The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-18
Street Car Employees Strike Causes
Much Inconvenience.
TRAFFIC IS COMPLETELY SUSPENDED
The Company Claims the Men Have
Acted Without Justice.
EMPLOYEES BLAME COMPANY
storminE the AlnmO-HoustOn Yer,
Much in Evidence In the Parade.
United states CONTRIBUTES.

Galveston, Texas, February 1.-THE fes-
tive trolley car was not in motion in CAL
WESTON today People who lived far enough
away from their place of business to ride
and visitors who desired to go to and fro
about the city were compelled to walk or
find such means of conveyance as exist
where there are no street railroads. The
employees of the city railroad company
we're on a strike. 1t came about in this
way: Three days ago notice was posted
at the car stable announcing that crews In
charge of extra cars would be paid by
the hour at the rate of IS cents an hour.
instead of IA cents, as heretofore. Con-
corning this notice Mr.. Thomas Paine.
president of the Railway Employees asso-
citation, said:
when the notice OF reduction to 13 cents
was posted, the executive board OF the
association sent communication to MIR.
Runge, president Of the Street Railroad
company to which he did not reply. Then
we held meeting of the union and on last
night informed the superintendent and the
inspector that we would not take the cars
out until the IA cents rate was restored
The new men were formerly paid Si5 a
raised to $50. Recently the rates were
made by the hour-l5 cents an hour for
the regular men and IA cents an hour for
extras. The cut of 1 cent an hour on the
pay of extras is the sole cause of this
trouble"
At o'clock this morning prominent citi-
zens conferred with the striking employees
who were very orderly and we'll behaved,
and apparently as anxious as anyone else
for settlement of the difficulty, and en-
deavored to bring about compromise.
They then went TO see Mr. Runge, presi-
dent of the Street Railway company. and
on their return Colonel George r. Finlay
reported that he and other citizens had con-
ferred with Mr.. Rungo and represented the
crying necessity of having the cars moved
Mr.. RunSe had agreed to restore the wages
for ten DAYS. I'VE will use our influence
10 have the wages remain at your figure
after that" said Ccloael Finay. and II
Mr. Rurge does not consent to 1t we VIII
make up the difference to you ourselves.
Mr.. Paine wanted to have the agreement
in writing, with pledge that advantage
would not be taken Of the interim to NIL
the places OF tie strikers with new men.
Posted on another bulletin board was
this notice:
Galveston City Railroad Company.
Chief Ergineer's Office. Galveston, Texas.
February Ito All Employees You are
hereby requested to report for duty at your
respective places at a. IN. Any one fall
ing to do so forfets his position aud is no
longer in the employ of this company. BY
order of julius Runge, per G. y. Young.
one OF the striking employees said mo
ono need think that we have struck at
this time because there are so many peo-
pie in town and because the company Will
lose money by having its cars tied up 1t
Is the company's fault that the strike
comes at this time. They knew az well
a. ait, - lad wit In
visitors this week, and yet upon the eve
of these events they posted reduction In
wages. The executive committee of our
association sent communication to Mr..
Runge on Saturday-it was really a de-
mand that the scale of IA cents an hour
should be restored. He did not reply In
any manner. Then we had our regular
meeting of the union on Monday night.
We decided to hold a special meeting on
last night giving the company more time
to reply. We do not meet until all the
men are in-that is at IL o'clock-and at
: O'Clock we sent notice to Superintendent
Uric and Inspector Travis that we would
not take The cars out unless the cut was
declared off,
The following circular was issued and
distributed about the city this afternoon:
| hmalgamated Association OF Street Rail-
way Employees Of America, Local division
| no. rs.
workingmen of Gnlveston:
galveston. February 10, 1so7.-We, the
| Local division No. rs. A. A. s. r. Z. of A.,
| alpeal to you to cooperate with us In Sc
| curing our lust demand. which Is n resfor-
ailon OF wages Of crews In charge of extra
cNrs-said wages being cut a few days ago
| from - cents to - cents per hour. Yours
| fraternally. COMMITTEES
THE CoMPANY's SIDE OF IT.
me men have acted without Justice and
IN erect violation of the bylaws and con-
| s.ltutIoh OF their organization" said Julius
| Nung" president Of the Street Car COM
pany. this iaornlng.
me change in tho rate of wages which
we were putting into effect was as much
Tor their benefit as FOR ours. The men will
receive as much If not more per day under
the new schedule as under the DID, and will
nave shorter hours to work.
mere Is the communication which re-
ceived last Sunday:
'Amalgamated Association of Street
hailWay Employees of America. Local Di-
| VISION No. TS-GalYeston Texas. February
49, 1877 Mr.. Julius Runge. President Gal
Weston city Railway company, Galveston,
| ieSas-Dear Sir: Local Division No. rs.
Anaieamated Association of Street Railway
Ennloyes Of America demand that the
extra mems wages be restored to II cents
| - "O"'' N'e ioE9nc' scale oil wages palu
extra mer.
| we VIII expect an answer by Monday
morning, February Is. Respectfully,
| "A. S. Sturgeon.
,Seal) Secretary.
Now" said Mr., Runge, here is the
pook In which the bylaws and constitution
| a."
| The reporter read the section. 1t Is as
| follows:
Section o. When any difficulty arises
| between the members of any local diY>slon
ahh their employees regarding wages or
hours, or when the principles of the
orsahilatiohs are at stake, the matter must
DC submitted TO the executive board OF the
iooal division, who shall appoint commit
zee oil no less than three OF their members
| 10 investigate the case and wait upon the
| empower With whom the difficulty exists,
| ahn Try 10 settle the same and submit TO
me local division the entire matter at the
FIRST meeting"