The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-01

p. j. Shea and NJ. J. Barrett. OF the
conference committee of the local
branch of the Street Car Employees
union. were in Philadelphia yesterday,
endeavoring to secure the signature of
President Clarke, of the Scranton Rail-
way company, to an agreement estab-
fishing a satisfactory wage scale and
recognizing the union. The two dele
gates only left the city after having
made fruitless efforts with their three
colleagues, Messrs. Evans, Surine and
Kegler, to arrive at a satisfactory
settlement with General Manager Silli-
man.
They left for the Quaker City We'd
nesday night, and all yesterday the re-
naming members of the committee
awaited a message giving the results
of their journey. At o'clock In the
afternoon Evans, Kegler and Surine
We're sitting in the headquarters on
Lackawanna avenue, when a messen-
ger boy entered with the expected tele-
gram. Surine seized and eagerly tore
it open, and then read aloud to his two
companions:
Philadelphia, Pa, Jan. 81.
+. H. Surinc.
will an insertion OF the words "oi Scranton,
Pa" after "strcet railway employees be salts.
factory? Consult attorney Immediately and wire
me, in care Of Guys hotel, Philadelphia
Shea.
For an instant the three men looked
at each other in blank astonishment.
Then Kegler and Evans broke out to-
gether with, Insert nothing. We
want that contract cipnaI i,tSt
reads now"
This insertion" explained one OF
the committeeman to Tribune man.
simply means that 1t shuts all the
men Of the Carbondale division out OF
the deal. If the contract is to be be-
tween the company and the employees
of Scranton. Pa. where are any pro.
visions made for the Carbondale men?
No, we won't consent To anything OF
that sort"
THE COMMITTEES ANSWER.
And inside Of five minutes the fol-
lowing message had been flashed over
the Western Union to Philadelphia:
Scranton. Pa. Jan. 81.
=. J. Shed.
Insert nothing. We can't hold men much long.
or. Rush answcr SuInc.
Another telegram was received from
Shea about s o'clock last night, whia,,
ran about as follows "Take no ac-
ton till We arrive home tomorrow
The three committeeman declared that
evidently the contract had not been
signed. as, in case ii had been Shea
would have been sure to have let them
know. 1t is very likely that a meeting
Of the union will be held. and from
the way the clouds have been gathc.'-
ing Of late, it looks as though squall
might be expected.
The causes which led up to the con-
ference with President Clarke are all
connected with the clause in the con-
tract relating TO the recognition Of the
union, and the committeeman claim,
that they already have General Mana
ger Siliman's signature to this, and
that in refusing to sign the formal
contract Wednesday he broke faith
| with them.
The clause Of the contract which has
caused all the trouble primarily read
as follows: "None hut members Ot
the union in good standing shall he
| employed by the Scranton street Rail.
| way company.
The general manager wanted this
! clause removed and one substitute
which stated that the company Dledgcl
| itself to in no way discriminate
| against union members. This later
| arrangement was by no means salts
| factory to the street car men and :
| final clause was agreed upon the com,
mittec modifying the clause to thi,
: form: Furthermore we will suG!;tS
to new men that they become mem,
bers of Division No. l6S, street 90,
Employees union, and no union mar
( shall be required TO work with a non
union man. except when application il
made to the secretary OF the division
and then not for a longer time thar
thirty days from the time ot employ
inent."
MIR. SILLIMAN'S SUGGESTION.
This was agreed upon whie PIesi
dent Clarke was in the city last week
aud to this agreement was added sill
another clause suggested by Mr.. Sill
said article would Interfere with II,
man, land provided nothing in aforc
said article would interfere with tn
rights and privilege of tn rompan,
10 employ enough competent men Il
operate their system"
From II letter which passed betwecI
Mr.. Siliman and the committee, tn
latter gave the following excerpt
Everything mentioned in the mem
orandum OF January24 has been agree
on between the company and the com
mittee with the exception of incom
potency, inserted under the head q
causes for dismissal. (Signed Fran
Silliman, jr., Jan. 2S'
The committeeman declare that afte