The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-01
THE INTELLlGENCER.
WHEELING, MAY 1890.


The hopes that were held out for n
day or SO that settlement OF the street
car strike might be reached as q result
of the conferences that We're to be held
between the directors of the company
and the strikers. and through the offices
of the council: committee and others who
had interested themselves In bringing
practically dlssipated by the develop
ments Of yesterday. The disagreement
narrowed down to but one point. which
seemed to be In the way of n final set
tlement. and the community. which is
so vitality affected by the situation OF
affairs, Is facing the prospect OF n pro-
longation of the strike. unless some
. thing is done 10 bring matters to n fin
ish.
The point at issue. which could not be
agreed upon. and the refusal Of which
induces the company to declare all ne
gotiatons OFF, Is. briefly stated. the
question Of time and pay. The strikers
asked for 10 cents an hour for nine
hours work;the company conceded 17h
cents for twelve hours. which 1t con-
tended was virtually an increase Of 10
per cent. being s. 10 against 81 % for
twelve hours work under the present
rate. This statement Is made by Presi-
dent Conderman, in an interview. who
declares that the company did It's best
to compromise. and that all negotiations
are now off. Elsewhere will be found
statements from both sides Of the con-
troversy.
This being the situation at present, 1t
seems that 1t is left with the commune
~ to do the best 1t can under the cir
cumstances. 1t is needless to review
here the great amount OF damage the
condition of things have wrought in the
city during the strike. Everyone knows
IT, Business has greatly suffered from
the effect OF the general refusal OF the
public to patronize the cars. and the
loss of trade from the Ohio side of the
river to Wheeling merchants can
scarcely be calculated. The question Is,
will this state of affairs continue? With
hopes Of settlement between the COM
pany and the striking employees practi-
cally gone, unless some unforeseen cir
cumstances should arise, there is little
else left for the people who find the car
service a necessity but to accept the sit
uation In the best manner possible.
. Where contendns parties cannot
agree, after ali that has occurred. when
every possible effort has been made by
the business interests. the trades un-
Ions, the city council and the strikers,
and failed. there seems to be no solu-
tlon In sight, and matters are in n shape
that the patrons Of the street railway,
Will have to decide as to the future.
Whether the stoppagc of the business
OF the road and the sufferings of local
trade are TO continue indefinitely re-
mains with the public.
The situation IS and has been most
unfortunate for Wheeling; 1t Is unfor-
tunate also that certain factors In the
efforts Of settlement have seemed to
handicap efforts for an amcable ar
ranGement. Certain representatives Of
the labor interests. who had no direct
personal interests atstake, had they pur-
sued 4 more conservative course, might
have averted some of the differences
and made possible 4 settlement. 1t may
not be too late yet to appoint conserva-
tive representatives who could accom-
pllsh something In the line of an agree
mcnt. providing the company would
consent TO reopen negotiations, which
is matter only OF speculation.