Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-01
CONFERENCE FRO|T[[S.
All Hope Of q Settlement Of the Strike
Temporarily Abandoned.

STRIKERS AND DIRECTORS OF
COMPANY HELD A MEETING
YESTERDAY-WAGE QUESTION
ONLY CONSIDERED - DIFFER
ENCE BETWEEN THE ULTIMA
tTUM OF THE COMPANY AND
ULTIMATUM OF THE MEN-CON-
FERENCE ENDED WITH NO AR
RANGEMENT FOR ANOTHER
MEETING.
The conference between representa-
tiyes of the Wheeling Railway Com
pany and its employees, which was held
yesterday afternoon, and which it was
hoped would bring about settlement
of the existing differences between the
two, split upon the wage question and
adjourned shortly before five O'Clock
without any provision having been
made for another meeting. All hope
of an agreement must therefore be
abandoned for the time being.
The following named members Of the
Board of Directors were present: Presi-
dent T. H. Conderman, of Philadelphia;
Vice President B. Walker Peterson, w.
E. Stone, j. J. Holloway, L. F. Stifel
and Mr.. Ford, of Cleveland. The union
was represented by J. ]. Byrne, chair
man of the Executive Board, Presi-
dent Thomas Padden, VIM. F. WEIGH,
secretary of the Board, Thomas F.
Burke, VIM. J. Cosser, John ]. Seaman
and Rein Orr, treasurer of the Ma
tional organization.
The meeting was held in the cham
Der of the Second Branch of Council,
and the First Branch chamber was used
for conferences of the respective sides.
The only matter under consideration
was the question of wages, although
no conclusion has yet been reached
with reference to the recognition of the
union or the disposition of the present
employees in the event of a settlement.
The first proposition came from the
company side. 1t was to take the aver
age rate of wages paid to street rail-
way employees in cities of from 10000
to 100000 population. The officials
stated that they would be willing to
make 16 2-3 cents the minimum of such
average rate and would pay a half
cent more per hour. The strikers re-
tired for consultation and returned
with the statement that they would
like to have the rate of wages settled
definitely at the conference. They
were opposed to the delay which would
be necessitated by the proposed in
vestigation. They were in favor of a
prompt settlement at the earliest prac-
ticable time.
Company officials asked the union
representatives if they had anything
to offer, and the strikers proposed a
nine hour work day for $1.75 a day, or
a fraction over 19 cents per hour. The
company officials stated that they re-
garded it as customary to base the
wages paid upon the hour and not up
on the day. They retired, however,
and discussed the proposition of the
union.
The company declined this PROPOSE
ton and presented a counter PROPOSE
ton of II cents an hour. The strike
committee again retired, but promptly
returned with the answer that they
could not entertain the proposition.
They announced, however, that they
had decided to make a concession in
their original demand, and would be
satisfied to return to work for 10 cents
an hour for nine hour work day.
After another consultation the direc-
tors offered to pay 1715 cents an hour,
and stated emphatically that this must
be regarded as their ultimatum. This
proposition was considered by the rep
resentatives of the union and declined,
and the directors were notified that 10
cents an hour was the ultimatum of
the strikers.
Il guess we may as we'll adjourn"
remarked one Of the company dire
ctors, as he reached for his hat. 9th
er directors followed his example, the
strike committee did likewise and the
conference was at an end. No time
was set for future conference, and in
fact nothing was said on the subject
President Conderman had urged haste
during the conference, as he stated that
he desired to leave for his home in
Philadelphia on the evening train.
AS the situation stands virtually
nothing has been accomplished through
the conferences which have been held.
The strikers have conceded one cent
an hour and the company has offered
one and half cents more than the
rate previous to the strike. The repe-
sentatives of the union decline to re-
gard this as a concession on the part
of the company, however, basing their
position upon the claim that they were
promised a restoration of wages when