Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-15

question Of the amount OF wages oE the
n1s5 q aSog fbs s0u
"a Communication has recently been re-
ceived by different officials Of this conn
pany. which throughout - courteous l1
the hours of labor and an increase IN the
rate paid per hour. If II had been, as on
its face it appeared to be, direct COM
pany it certainly would have received a
direct response. 1t is signed, however, Lo-
cal Union No. ns American street h g "
six officials with the designation OF their
offices in such union.
Never before, since the reductlon IN
wages mentioned in that communication,
did this company receive any request for
an increase in wages or for change IN
the hours of labor from any OF Its en-
ployes, either singly or in body, or from
any committee of any meeting OF their
own held as such employees. Possibly II
would have been wise to answer PERSONA
~ the men who signed the above mention.
ed paper as officials of the union. but all
indications were and are: that they did not
wish to negotiate otherwise than as an or
ganization. If the company has misun-
derstood these indications, 1t is hoped that
il is not too late for the misunderstanding
TO be corrected.
agreement called a scale was executed
! and formally signed between this COM
pany, a solvent corporation, on the one
part, and Union A. F. Of L. No olyS an
without assets, on the other, in regard TO
wages, hours of labor, duties of the COM
pany, duties of its employees, and many
other subjects. The nineteenth article
provided that the agreement should re-
main IN force until September LIST, 1893. no
security was given or required for the
faithful performance of the contract py
either of the contracting parties.
I'm the early part of the following WIN
ter, this company, after due investlgd-
ton of the charges which were brought
against two of its employees for wilfuily
refusing to receive passengers on their
cars, discharged those employees from
notice and in all respects IN the manner
provided by the scale. The scale dld
not provide that the union should decide
the question of dismissal. but the union
nevertheless gave notice to the company
that the discharged men must be restored
to their places within two days, or the
clined to restore the men. AT the expira-
ton of the two days, and although the
term of service called for by the scale
had more than seven months 70 run, Inc
which lasted for nearly three months-a
strike which involved the company IN
great expense and loss, and which ser
iously injured the business and interests
of the people, and cast stain upon the
reputation of the cities of Wheeling and
Benwood as law-abiding communities.
This company is by the law held ac-
countable for the careful and faithful
performance of its duty to the public, 1t
is chargeable for all damages resulting
from the negligent acts or defaults OF It's
employees, and in that strike, after the
employees had voluntarily left its service,
it stood out to the end for the right TO
determine who should thereafter be en-
ployed The question of wages and hours
of labor were not involved in that strike.
The men who returned to the service OF
the company, as well as its new employees,
were paid the wages provided for by the
"scale," and continued under the system
as to hours and labor provided foT-by the
scale for more than seven months after
the end of the strike.
THE Wheeling Railway Company does
not make it condition of employment
that it's employees shall abstain from mem
bership in labor organizations. 1t will not
submit to any requirements which would
forbid the employment by it of persons not
| would forbid the discharge Of persons
whom it does not deem suitable for its
service without reference to whether they
are or are not members of such organi-
cations
I'VE do not here or now enter into the
discussion of any disputed or disputahle
meeting of the Board of Directors of the
company may be had on Saturday, April
18th but Il is deemed wise that this paper.
presenting the facts which cannot be dis
puted and indicating the attitude of the
company, shall be presented to your COM
mttee IN the hope that you may be the
better able to assist in the solution of the
trouble.
wheeling, w. Va, April 18th. 1899"
A telegram was also sent to Presi-
! dent Conderman, at Philadelphia, and
an answer was received yesterday,
stating he would meet the committee
on Saturday (to-day). There being
some doubt in the minds of the bust
ness mems committee as to whether
| that committee or the committee re-
presenting the strikers and Trades As
sembly was meant, a joint session of
the two committees was held at the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday after
noon. AS a result, the strikers COM
mittee were unanimously of the opin-
| ion that the business mems commit
tee alone was meant, and as a result
| that committee will meet President
Conderman some time to-day.
| The president of the business mems
committee stated yesterday that the
| sole aim and object of that commit
| tee was to bring about a. meeting be-
| tween the two parties to the difficulty,
| and once such a meeting was an ac-
/ complished fact, the committee would
consider it had performed its duty as
it was now understood.