New-York tribune., 1899-07-20
FEARS NO SERIOUS TROUBLE,
PRESIDENT vREELAND DEFIEs ANY
ONE TO TIE UP HIS LINES.

ONE TO TIE UP HIS LINES.
From President II. II. Vreeland downward
nearly every official around the executive o Ices
of the company in the Gable Building who could
be induced to talk yesterday insisted that there
strike the system few cis-
gruntled individuals had summarily left the en-
pIoy OF the company. and, with the aid Of a
number Of discharged men. had endeavored un-
successfully to persuade others to give up their
Jobs but that was all
The officials OF the company absolutely -
fused to look on the action Of a few malcon-
tents as being worthy TO be called strike
and maintained that there had not been the
least semblance Of tie UP On any Of the roads.
and further that what few cars had stopped
running could be well dispensed with at this
season of the year IL was observable. how
ever that the heads OF the company were not
closing their eyes to possibility OF develop
ment OF the troubles. There was more than
usual activity in the building all day long
President Vreelsnd remained in his Office for
the greater part of the day, and several OF the
directors met in conference in the course OF the
afternoon. Captain Chapman and two OF his
ward men also had extended talk In the
morning with Mr.. vreeland. but the purpose Of
their visit could not be ascertaineC
policeman was assigned to special duty In
the hallway Of the Cable Building oon after
Mr. vreeland reached his office but as numer-
Gus complaints were made by the tenants Of
the building that he unduly o1icous he
was later replaced by an officer Of more dis.
cretion.
DEFIANCE FROM Mr.. VREELAND.
President vreeland in replying to inquiries
yesterday concerning the strike declared that
he had no fear Of any serious trouble occurring
en- any part Of the system.
There is no strike he said. "and II will be
impossible for any to tie up our lines I
defy Parsons or any one else to tie US up. You
can go over any of the lines and see for your
self that all our cars are running More than
that all the cars running on schedule time,
and they will continue 10 run
1T is true that there is little trouble on the
Second-ave. line. but that can easily be ac-
counted for That line has only been in opera
tion as part Of the system for a little while.
and the men don't know me very well yet But
even II that line should be tied up. IL would not
cause much inconvenience. When the recent
change of motive power was being made car
traffic on that avenue was stopped for nearly
nine months. but the public hardly noticed il.
The situation Is entirely different in New-fotk
from what IL is IN Brooklyn. The traffic is
heaviest In Brooklyn in the summer. but In this
city IL Is Just the reverse. owing 10 the usual
summer exodus. The ghtness OF the traffic
just now is especially evident in the shopping
districts AS matter Of fact could cut
down our working force the Sixth and
Eighth ave. lines 33 per cent. but we have not
taken car off. We keep the full quota OF men
at work. in order to eqUalize their time and 10
keep them In employment
Mr.. Vreeland's attention was drawn 10 the
assertion made by Mr. Parsons that In the effort
to prevent the men organizing. large number
of 'spotters" had been sert TO Tuesday nights
mass meeting In Cooper Union for the purpose
of identifying employees who attended the meet
ing, and whose discharge would consequently
follow
That statement" Mr.. Vreeland said. is
about as sensible as his charge that had hyp-
Noticed thirty-five hundred men, and the Board
of Arbitration we'll. 1 am glad'to know that
there are many people under my hypnotic
spell But seriously there were none of our
employees at last nights meeting. and twenty
seven hundred men have assured me over their
signatures that they win remain loyal to the
company.
READY TO CONFER WITH ANY ONE
NO. I am not going the round Of the car
barns to talk to the men. There is no necessity.
| have expressed my position toward the men
clearly, and there is mutual confidence between
u.s. 1 shall remain In my office, and will confer
with any one who has anything important-to
me about. So far 40 aggrieved man or ag-
grieved committee has called since that last So
called grievance cOn1mittee who untruthtully
stated that they represented the majority OF the
employees. IL took the WING out or thelr Salls
completely when : handed 10 them the signed
testimony of twcaty-seven hundred men that
they were satisfied with the treatment they re-
ceived from the company"
Late yesterday afternoon. just before leaving
the city, Henry ID. MacdOna. speaking for Prest-
dent Vreeland said thar the superintendent
OF the various divisions hsd reported that there
was no further dsturba noe their lines. and
Continued on eleventh page.