The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-01
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UNIONS lie Err
10 MIR. BENISS.
Charged That He Has Been lncoa-
sistent N Relation TO The Union.
TIE NEW BENEFICIAL CLUE
organized Yesterday Afternoon Among ,he
faction aten--lhc New System
Of Transfers to Go lat.
Operation To-Day.
TIE NEW BEsEFlcihi CLUE
organized Yesterday Afternoon Among III.

committee OF three, appointed by the
local street railway union yesterday. adj
dressed u letter TO President Be,niss. of
1vrner itiendliness TO the organization
seemed TO them inconsistent with the al
legged tact that the company was now
discriminating In favor OF the employ
mont of non-union men, and that the
company was iaSoriug the organization
Of a bencScial club among its employees,
tha object of which seemed to the COM
nlittee to DC 10 break the strength OF the
Union When seen yesterday evening
President Be1niss stated that he had not
SIS yet received the letter, which was
sent to him by mail
After a reference and quotation from
President Bemiss public statements
concerning his relations to the union,
the letter concludes:
Under these circumstances, and in view
of all the facts we have set cut ;i,ove, We
believe that We arc Justified IN saying
that your course seems inconsistent with
your assurances, and we respectfully but
earnestly ask at your hands an explana-
Zion ana Ii plain statement of just what
your companys attitude is and will be
towards the association we represent and
in whose behalf we are making our in
Guirjes.
We are vitality Interested in this union.
which We believe to be most important to
US in every way and to the welfare of
street railway employees generally. and
we feel that we are justified in asking
this explanation so that we know wheth-
er your company Feels a friendly neutral
fty towards us, as YOU have often ex-
pressed it. or whether you arc indirectly
antaEonizing and attacking us.
BENEFICIAL CLUB BEGINS.
The ninety employees Of the Traction
Company who have sig,ifed their desire
to join the beneficial club, started among
the employees of that company, had an
enthusiastic meeting yesterday evening.
n committee was appointed to nominate
officers to be elected at g. subsequent
meeting, bylaws were adopted, the
rates Of fees and monthly dues fixed,
and the question of sick and death beae-
fits fully discussed. The men are con-
fdent that the other employees of the
company viii join with them. Some.
they say, at this time misunderstood the
purpose and purport of the organization.
This misunderstanding they hope, Will
be soon removed.
TRANSFERS IN EFFECT TODAY
new and comprehensive system OF
snter-co'npany transfers goes into opera
tion this morning between the two local
street railway companies. Each company
viii give transfers to the other at all
z'osiilS VI lI1ieTSeCCoIl.55 Inc new transfer
slips naming all these points have been put
:n the hands Of the conductors The
operation OF the Raw system will be
watched with interest. While some of
the points named are unnecessary, the
Earger number add greatly to the con-
Tenience OF tho travelling public. Rich
mond to-day probably has better street
car facilities than any other city of the
size in the country, or. it is safe to say.
in the world. for in the development OF
street railways America leads the world.
TO EXAMINE AIAyO'S BRIDGE.
General Manager Dimmock and the en-
Gfneers of the Passenger and Power Com
pasly wiz this morning examine the con-
dition of Ma!7o's Bridge to see whether
its strength ana state OF repair makes
It safe for that line TO continue TO run
its cars over the bridge. In the event
that they decide that the bridge is UNI
safe. The cars will be run down Seventh
Street from Hull Street to the Free
Bridge and into tho city 10 Seventh and
Main instead of to Fourteenth and Main,
until the bridge is strengthened Mr.
Dirnmock states that the regular service
will be maintained without a break