The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-15
STREET CAR WORKERS. "
neiterntc Demands Made Upon the
Com many.

meeting OF local division NO. ~, o.
Tho AmaIgamated Association OF Street
Railway Employees OF America was begun
ii 1,;2O last night at Union Labor hal
and was still In SESSION at a:so this morn
Ing
THE following answer to the communica-
tim submitted by General Manager Mac
(;regor OF the street car company uui'ns
lie aay. was unanimously agreed on
To the Officers of the Houston Electro
Street Railway Company, hioustoh'
Texas.
Gentlemen-Your answer to the requests
submitted and discussed with your BOARD
IN directors this date, has been received.
you reply by saying that our requests are
radically different from the present agree.
ment existing between the ASSOCIATION anu
your company. Admitting that an agree
ment exists, there is nothing IN IL TO pre-
vent us from asking change OF our con-
1tions. But in submitting the present re-
Guests. we have acted upon the company's
Interpretation and answer made on the
I4th day OF September, 1897, when our IN
ternatfoual president, w. d. Mahon, presi-
dent of our local division, c. Harris; M
sncial secretary, n. A. Morey, and chair
man OF our executive board, o. q. Miller,
called upon your general manager, MT. II.
+. MacGregor, for an understanding re-
garding the agreement. His reply was, AT
that time that 1.-The agreement was simply
an instrument to adjust the strike and to
get the cars in operation and that was all
il amounted to-"
And we can prove to your board OF d.
rectors that there has never any prefer-
enoe been given union men by the man
agement, Mr. MarGregor stating to us on
a number of occasions that he did not ask
men whether they were union or non
union men. After n discussion OF Mac
Gregor's answer regarding the agreement
we decided to make no more requests I'M
der this agreement, but to deal with the
company through our committees until
such time as we could secure an agree
ment with the company that would be
binding upon both parties and therefore We
do not deem it too early to demand
change in our conditions, but think the
time has come when an agreement should
be made that would be binding upon both
parties and assure you that when such an
agreement is entered into that we stand |
ready to live UP to and carry out the same. |
so long as your company does.
We maintain that our requests are noth- |
ing ont of the ordinary, IL anything they |
are under the ordinary demands being |
made by labor, for we ask for but nine |
an eight hour work day. And as for your |
setting forth that you nev< have reduced |
wages in the history of your management, |
we would call your attention to the fact |
that you did reduce the wages of all train |
men who had been in the employ of the |
company under six months from Is cents |
per hour to 121s cents per hour on or
about October /, 1897, and that reduction |
was made without consulting our agree
ment. which you now claim was then in |
existence.
You have further set forth the great
cost of reconstruction, paving and inter-
est. In regard 10 the reconstruction, that
only enhances the value of your property
In growing city, from which you will
receive dividends for years to come. So
FAR as interests are concerned, We are
well satisfied that our demands could be
to and a reasonable dividend and
Interest could be paid on the actual in
1estrnents. and il your stock has been
or inflated the labor should not
ne held to bear the burden. Flesh and
blood should always be considered before
water.
In regard to the comparison OF wages
n other cities, we would call your atten,
Ion TO the fact that the table you submit
% us is of 1890, eight years ago. We
lave no access to the records Of that year.
,ut would call your attention to the fact
mat IN lSos Boston, Mass, pays % cents
ind a fraction: Lynn. Mass, 20 cents:
Worcester. Mass, rays 20 cents for a
line hour work day; Mount Clemens.
Mich, pays 20 cents; Denvor, Colo. 20
ents and Detroit, Mich, 90 cents.
But as we said to you this morning We
believe our propositions fair and just, and
t labor is to have its wages regulated by
comparison with the lower standards. it
$ but question Of time when we will be
IN the peon level.
And again insisting that you have not
egarded any existing agreement and be-
ieving this Is the proper time that thor.
ugh understanding shall be had we de-
uand that the following conditions be
iyen us
Then follow the demands, which are
rinted in another column. In the event
hat they are not complied with by the
treet chr management the union unani-
1onsly agreed TO the following:
III these demands are not agreed to
We, as union men, will desist from operat-
ng your road until such time as they
re properly agreed to and signed"
The Street Car Troubles.