New-York tribune., 1899-07-16
ROSSITER TELLS OF THE MEEIlN"'
INTERVIEW NOT SATISFACTORY TO THE
MEN-A DISCHARGED MAN IN THE
DII &c ALTON


INTERVIEW NOT SATISFACTORY TO THE
MEN-A DISCHARGED MAN IN THE
DELEGATION.
The interview which the committee OF hl'ee"'
representing the Brooklyn Rapid transit '"'
Nassau and the Brooklyn Elevated efnpio'e''
had with President Rossiter at his office yes
terday was far from satisfactory to the ihen'
Eight Of the men represented the Nassau en-
ployes. five the Rapid Transit and two the ele-
waited railroad c. A. Mckenzie was the chair
man. He Is a motorman the Nassau lne'
ard Il Is said was suspended for his activity
in fomenting trouble. Mr.. Mckenzie had not
been in President Rossiter's office more than
minute before he was shown out the side door'
and he was extremely mad. Then the other
members Of the delegation were admitted In
bodv and the conference lasted about forty
minutes The men had scarcely got into the
room before President Rossiter noticed man
named Brown, Nassau motorman, who 1t Is
said was dropped from the payros three weeks
ago.
What right have you to pose as represent
ative OF the employees. Mr.. Brown" that indi-
vdual was asked by the president of the road.
Why I'm a Nassau man." said Brown, color
ing
Didn't you get Z. notice more than two weeks
ago that you were disrpissed?" asked Mr.. Ros-
sitter
NO; I didn't"
well. have you worked any for the last three
weeks"
mo: I've been SICK
Didn't the depot master come to your house
and tell you that you were no longer In our en-
ploy?" pursued the president.
mo; never got any notice. said Brown.
We'll" said Mr. Rosster. you dis
charged three weeks ago, and 1t seems to me
that you rather slow In finding 1t out. You
can stay in here. new that you are In but l
want you to distinctly understand that you
are not in employ"
Then President Rosslter turned his attention
TO the grievances Of the men. One of the
spokesmen, 1t could not be learned who, told
President Rossiter that the delegation was not
there to discuss the demands. He said the de-
mands were in writing. and that all President
Rossiter had to do to agree to accept them
or not to accept them, Just as he liked The
men wore gloomy corntenances when they fled
out They went to a saloon In Johnson-st., near
Westinghouse. and sent for General Master
Workman Parsons who in Manhattan
While they were waiting for him some Of them
drank long and deep, and three of the delegates
were so intoxicated at o'clock. when re-
porter of The Tribune visited the place, that
they were in condition to report 10 their
local district meetings.
The delegation consisted of c. A. Mckenzie
f. ]. Brown. r. j. Jennings John Harvey. James
Burleigh, Charles KnJOp Patrick kilcline, Will
lam Flood, Thomas Tranor Patrick Sinnott,
James Haggerty, Thomas Meerjohn, William
Knight James Hayes, William A. Brown and
Walter j. Madden
Soon after the men left his office President
Rossiter issued the following statement
Doiir road
employees, two from the Brooklyn Elevated and
eight from the Nassau Railroad, called on me
Mckenzie. whose statement / took and who filed
with me statement on behalf OF the other mem
bers OF the committee. | asked him If he had any
thing further to state, and upon MS replying IN
eonmttee g were re then called in and stated their
dividuaI grievances. There considerable desul;
out which / promised to inquire into. and If the
facts were as stated 10 correct any my injustice 'ha'
The men finally stated they were here for me TO
sign the agreement which their chairman had ieft
/ told them had not looked at IT as yet AT tneir
request | took up the different parts OF the agree
"First-That the time tables be arranged upon all
lines so as to comply with the ten hour law WORK
O'' I informed them that this was being done on
line Of the sys1e rsn of wages shall
he 81 for each full days work, and trips overtime
to be paid at 20 sgd cens gn IS Roar day on every line in
the system. All overtime over thirty minutes sr Is
ear peirs pas Pstu at the rate Of 20 cents hour.
"Third-That two-thrds OF the cars shaI DC iui'
0s on the existing time tables to-day g. per & cent 9a
the total @ runs 2qcerng 2n fRf s. per day each and
per cent on the Nassau lines are full day runs re-
GevnG ns 6n the entire system our time tables
arranged tina: no mo mSn @ssoH lines When the time
taTles were turned over and before we com
meneed active S eB Received less than 50 for
the days work and that 80 per cent cent received less
than 81 25 for the regular days worrK' ,o o
asI-or n
mttees of their employes agaInst @ FOR
acting such committee, -, tho cororanv ever
since I assumed charge, and e-'iny VIII be con-
iiinqsa .so. 80 man shall be discharged without
inst and sufiicent cause and only after he has had
an %PaIdai iafdd a. o this that no man had been
discharged from the company and no one one .t Wouind q
be- without good and sufficient reason so Y ana tnTi
Il n"y had always received and would receive i'm
msdiiaes attsniionb brakemen on the main
F,rs, fteen to report for work at 40 a. m bal, bal
sfteen minutes after their reportine time when
for r coHaS Mnsn Island hat they
be pad for ali me one hour That all brake
sate%en any afa ffacon therd0f f
z" eTcv dismissed this and stated that in view
Ti az wages but that the matter Of arranging
time tables would be looked mo WIN Wv we ,bo ~
ed,inp any reasonable cause Tor Complaint that
/ now exists
! surNED TO BE LOOKING FOR A GRIEVANCE.
! nm sorry to say that the attitude OF the com
| roittee impressed me being the attitude OF men
! innttng FOR a grievance. When lndlVduals on the
/ committee tried to address me at length, as was
SIad to have them. the leaders ATTEMPTED to deter
fhem and the effort of the Leaders seemed TO be 70
nrod,ce trouble This attitude, however, VIII make
70 difference in the feelings or attitude OF the com
pany We have the true Interests @ OF our I empoyes
! rcinsssjv nj heart. and will willingly allow no
nnSi;ion 70 exist which will give rise To reason.
able complaint We are willing and desrous I :, ,n oil
! boar,nS genuine complaints, and ! think our men
enara1lv feel So as indicated by the loyalty or the
great majority who have been with us for 1our
years and more. 49,. .o.,,,..oo ,,,,,cb cored