Evening star., 1899-06-05
NO REDUCTION IN WAGES
Statement by Mr. Frederick @. Stevens
Respecting Pay of Employees,
nif"rmity Only in NieN-PIans for
Developing the Allied Lines
Future improvements.

In conversation with reporter OF The
Star today Mr.. Frederick {. stevens tho
representative Of the interests that recently
acquired all the street railroad properties
in the District. with the exception Of the
Capital Traction. spoke as follows in re-
gard to the policy of the new owners on tho
question OF the wages Of employees and "A
to the plans for the development Of the
various roads.
In regard II the matter Of wages Mir.
Stevens said. The company never had the
intention of reducing wages. as have seen
it stated in The Star As is well known.
We have purchased a number of roads with
the purpose Of wedding them into a harmn-
NOUS system and bringing them all under
one management. All that has been done
so far in regard to wages has been solely
determined by the desire to secure a uui-
formity. The increase mad. in the wages
Of employees ON some of the lines has been
greater than the reduction made in ih"
wages of employees on other lines We have,
not only sought uniformity IN wages. hut
also IN the hours of service. 80 that all the
employees would br on an equality"
Continuing, Mr.. Stevens said. No re-
ductlon l. contemplated in the scale II
wages now paid tn the mon ON the Metro
poltan and Columbia roads
Condition al the Roads.
Referring 10 the condition of the various
properties when they came into his control
ana especially that of the suburban lines
Mr. Stevens said: We know these roads
are IN a terrible condition. that iS a fact
winch Is patent 10 every one We intend
| however, that this condition shall ha only
temporary, and that in tn. short, ST iii,l,
possible these lines shall bc transformed
| INTO thoroughly up-to-datc ,.ectric street
railroads. We have already made contracts
Tor the entire re-aquipmeut OF The. Bright
wood, Forest Glen and the T-u...y own. tN,.
| latter through - Rockville. the Great Fails
| and the Glen Eclo railroads The material
1 has been ordered, and in the cas-. nf IN.
| BriEhtwood line the ties are expected To-
| be here this week. Seventy pound rails
| ara to be laid on the Brightwopd line and
there is 10 be an entire new overhead con-
| struction Of modern type OF double troll
leys.
1t may he said in passing that We are
! not obliged 10 use IN. double trolley ana
| IL may also be added that il will cost $1,000
| more than the usual oven head construction.
| 1t is also true that the use OF the seventy
| pound rail will involve larger expenditure
| of money than d lighter rail. but by th,.
use of the double trolley and a rail of this
| weight We can give better service. and
| that is the only reason for going to this
| additional expense.
| scope of the Changes.
| 1T should be borne in mind that the
| changes in the Brightwood road will not DE
| merely a reconstruction, but rebuilding
| When the road is completed there will not
| be single feature that is there nov eN-
| cept the ground. The Inconvenience now
complained about on the part Of the public
| mainly arise from the conditions due To r.
| building. We have been Obliged to test the
| transmission of the hiSh-tenSion current.
| as such a test might just as well be made
| now AT any time. This has affected the
| service the road.
1 We also aNDpCr % pl1f 1pui,lt. trpllt4N
| and the seventy pound rail on the other
| suburban roads, ana in al respects have tn,
| work first class and modern. In Shorf .
| this means that the service of the new
| system VIII be complete ana satisfactory
| Is ii is possible for a street railroad Ia fur
| niSA.'