The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-01
EARLY MORNING MEETING

Ofthe Operators and Conductors of
the Elm Grove Electric Line In Scs-
sion this Mornins-Whccling Com
pany's Men Fail to Put In Their Re-
quest.
Yesterday was day OF engrosglng in
terest to the employees OF both street
railway lines. The Wheeling Com
pany's men were unsuccessful in seek
Ing conference with the board Of d.
rectors, which met yesterday morning,
or with the management later In the
day. and the ultlmatum OF the Elm
Grove employees expired at midnight.
There is n local union for the en-
ployes OF each road. both connected with
the Amalgamated Association OF Street
Car Workers, OF which organization the
president, w. d. Malone, Of Detroit,
Will come to Wheeling to-day to famil-
inrize himself with the situation. The
Wheeling Company's committee had
prepared. In type-writtcn form, n re-
quest for the restoration OF the wages
paid prior to 1888, that Is. twenty cents
an hour for nine hours day. The doc
ument called attention to the cut from
twenty cents to seventeen and onc-half
cents an hour In 1893. and another cut
In 1894 to sixteen cents, the present rate.
The reason assigned for the first cut, 1t
1t stated was the prevailing hard times.
The second cut, 1t Is said. was to last
only sixty days. The document stated
that the employees We're willing to share
the burden of hard times, but they
pointed to the general advance Of wages
throughout the country now, and they
believed their request for q restoration
Of the old wages was Just and fair.
1t was the intention to present this
request to the board of directors, but
the board met in the forenoon instead of
the afternoon as the men supposed. con-
sequently their committee waited on
Secretary Shirley, who declined to re-
celve any communication from the men
as an organized body. He took the
stand that he would hear grievances
from them as individuals but not US an
organization. The type-written re-
quest. therefore. was not presented and
1t still reposes In the pockets Of n MEM
Der Of the committee. The men will
meet ut midnight tonight TO consider
the outlook.
The Wheeling &C Elm Grove men last
night at midnight waited on General
Manager Wright. relative to their ulti-
matum. Mr.. Wright received them
courteously. but stated that the COM
pany could not afford to increase the
wages from sixteen cents to twenty
cents an hour. Present conditions, he
said. did not Justify It. Mr.. Wright
added that he would remain at the COM
pany's office to hear the outcome OF the
meeting In Trades Assembly hall. This
meeting was under the auspices of the
Elm Grove men, and the employees OF
the other road werc there fraternally,
their meeting occurring tonight.
The Elm Grove men were In session
behind closed doors at 2:3O q. m.. and
nothing could be learned regarding their
proceedings.
eral Manager Wright remained at the
Elm Grove office. A committee of the
men made several visits to him, and
the result was the Offering of conces-
sions by the management which the
men considered. The final conference
was being held at $50 o'clock this
morning and Mr.. Wright believed that
an amicable settlement would be reach
ed IN q short time. = = '-''''
At o'clock this morning General
Manager Wright said that the men had
met him again and declined to accept
the concession he offered. which was
eighteen cents an hour. an increase OF
two cents. He was surprised and dis
appointed at this stand taken by the
men. The negotiations were declared
off