New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-11
EMPLOYEES ARE SATISFIED.
MAJORITY OF METROPOLITAN MEN SAY
THEY HAVE no GRIEVANCES.
COMMITTEE WAITS ON PRESIDENT VREE-
LAND AND DECLARES THE MEN HAVE
NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ONO
DANGER OF A STRIKE.

LAND AND DECLARES THE MEN HAVE
NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ONO
DANGER OF A STRIKE
Although H. II. Vreeland, president OF the
Metropolitan Street Railroad Company, practi-
| cally refused to have anything to do with
| committee purporting to represent the employees
| OF the line which waited on him yesterday
morning with list of the grievances for which
| they demanded redress. there is no likelihood OF
| any strike taking place the system Tne
reason for the attitude taken by Mr. Vreeland
| was that just prior to the entrance OF the
! grievance committee another body of eighteen
| motormen and conductors visited the offices OF
| the company and presented Mr.. Vreeand
document signed by 1897 Of the 3,1i9 men en-
ployed on the road. wherein IT was stated that
they were perfectly satisfied with the hours and
| pay. and with the management they worked
| undar
| And" added the spokesman OF the party, 1t
| is inst as easy for an outside party to tie this
| road UP as for man to tie knot IN cup OF
| water" The Grievance Committee later IN the
| day reported to the General Executive Board or
| the Knights OF Labor the rebuff they had re-
| ceived at the hands of Mr.. Vreeland. The Board
later issued a long statement justifying the con-
| tentions that the men were improperly treated
| by the company. and condemning Mr.. Eree-
lands action in declining to recognize the GrieV-
| ance Committee as representatives of the en-
| poyes OF the system. That is about as far as
| the controversy is likely to go at this time.
There was some talk last night Of an tmmedi-
ate strike, but 1t came from purely irresponsi-
| BILE sources With the non-unon men far out
| numbering the union men, John N. Parsons and
his colleagues on the General Executive Board
realize that an attempt to tie up the Metropoli-
tan system would end In failure. II Is under
stood that their policy in the face Of yesterdays
developments will be to organize the men as
| quietly and as rapidly possible, and renew
the demands for concessions at some future
| time
Mr.. vREELAND'S REPLY.
| The eighteen men who appeared before Mr.
| Vreeland in the morning with the signatures
Of the men who stated that they were satisfied
with their hours wages and treatment. COM
prised conductor and gripman or motorman
from each of the nine divisions of the company.
After hearing the mems population Of those
men who are fostering the agitation for better
conditions. Mr. Vreeland made a short address
in reply. in the course OF which he said:
S What !; there IN all this tank G5 . csnSsrY
service, and that is in Boston There is trouble
sie Se he ye avsf%se nS 10 s'
are paying cheaper wages than we are mere. no
Fa,e the nave w hsa ina @
| It, And another thing. the relationship between
| Gnanciai head Of a property with an unknown
lot OF men. know most OF you men ana you
Worked myself F through ugh this thing and
said some o years 1g2 2oc6rs or Sockho
of any company that had charge OF as sSe
! could have my resignation that day.
Within few minutes after this delegation
had retired another committee. consisting Of
! four men. headed by George Tierney, of the
| Second-ave. line entered the presidents office
! This was the committee selected 10 voice the
! grievances OF the employees. Mr. Vreeland
! Tierney began, I'VE represent the employees OF
| the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, ana
we have come down to present the grievances
which they complain Of
Just one moment" interrupted Mr.. Vreeland,
you say you represent the employees"
YES. sir. we do" replied Tierney. and in turn
! the other three men told Mr.. Vreeland the d.
! vision they represented. Then Mr.. Vreeland
/ quietly handed to them the statement signed
! by about % per cent. Of the employees that they
! had appointed no committee to represent them
When they were asked to what they had to
/ say TO that assertion so extensively signed, the
! mon for a moment were unable to say word
/ Tierney, however. soon recovered his com
posure. and answered that he knew all about
! the petition. and that IL was not worth the
paper It was written on. because the men were
| forced 10 sign It under penalty Of being dis
charged. Mr. vreeland told Tierney that his
| charges were untrue and that under the cir
| cumstances he could not receive them as COM
| nittec but was ready TO listen to them as indi-
| ,iduals Tierney and his companions were
obdurate and refused to go into conference
I except as representatives OF the employees. Mr..
Vreeland was equally persistent on his side. and
ultimately the men left the building In an ugly
| mood and without having had an opportunity
! to make known the grievances they required
! should be adjusted .
| General Executive Board the unsatisfactory re-
suit Of their interview with Mr. Vreeland. For
! two hours they conferred with the Board at
| the Broadway Central Hotel and subsequently
| long statement was given out for publication
| THE BOARDS STATEMENT.
Al the outset the statement contended that
the signatures which had been handed to Mr..
Vreeland earlier in the day had been forced
! from the men under threats Of discharge The
! statement said:
Thus II was" the Board explained, that the
| company came into possession Of large list OF
| name of employees who said they were satSneu
| They Will endeavor to appear satisfied until the
oppOrtune time arrives for proper adjustment OF
/ me grievances under which they suffer.
| The reception accorded the committee from me
! men by Mr. Vreelsnd this morning: IN refusing to
! receive them representatives. or the employees,
| after ne Fad Invited them In public notice 10
send committees whenever they wished to see MN;
| caused no surprise among the men. as they well
| knew that when Mr.. Vreeland speaks Of receiving
| or as being willing 10 receive committees from MS
! men he only intends that to apply to committees
selected by the officials Of the road who can can
upon him as that satisfied committee ala 'n's
| morning.