The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-06
HAVANA FIREMEN STRIKE.
CUBAN CHIEFS or POLICE PERSUADE
THEM TO RETURN TO WORK.
p United Railways Tied Up for n Time Yester-
day-EmpIoyees Demand an Advance in
Pay by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ask
Gen. Brooke far work-Refupees Return

United Railways Tied Up for n Time Sester-
day-Employees Demand an Advance In
Pay by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ask
Gen. Brooke for work-RefuEees Return
Special Cable Deipaich to THE Sun.
HAVANA, Feb. 5.-The 1remon employed by
the United Railways OF Havana struck this
morning for higher wages. They demand
S34.5O per month instead Of S1S. the wages
now paid TO them. They received S34.5O be-
fore the war. but when the insurgents began
to stop trains the company reduced their wages.
As q result OF the strike no trains left this
morning for Matanzas. Guanajay or Guiana
bacoa. Crowds OF intending passengers as
sem ut the station and loudly protested
against the interruption OF the train service.
The manager OF tho company sent a verbal
message to the strikers that their demand
would be satisfied. but the ktter refused to re-
turn to work with only a verbal promise. They
insisted that they were promised last month
that their wages would be increased. and now
they want a written promise, which they oan
compel the company to live UP to.
A number Of the strikers went to the office
Of the manager to demand that he sign q writ
ten promise. They finally became %riotous. and
Gems. Menocal and Cardenas. first and second
Chiefs OF Police, respectively. went to
the office. The strikers cheered them
when they appeared. The Chiefs advised
the men to return to work. promising that
their wages would be advanced. Their advice
was accepted. and the strikers. after shouting
viva Menocall' viva Cardenas,' went to
work. The first train started at 10 o'clock. but
the engineers have sent an ultimatum to the
manager. which expires on Wednesday. de-
manding that their wages be placed on the
same basis they were before the war.
The workmen at the arsenal. who have been
out OF work since Dec. 81. went to the palace
this afternoon after a committee had called on
Governor General Brooke ut La Vedado. Gen.
Chaffee. Gen. Brooke's chief OF staf. told the
committee that tho government would try to
give them employment.
There are 1000 Of these men. While they
were making their demonstration before the
palace q Spaniard shouted viva Weylerl"
whereupon the crowd attacked him and beat
him badly.
The steamer Reina de los Angeles arrived
here to-day with ], 100 Cubans fromKey West.
They are nearly all cigar makersswho emi-
grated before or during the war.
A deputation Of the residents OF .Cayajabos.
province of Pinar del Rio. has visited Gen.
Brooke to inform him that the rations sent by
the Government are not fairly distributed,
The poor people for whom they are intended
do not get these ~rations. they say. but they arc
given to persons who afterward sell them to
grocers. Gen. Brooke promised to investigate
the matter and to punish any ono found divert
ing the rations from their intended use.
Gen. Maxine Gomez. the Cuban Comman-
der-in- Chief, Is expected to arrive here about
Wednesday.
The reports OF the fighting, ut Manila have,
caused q great sensation here.