New-York tribune., 1899-07-18
NO !METROPOLITAN STRIKE.
VREELAND MEETS THE
STATE BOARD OF ARBITRATION.
HE SAYS THERE is NOTHING TO ARBI-
TRATE AND THE BOARD HAS NO FUR
THEIR ACTION TO TAKE.

President H H Vreeland OF the Metropolitan
Street Railroad Company for more than two
hours yesterday afternoon was in conference
with the State Board Of Mediation and Arbitra-
ton. The grievances complained Of by the men
in this borough and the conditions under which
they work were gone into thoroughly Finally,
Mr. vreeland depending mainly upon the sig
natures which had been presented TO him pur-
porting TO record the satisfaction OF 30 per cent
Of the employees contended that there was
nothing TO be arbitrated between the men and
the company In view Of the position taken by
Mr. Vreeand, the Board. which is made up OF
Francis B. Delehanty, Of this city; William H.
H. Webster. OF Buffalo, and John J. Gilbert, OF
Syracuse came to the decision that arbitration
was impossible at this junc>re. and that it was
not advisable 10 take further action at this time
The following official statement was given out
by the Commissioners at the end of the confer
ence:
BY arrangement. the State Board OF Mediation
and Arbitration met President Vreeland Of the
MetropoIitan Street Railway System in the or
flee Of H. D. Macdona. its attorney, No 81 Mas
sau-st., this city.
The Board very cordially received ana
had a conference of fully two hours IN uls-
cussinp the pending railway trouble IN this city.
The Board stated to Mr.. Vreeland tnat the
Executive Committee of the Knights OF LABOR
had called upon IL early last Nfth' Nie.l'-"o ~
renresent a large number Of dissatisfied en-
ployes in the Metropolitan system and mad pre-
sented a list OF alleged grievances, slsheu WIN
four names OF men claiming 70 repre- .Ile
Second. Sixth Eighth and Fourth ave. divisions.
Mt Vreeland explained In detail 20 the com
mission the system under which the time tSpIes
OF the road were made up. and the ruLes asa1 am
regulations under which the road was 'Pei"'V''.
He stated among other things. that the wages
paid on the Metropolitan system were the L hIsM-
est paid in any system except Boston, VII"
which CITY the rates were uniform.
He had in his possession and presented 10 the
Board for inspection list signed In person py
twenty-seven hundred Of its employees, stating
that they had no cause to complain OF tne"
work wages or the management OF the roan.
Mr. Vreeand further said, IN view OF the
fact that a large majority OF the employees re-
pudiated the action OF the rev
men represented by the Executive Committee
Of the Knights OF Labor that II did not appear
10 him that there were any claims 10 oe arpl,
trated between the railroad corporation anu
its employees. ,,.
He further said that II at any time a majority
OF the employees were dissatisfied with me ruies
and regulations Of the company, ana MVulH ~
present their grievances 70 him. ne Wouiu "
only too happy TO consider them and rectlty
He claimed that in view Of the fact that 30
per cent OF the total number OF employees al,
fected by the alleged grievances had slgnlned
their satisfaction with the rules, Wages anu
management, he considered there was no I%rVu- %
hle between the Metropolitan system ana us
Mr vreeiand's position makes 1t clear 70 the
Board that II will not be possible IN tne presenl
status Of affairs TO have recourse 20 arbitrator
and the Board does not therefore deem II ad-
vlsable to take further action, at this time
CAN DO NOTHING IN BROOKLYN
Mr. Delehanty said the Commissioners had
roth,rr n add 10 the statement. which was
faithful report Of the proceedings Asked as 10
what action the Board intended taking IN
Rrooklvn he replied: We can do nothing. we
have offered our services TO Mr.. Rossiter' puI
he refuses 10 arbitrate anything. and TOT the
present that ends the matter so far as the Board
,s concerned. It is true have the power TO
start an inquiry. but that would aVail hotn'ns
IN the existing state Of affairs
soon after the Commissioners returned to MT
Da,ebantv's office in the st. Paul Building Jonn
Y Parsons came IN to learn the result OF the
conference. When he learned Of President Vree-
,ord.s refusal 70 arbitrate he refused 10 make
arv comment for the moment intmating that
he might have something 70 say after the meet
,,c a. night of the Executive Committee OF the
knights OF Labor When he was asked now
e,,ar ~ any committee would De sent 10 MI
vreeland he replied significantly, Not while the
men are working"
Earlier in the day. however. prior 10 tne iii7e'
ing between Mr.. Vreeland and the boaiu "a
Arbitration. he gave I: as his opinion tnat 1HeiV
would be no strike Of the Metropolitan men
.1 fully exnect- he said. that the Board OF
Arbitration will impress upon President Nree-
land that there are real grievances 20 arol'la'7'
and Mr. Vreeland's refusal 10 CONSIDER 'he mo-
ter with the Board could only be interpreter "S
An intention TO join hands with the Dro0NiyH
Rapid Transit Company and crush OUT WIN
police assistance, the spirit OF u
among railroad employees.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
.r. .,cb q contest the combined influence OF
both corporations will be pressed INTO 81, YtOe
and II is my purpose 70 arouse orsaiil~eu ,-'
so az 10 secure It's assistance Tor the aiii'"1
man IN meeting this condition. Inc tdF F-'''s
,,h,,o and the business men can then taKe d
vacat,on. and should they feel any dlspieaSure
+bev will know that the situation mas peeh
forced upon them by the greed OF these corpora
,,ors and that their only assistance VIII DC
found in Joining forces with organized laoor'
taking the question TO the ballot box IN t"e
,ou and securing officers Of the city government
who will dare 10 enforce the laws without rear
~ offending the corporations. for it should be
remembered that the main question IN dispute
between the employees and the corporations is
Shall the ten hour workday law be enforced
considering also that this ten hour law Tor
srrfacs railway employees was ordered In the In
teras, n, the lives of our citizens and their fam
uies by protecting them against the danger OF
having trolley cars operated by men. who from
excessive toll are untitled for the work. rather
than being enacted especially for the oenefit OF
the men Aside from the purpose OF enforcing
the ten hour Law. the question at issue before
the public is. Should the company be made to
respect the laws? "
NO STRIKE EXPECTED
What effect the attitude taken by Mr. Vree-
land will have upon the men who are agtatins
for concessions can be as yet only conJectured.
In the afternoon committee representing the
brooklyn strikers and committe OF Ne"-IolA
men conferred together at Mr.. Parsons's head
orsr,srs M 40 East One hundred and-twenty