New-York tribune., 1899-07-19
NO FEAR OF STRIKE HERE.
PRESIDENT vREELAND SATISFIED WITH
THE MANHATTAN SITUATION.
COMMISSIONER DELEHANTY THINKS THERE Is
NO BASIS FOR STRIKE TALK-G. T.
ROGERS ON THE BROOKLYN


! In spite Of the veiled threats which followed
President H. H Vreeland's refusal to arbitrate
on the grievances complained Of by some Of the
employees of the Metropolitan railroad. there is
little II any possibility OF a strike taking place
on that or on any other system in this city.
! The probability OF trouble breaking out on the
New-York lines was. In fact. more remote than
ever yesterday. AS matters now stand, any
movement to call out the in this borough
would be futile. The great proportion of the
Metropolitan employees refuse TO affiliate with any
labor organization. and have repudiated Mr..
Parsons and the Surface Railroad Mems Asso-
citation. and the same is true Of the Third Avenue
! road and the tranmen employed the Man
haitian system. There is undoubtedly a great
deal Of unrest among the engineers Of the ele
waited roads, who foresee that the substitution
Of electric motive pow or for steam on their lines
VIII he followed by an attempt 10 reduce their
wages and probably increase their hours. The
matter has already been the subject Of discus
sion between the Manhattan company and the
local assembly in this city OF the Engine Drivers
Association, hut the negotiations have not yet
reached the point OF serious consideration.
President Vreeland went on tour Of inspec-
tion yesterday morning over the Metropolitan
lines and visited each Of the car houses. Upon
reaching his office in the afternoon he stated
that everywhere he had found the men
tented, while the reports he had received from
the superintendents assured him Of the mems
loyalty.
SITUATION HERE UNCHANGED.
There will be no strike upon the Metropolitan
lines" he continued The situation has not
changed a whit since yesterday. and the rea-
sons why IL will not change are the
that induced the members Of the State Board Of
nd Arb +bafr
isfaction in the interview yesterday when I laid
them before them. The men are fairly treated
and fairly paid. and they know they will get a
fair hearing for any complaint they may make
and most Of them have said so in a convincing
manner. Here Is instance I boarded a Lex
ington-ave. car this morning and began reading
an account Of affairs in Brooklyn. The con-
ductor bade me good morning and I remarked
10 him that it looked interesting across the
Bridge Mr.. Vreeland' he replied whenever
I have any kick coming shall come right TO
you With IT, But ] am not going on strike for
It. These stripes show that and he pointed
to his service stripes, which showed that he
had been in our employ since 1896"
Mr Nreeland was asked for his opinion as N
the significance Of the mass meeting that was
70 take place at night. What can savq, be
replied. What can I say more than II II were
by the employees Of the company ii would he
something to talk about. Any one can call
meeting" In reply TO question Mr.. vreeland
said; No, there will be no conference or meet
ing between myself and the men. so far as
know. There is nothing that the men want to
! Talk about"
Mr.. Parsons saic you are violating the Ten
/ Hour law and that this meeting will take meas
ures TO that the law is complied with" II
was suggested to Mr vreeland
I'm not in a position where can answer
| Mr.. Parsons He Is not an employe Of the COM
| pany is not connected with the company
/ There's the law OF the State-if I'm violating
! the law, and they prove IT, let them prose-
/ cute me. I'm amenable 70 the law as any
man. try to come a. near as | can 10 giving
/ justice to all, but running railroad is different
/ from cutting cheese or meat. It is not always
| possible stop work directly on the minute
/ but we come as near II as We can"
PARSONS ON THE MEETING
John n Parsons. commenting yesterday af-
ternoon on the meeting. said: Il believe that
this meeting will be a memorable one. as it
will indicate the intention OF organized labor
ir regard to assisting their associates in Sc
curing the enforcement of the Ten Hour law
Even President Vreeland as reported by the
State Board Of Arbitration. has not ventured
! 10 say that the Ten Hour law is being observed
by his company. and has answered the question
! by producing a petition certifying that his men
were satisfied with the conditions. The mems
complaint was for failure 10 observe the Ten
Hour law. against the system Of curtailing trips
and deducting the mems pay therefor refusal
10 receive a committee OF the men authorized 10
present their grievances, and failure 20 pay
trippers by the hour.
ITO this will be added after the meeting to-
night, demand for a concession OF the right to
rganize. The committee that waited on Presi-
dent Nreeland represented seven hundred mo-
tormen OF eleven hundred and the total
number OF the members OF the organization is
about 20 per cent Of the entire number Of the
employees Of the read.
STRIKE ONLY AS A LAST RESORT
We shall not order a strike until We have
exhausted every other means 10 obtain the
concessions we demand. Our men do not want
10 strike. but they want 10 be heard and 10
have their requests treated with consideration"
Commissioner Francis r. Delehanty OF the
State Board Of Mediation and Arbitration. said
yesterday that there new developments
In the railroad situation IN this city He gave
II as his opinion that there basis for
the strike talk concerning either the MetropoH-
tan Manhattan employees. Regarding the
conference the previous day with Mr. Vree-
land he said Certain complaints were made
10 us. and We set out 20 investigate them Mr.
Vreeand. the president OF the company, was
very frank with He met every complaint
and he impressed the Commission by his
straightforW ardness He told that he had
come up from the ranks himself. had worked
on gravel trains and had often had grievances
himself He also assured that our services
would never be required as long as he was at
the head OF the company because he intended
always to meet his men personally"
Mr.. Delehanty added that no further meeting
OF the Board had been arranged for but he
explained that Mr.. Parsons confident that
President Rossiter would eventually call upon
the Board arbtrate between the company
and the strikers.
TALK WITH C. T ROGERS
G. T Rogers. president Of the Binghamton
Street Railway Company. and also president OF
the Presidents Association Of Street Railways |
Of the State OF New-York in the city yes
terday 10 attend the meeting select a place /