New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-20
NO STRIKE OF MOTORMEN.
THE "TRIPPERs" THE ONLY MEN DIS
COMMENTED.

METROPOLITAN OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
DENY THAT THERE is ANY LIKELI-
HOOD OF TROUBLE
II II. yreeland president Of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company. not at his once
Yesterday but Oren Root. Mr.. Vreelanns hS
sistant. in discussing the matter with IrlDune
reporter. ridiculed the report OF possio'ity VI
q strike on the part OF the motorfneh' II '''
discomfort or dissatisfaction prevails among t"e
men" Mr.. Root said, I'VE nave no kho"Ieus'
of H. No demands Of any kind nave been pre-
sented to the officials Of the company Indeed
until we read the reports In this morning
par ers we had no idea that the motormen con-
sdered that they had grievances. II the men
nrescnt any demands to the company they can
rest assured that the utmost consideration VIII
be given to them.
THE report that a strike may take place IS
absurd Since Mr.. Vreeland took charge OF the
METROPOLITAN companys system he has SHOWN
himself willing and ready al all times to listen
to any complaints on the part Of the employees
There is not a man I'm the companys employ
who does not know that he may go direct u
Mr. Vreeland with any wrongs ne may coisiue'
he Is subjected to- and so in this matter tine
notornoen NAV rest assured that any sugges-
4
attention Of Mr. Vreeland and the directors OF
the company ] doubt, however, II the great
majority Of the employees have need of redress
IN any way. At all times since Mr.. Vreeland
, took control of the company they have con-
sistently expressed themselves as satisfied with
their condition Their pay increased by
Mr. vreeland who also Instituted a graduating
| principle of wages whereby a man Is enabled
| to improve himself year by year.
"As | understand it Is the 'trppers' who are
| seeking to make trouble But while for little
time after they are first taken into the service
| Of the company they may make very little
money. they are fully informed as to the con-
| dtions they must face Not a man Is allowed
| to put on a uniform until he has been made
| thoroughly to understand that he must do ODD
| trips until an opening occurs for him TO step
| into a vacancy that will bring him full day
pay There is no favoritism in this. II IL nrst
| come first served. and no motorman is kept
moment longer than is necessary in the capacity
! of 'tripper
81 do not believe that there is the least
, foundation for the report that there Is discon-
| tent among our motormen. But don't take my
| word for that statement Go and see the men
| themselves and see what they have TO say"
The Tribune reporter did so. He visited the
carhouse in Fourth-ave. and Thlrty-thlrd-st'
and talked with five six motormen. Three or
| them admitted that they were AFFILIATED with the
| knights Of Labor. but each one OF them SAID
| he had never heard of any strike proposition
while all Of them stated that they had regular
cars and were content with the wage system
urder which they worked. They agreed, how
! ever that the lot of the "tripper" hard
one and that any change would be beneficial
which would do away with the necessity Of
| waiting around the carhouse from ten to twelve
| hours a day and probably getting in that time
an opportunity to do only one trip. But we
| ALI had 10 do It," said one of the men, and we
| didn't think OF kicking, because we knew IL was
| only a matter OF a short time before We would
get a regular car"