The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-29
DEMAND HOME PATRON AGE
Railway Employees Want Their
Uniforms Made by Local Firms.
Charges That the Washington Tra.-
ton Company Discriminates in
Favor of "a baltimore HOuse-Men
Clnim They Can Buy Cheaper.

The motormen and conductors in the
1 employ of the Washington Traction and
| Electric Company are worked up over
what they consider an unfair discrimina-
ton against local clothing firms and an
| unjust disregard of the rights of the rail-
| way employees.
About a week ago an order was issued
! by Superintendent Lee, of the Traction
! Company, directing that all motormen
and conductors should report in their
summer uniforms for inspection on Sum-
| day, March 81. The order. it is claimed
went on to state that all those whose uni
| forms did not pass inspection should be
measured for new uniforms at the local
| office of a Baltimore clothing firm. The
cost of the new uniforms Is said to be
sl5.G5 each. It is in this connection that
the complaint Of the railway employees has
| arisen.
The employees state that a number OF
local firms that employ union labor have
attempted TO enter bids for the uniforms
but have been prevented from so doing.
For several years, it is claimed, the uni
forms have been made by the Baltimore
clothing firm. which is said does not en-
ploy union labor. Notwithstanding the
fact that union labor is invariably higher
priced than that of non-union labor. #
is stated that the local firms have offered
TO produce the same quality uniform as
now I'm use at price ranging from 81 to
50 less per uniform than that quoted by
the Baltimore firm. 1t is estimated that
go railway employees will require new
uniforms.
In previous years there has been dis
satisfaction among the men because, they
claim, they were obliged to pay what
they considered an exorbitant price for
their uniforms, but no action was ever
taken in the matter. This was due large
y to lack of organization among the
employees and the fear of dismissal they
claim TO have felt whenever they at
tempted to demonstrate against the de-
sirss of the officials Of the company. This
year the matter has been taken in hand
by the union recently formel by the street
car employees Division ISL. Amalgamated
Association of Street Railway Employees
OF America, is the official appellation of
the organization, which numbers among
it, members nearly 900 motormen and
conductors more than half the entire
number employed by the company. The
general dissatisfaction which has been
felt, II is said. since the order issued last
Sunday eliminated in meeting OF the
union early yesterday morning after most
OF the men had concluded their work.
There was large attendance and the
subject was thoroughly discussed.
stated that members of the union had
learned that local firms had asked the
Traction Company TO allow them to sub
init bids for the uniforms.
The local firms. it was explained, knew
the rate which would be made by the
Baltimore firm and all expressed an in
tention to fix their bids at lower figure
Representatives of two local firms ii WAS
stated, received no satisfaction when they
conferred with the management of the
company. They We're informed, il was
said, that the contract had been awarded
Quite I'm contrast with this alleged state
ment of the officials the answer
claimed to have been given to the repre-
sentative Of another local firm, who was
ra'' tNat 'ir N-r'''d he informed whom the
lHrs .lme ta summit htds toT DE s'rrfH e
-r. THa 'rier 1i last SUNDAY. tI.a
employees claim aarly i1Hi-ai-a {
... rt- cont "."r E-a a.T r"
.. HaE also stated iu ,l. course orr l4a f.
U....r- ...' .E. In1tss-as-I ..I .aH-...f.-. .
H-f .. t Traction ,.r....IH B
9L 'H-l ..nTrl- -.HH. .HarL lrrE .
a... paid ..-l .T.l.rm '.a.r.
.Hi-. fl r
lti-.u .a.-. n#a.... .r. tl.