The times., 1898-07-30
MESSENGER BOYS STRIKE
They Have a Grievance Against
the Western Union.
THE SYSTEM OF DUE BILLS
THE strikers Ask for an Increase
of One Cent en Each Messnge
and the Abolition Of Fines-They
Puncture the Tires of 'Tscabs' -
bicycles.

The Washington messenger boy is pro-
verbally slow, hut the hasty action of
a large proportion of them yesterday
afternoon and last night demonstrated
the fact that they can be fast at times.
Incidentally they caused considerable
commotion in the vicinity of the Wyatt
building
The Offices of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company are located in this build
ing. having been moved there from the
old quarters in the Corcoran building
early last Spring.
The messenger boys struck.
They assembled at the entrance 10 the
messenger department on Fourteenth
street about 4:S0 o'clock and at one time
the crowd attracted 10 the spot was sew
eral hundred strong.
Several of the strikers assembled at
points several blocks from the office. and
awaited the appearance of the messen-
gers who had refused to strike. All
small boys who rode that way were COM
PEELED 10 run the risk of being waylaid,
and several amusing instances occurred
when the strikers engaged the ''scabs'
The usual sight of a messenger run
ming was also witnessed and the fact
was noted by many passers-by.
Among those who refused TO join the
majority in the affair, not a few suffered.
They were threatened and their wheels
were punctured.
One of the little strikers with whom
The Times reporter spoke was discovered
sharpening the blade Of a rusty penknife
on the steps of the Treasury. When
asked the reason for this he said, with
a laugh: I'm goin' ter cut open the
tires of some of them scabs what's
wurkin', so ! am"
He would not give his name but said
the boys VINO had refused to work de-
nanded cents a message and the aooli-
ton Of the due bill system. According 70
the statements OF the strikers the due
bill system works as follows:
When a messenger Is late in reporting
he is asked TO sign due bil for . cents
The same IS said TO be the case when
he fails 10 collect on a message and when
he fails TO make a call. When messen-
ger is forced to lose a day on account Of
sickness il is claimed that he is compelled
TO sign due bill for dollar When ne
is pad his sa'ary the company deducts
the amount Of the bills.
The statement of the strikers was de-
MED at the office of the company last
night. It was also stated that only half
a dozen boys had left and that there had
not been sufficient reason for them to do
SO. The statement was made also that
the boys who struck were the worst in
the employ Of the company.
The strikers said that about thirty boys
quit and that only four night boys were
1T work II was also claimed by them
that the day force will strike this morn
ing.
The representatives of the company said
that only five or six dissatisfied boys had
left and that everything was moving
along without delay"
In the early part of the evening, when
It was believed that considerable trouble
was brewing, three messengers were ar
rested and locked no at the First Pre-
cinct Police Station on the charge Of dis
orderly conduct. They were Otho Mullin-
eauX. aged thirteen: Victor Renner. aged
fourteen and William Edwards, aged six
teen. They were taken into custody
about ; o'clock and the first named was
released at I0:30 o'clock upon payment OF
collateral by his parents.
The messengers of the company are
paid . cents a message. 2 cents for ''col-
IecL'' and 1 cents for a private call. One
Of the boys who was retained last night
earned 81 cents between 4 o'clock in the
afternoon and 10 o'clock at night. An
other little fellow who had been busy al
day made Sl-4s.