New-York tribune., 1899-07-12
PARSONS STILL ACTIVE.
HE DECLARES THE METROPOLITAN
VIOLATES THE TEN HOUR LAW
~ MEETING OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
ROAD TO AROUSE PUBLIC sYMPA-
THY COMMISSIONER DELE
HANTY APPEALED TO.

THY - COMMISSIONERS Dr@bN--
HANTY APPEALED To-
Although the larger number of the employees OF
The Metropolitan Street Railway Company nave
pyer their own signatures declared that they are
satisfied both with their wages and treatment
John n. Parsons general master workman VI
the knights OF Labor is by no means disposeo
TO drop the agitation against the company with
the majority of the men at present opposed 10
organizing for the purpose Of enforcing the con-
cessions asked for. Mr.. Parsons and his col
leagues realize that any attempt to tie UP the
road would end in speedy failure. consequently
he proposes now to enlist public sympathy IN the
mems behalf and will seek to have the company
restrained from violating, as he maintains II now
does, the ten hour labor law and the city ordi-
nances relating to speed He intmates also that
unless the company adjusts the grievances COM
plained of he will have introduced into the Leg
aslature bill reducing fares to three cents
With a view to giving expression to the mems
grievances a meeting will be held IN
Cooper Union Tuesday evening next Bishop
Potter. Father Ducey the Rev. DR.. Rainsford
John S Crosby and Senator John Ford have
been asked to speak. District Attorney Gardi-
Ser has also been requested to attend and ex-
plain why he permits the Metropolitan company
Mr.. Parsons yesterday called upon Commits
eioner Delehanty. OF the State Board Of Media
tion and Arbitration and asked that the Board
investigate the differences which he still con-
tends exist between the men and the company
HE assured the Commissioner that the men
would abide by the Boards decision
In the course Of the day Mr. Parsons gave out
a statement. in which he said:
"The next step on the part Of the railroad
employes is an appeal to the public, with full
statement Of the grievances OF the men. How
that is to be accomplished is a matter for fur
Aher consideration. At the meeting last night
at which report was made by the committee
that waited upon President Vreeland that gen.
tleman's action toward the committee was
accepted evidence OF his insincerlty IN
dealing with any committee representing the
grievances of the men excepting such commit
tees as might be selected by the officers or the
company. His action was also accepted py the
.Inen as showing his positive opposition TO or
;ganized labor.
- ''The offer of financial assistance that was
Itendered by the General Executive Board of the
knights of Labor was accepted, and arrange
lments were made for issuing an appeai 10 all
members of the order. so as to enable the asso-
citation to take care of those railroad employees
who have been victimiZed because OF their mem
fbersbip in the organization. The men are de-
stermined that the public shall be correctly IN
formed of the treatment they received at the
hands of the company. so that the responsi-
sbility for whatever inconvenience may follow
may be placed where ii properly belongs
President Vreeland refused TO comment upon
this statement when II was shown to him. but
when asked about the charge that the company
twas breaking the ten hour law, he said ANY
one who knows anything about railroads under
stands that 1t is impossible TO arrange scheo-
iule which will enable every man TO quit at a
ktated hour. Our schedules are arranged with
extreme care. and average the time as near
the ten hour limit possible II cars are
blocked on Broadway on any other line. the
men are delayed. but that is no more our tault
that theirs. Very often men for days al a tlne
will only work nine and q half hours"