employing nonunion printers and
is educating apprentices to be furnished to
other nonunion offices. 1t is believed the
committee will adjust the trouble without
serious difficulty.
The grievance committee reported that
Contractor Purdy was not keeping his
securing nonunion labor at cents hour
whenever he can do so. A committee was
appointed to wait upon the County Com
mssioners and ask that no extension of
Purdys time be granted His contract re-
QuireS that the work OF removing the yard
be completed by next Saturday. For every
day thereafter that the work remains I'M
finished he is to forfeit $l0
The delegates from the Painters Union
reported that "a rival organization was
Offering to the master painters a scale of
wages below that of the union. This is
what is known as the Mckinney faction of
the painters. 1t is composed of old union
men who split off from the union on ac-
count of n difference The scale offered by
them is said to be cents an hour less than
that of the union.