The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-16
!'S'llR.E|.G!iI=[AR MEN MAY
GO On SIRI|El.; l(l=I)lY

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Continued from First Page.l
WI n the company. The Passenger and
Z Power Company me: get the following
wages for a twelve-hour da y: Main line
=Inotoi:men s.: branch Inc motorrn men
s1.S0; main line conductors. s1.75;s branch
line conductors 31.6a
TIE CoMpANY.s POSITION.
The following authorized statement of
interview was gwen out by the Passenger
and Power Company yesterday morn
ing:
5#s. At the meeting this morning between
u the representa- yes Of The Streets Car 81
Motermen and Conductors and some Of
aud Power Company. Mr.. SltterdlnS.
the officials of the Virginia Passenger
president of the company. stated that
the company was wiling to allow the
men to determine for themselves by@Note
of each division. the number Of hours
that the men on that particular division
should Work That IN equaiizing the wa ses
tina T. had been paid under the different
systems in use. the company would pc
willing to grant an increase In total
wages, which would amount to about
$4,000 per year. They would be wiling
to pay the men by the hour for the &c
rates: Main lines, motormen, lie. per
hour; Main lines, conductors 15c.s pei
hour; branch lines, motormen l5c per
hour; Branch lines. conductors, lac. per
hour.
'.As stated above this scale of wages
would result in total increase IN wages
of about $4,000 per year.
Mr.. Sitterding stated that the COM.
pany was more than anxious to meet the
wishes of it's employees and retain their.
confidence as we'll as their services; that
the property has just been consolidated
and its earning capacity as consollda-.
ted organization was as yet unknown,
and he did not feel that he was justified
in loading it up with heavy increase in
wages in the present status of it's at
fairs. although he was willing to make
the increase indicated as an evidence of
his and the company's desire to treat its
employees fairly and literally.
1t is understood that the company Will
put the new men on the branch lines at
the lower wages until they learn their.
work thoroughly. A very small number
of the men have expressed preference
for. a twelve-hour day, but the men are
practically a unit fer nine hours.
PRESIDENT SIMMONS TALKS.
When seen last night. President Sim
mons, of the union. had this to say:
1.-The men are in favor of a nine-hour
day. We don't see how we can live on.
the wages proposed by the ccmnanv
Some of the men would get as little as
sI.2,; day. A man can't live on that.
We are still hoping that there will be no
trouble. We will do everything in .'ur
pow er to prevent it and to bring about a
satisfactory settlement. Every man is IN
favor of the shorter working day. me
men can't stanu the long hours Of work.
We want to actrlaII eI..u o4.l.i'l5'.. 49,
public and to the company. We ask JUS
tice and nothing more. And we want to
act justly with the public and the COM
pany."
The tone of the men In their converse
ton as they gathered last night was not
defiant or boastful. There were no ex-
pressions of ill-will or enmity to the
company. But there was a, quiet, good
natured determination to get nlne-hour
day at twenty cents an hour or there
abouts The meeting last night was very
largely attended
THE MEMBERSHIP.
The union has at this time $50 members.
Several new members were %,ceived last
night. 1t numbers almost to man every
motorman and conductor in Richmond.
MANCHESTER and vicinity Mortorman
George Simmons. Of the Lakeside line.
has been Its active. energetic and con-
servative president since it was organized
in. June. 1900: 1T IS a thoroughly organ
ICED body and is probably the strongest
and most thoroughly organized labor or
ganization in Richmond.