New-York tribune., 1899-07-15
ARBITRATION BOARD MEETS.


Mr.. vREELAND UNABLE TO DE PRESENT -
STATEMENT BY MR.. PARSONS.
The State Board of Mediation and Arbitration
met yesterday in the ST. Paul Building In the
Office Of one Of It's members Francis Is Deie-
hanty, TO consider the street railway situation IN
Manhattan and Brooklyn. James NJ. Gilbert had
come from Syracuse. and the third member OF
the Board. William II. II. Webster, from Buffalo
Thomas A. Baniff. of Richmond County the sec
retary, was also present.
The Board held a short session and then ad-
journed to wait for the time when H. H. Vree-
land nresidert OF the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company. can meet its members. He sent
word that owing TO the serious illness OF his
wife I'm Brewster's n y, he had not been able
10 visit the city for the last two days but hoped
IN do so soon. and would then meet the Board
Mr. Delehanty explained how the Board had
been brought into the affair by saying that no
petition had been presented to 1t by employees OF
the Metropolitan company. but that General
Master Workman Parsons had informed the
Board that there were more than seven hundred
Knights of Labor employed by the company VINO
were dissatisfied with their treatment
KNIGHTS OF LABOR DISSATISFIED.
Mr. Parsons asserted that these seven hum
dred and more dissatisfied men had prepared a
statement of their grievances, which they hao
presented to President Vreeland. but that Mr..
vreeland surprised them by producing a state
ment signed by twenty-eight hundred OF the
companys employees. saying that they had no
grievances whatever, and were satisfied with
their employer
Mr. Parsons declared 10 the Board that the
twenty eight hundred signers Of this statement
had been forced to sign under pain Of dismissal
=
Knights of Labor to do the same. IN order TO
hold their places Many signed both state
ments.
MR. PARSONS'S OMINOUS WORDS.
The Commissioners of Arbitration seemed to
think that the trouble would be averted without
a strike as both sides unwilling to incur
so serious a responsibility General Master
Workman Parsons took a more gloomy view Of
the situation. Regarding threatened opening
of hostilites in Brooklyn. he said yesterday:
There is positively no truth In the report
that there is to be a strike to-day among the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company employees.
Il can safely prophesy that there will be no
strike to-day or tomorrow. but that is as far
as one can safely prophesy"
When seen at his office last night Mr. Parsons
seemed to take more cheerful view of the situ-
alton .
w
said Mr. Parsons "and await with confidence the
results. Since this agitation began the men OF
the Sixth-ave. line have received concession OF
some OF the disputed points. The company mas
taken off one trip Sunday and has announced
that II will no longer dock the men when, act
ing under orders, they make short trip. The
Metropolitan Street Railway Company dares not
have a public investigation of these complaints
II does we will show the treatment with which
President Vreeland says his men are content to
be such that American citizens cannot submit
10 IT,"
AN EXPOSE THREATENED.
Regarding the situation IN Brooklyn, Mr.. Par
sons continued
Despite all printed statements In which am
quoted as saying this or that. believe President
Rosster means to act in good faith. If a strike
is finally brought about through the machina-
tions of clique OF stockjobbing politicians VIII
make AZ expose that will be interesting can
tell you
'Do you know those who are trying TO depress
stocks by A striker"
II certainly do and at the proper time they
will know and the public will know or their con-
temptible work." replied Mr.. Parsons warmly.
BATH BEACH PEOPLE CHARTER BOATS
The residents OF Bath Beach alarmed about
the threatened trolley strike. and If the railroad
men 60 out and tie up the cars there Will be a
practical suspension of business at the beach. The
maaers mess IN Ia nS or M BrooEyn and The trolley
cars stop running there Will be demand lot
wheels So serious is the matter ute
10 Bath Beach and make hourly trips during the
summer months. Much Of the business done at the
of the hotel tie up by the trolley cars
Win mean big loss and several hotel OF o%ners %d are are
q felt their lease money rather than keep empty
The boats from Bath Beach will begin running to-
s17y and will load their passengers at the Battery