The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-23

the Matter Over.
The threatened renewal of the street
car strike is postponed, at least for a
few days. General Manager Silliman's s
reply to the letter of the men was re-
ceived last night. 1t was. in substance,
merely reiteration of the claim that
his Interpretation of the disputed clause
Is the correct one. The joint commit
tees of the street car employees union
and the Central Labor union decided
to send committee to General Man
ager Silliman with view of reaching
settlement by talking the thing over,
and IL that proves unsuccessful, to have
the dispute arbitrated.
The joint committees, at the conclus-
ion of their meeting last night, gave
out the following statement:
Frank silliman. tr, General Manager.
Dear Sir: At the close of the street
car strike in this city, April Z last, an
agreement was entered into between your
company and the Amalgamated Associa-
tiOn Street Railway Employees, Division
16S
1.-THE agreement was entered into in
good faith by organized labor in this
city, and all opposition to your company
was Immediately removed at the close Of
the strike. We believe that the compro-
mise made, If fairly carried out, was a
sacrifice by organized labor but agreed to
the proposition submitted by you because
we felt that better feeling could be es-
tablished by compromise by both par
ties to that unfortunate affair.
NvZ q 80 J..
To employ no men except those on
the pay roll Sept. 30, 1901. until the num-
ber of men so employed are the same as
on Sept. 30. 1901. at which time the runs
Will be ranked among the men according
to their length of service
"The time has come when the number
of men has been reduced to the number
in the employ of the company on Sept
80, 1901. We now ask you that you COM
ply with your agreement: that the runs
be ranked among the men according TO
their length of service
WOULD REGRET TO STRIKE.
I'VE would regret the necessity of a
repetition of the trouble which for six
months existed in this city as result
of the last strike of labor employed on
your lines The matter rests entirely in
your hands. We ask that you give this
matter your most earnest consideration.
with view of preventing trouble which
must result in a great loss not only to
your company, but to the general busi-
ness interests of this city.
Central Labor union executive commit
tee acting in conjunction with the execu-
tive committee of the Street Railway En-
ployes union requests that you take this
matter under advisement.
THE joint committee of these organiZa-
tions will meet in special session on We'd
nesday evening July 16. to receive your
answer, as to whether or not you are
willing to comply with the requirements s
of the agreement, submitted by yourself,
at the close of the last strike.
can official of Division 16S will wait on
you on Wednesday afternoon to receive
your answer.
Executive Board Division 16S.
Up. j. Shea, President
Executive Board, c. l.. L.
John Fl. Devine. President"
The joint committee met on Wednesday,
July Is, to receive the answer of Mr. Sill
Imam to the communication submitted.
Mr.. Silliman informed the committee
through President Shea, that he had sub
mittcd the matter to President Cark and
would be unable to answer the commit
tee until Tuesday, July %.
The following answer was received from
General Manager Siliman:
Scranton, Pa, July %, 1902.
"Mr. p. j. Shea. president Division 16s.
AmaIgamatcd Association Street Rail-
way Employees of America. Scranton, Pa.
Dear Sir: In answer to your letter,
which was handed to me on July IA,
beg to state that this company intends
to fully comply with all the conditions
of the agreement made with you. dated
April 7, 1902, and is complying with the
terms as we understand them.
FULLY EXPLAINED IT.
"From your letter, however. it appears
you are not satisfied with our interpreta-
tion of Section No. of the agreement,
which provides that the runs shall he
ranked among the men according to their
length of service Tho meaning of this
clause, as we have interpreted it, was full
ly explained to you before the settlement
was made, and 1t was stated and certain
ly must have been clear to you that we
did not propose in any way to obligate
ourselves regarding the employment of
our men, in such Il manner as to neces-
state giving the men who entered our
service on April I. 1902 priority over the
men who were in our service before that
date This we had repeatedly refused to
do in the numerous efforts that were
made to reach a settlement of the strike.
We think that there Is no ground for
your contention that your length of SER
vice should date prior to April I, 1902 You
left the service of the company Oct, l,
1901, and as well known by you, our
rules and records for number of years
established the precedent that when one
leaves our employ, and is afterwards re-
employed, his length of service dates
from the time he was taken back.
"YOurs truly
"Frank Silliman, Jr.,
General Manager"
1t was the unanimous sentiment of the
joint committee that the answer of MIR.
Silliman was unsatisfactory and evasive.
A committee of three was appointed to
meet Mr.. Silliman and inform him that
his Interpretation of the agreement did
not meet the approval of the committee.
If after ii fair discussion of the differ
enccs of opinion, in the matter of inter-
pretation of the written agreement, Mr..