The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-25
DUSTY STREETS
FOLLOW STRIKE
Only Five SprinkIing Carts at
Work Yesterday.
NO CONCESSIONS FROM CITY
DECLARE TRANSFERS PLACES
CAN BE EASILY FAILED.

( \ EMILE breezes. aided by the strike
II Of the city team drivers, We're
responsible yesterday for the
dusty condition of the streets. Only
five sprinkling carts were in operation
and it was out Of the question to at
tempt to keep the dust laid outside
of the business district. How long
this condition will continue depends
upon the ability of the striking team
sters to hold out, the success of the
municipal authorities to secure enough
drivers and teams at $3.50 per day and
the disposition of the mayor and the
council to yield to the demand of the
strikers that their wages be raised
to a.
So sudden was the notice Of the
teamsters that they were going on a
strike that the city officials did not
expect TO DO much yesterday in the
way of street sprinkling. Out Of the
twenty-eight carts only five had teams
and drivers. One of these was a union
man, who quit at noon, and the other
four were non-uniOn drivers. One team
man in the street department refused
to go to work unless he was paid at
the daily rate of 81 for himself and
team, but his place was promptly
filled All of the garbage teams were
at work to finish the week, but there
is no assurance that all Will be work.
ing on Monday.
Officials viii Not Yield.
The sentiment that the mayor and
the city council would grant the in
creased vase demanded just as socP
as it became apparent that the places
of the strikers could not be filled, re-
ceived a rude shock when Mayor
Thompson and a number of the cOun-
cilmen got together informally to dis
cuss the situation which had so sud
denly been thrust upon them for con-
SideTatiOn. Without dissent the Of
ficials concluded that it would be very
unwise to yield to the strikers. To do
so. it was argued. would mean that
the management of the city govern
ment had been turned over to the
union teamsters and their allies in the
federated trades. The political aspect
Of the situation was lost sight of by
the administration heads, and it is
safe to assert that, al least for some
days. no quarter will be granted to the
men who went on strike before the
council had passed upon their petition
for higher pay
While it is true that a majority of
the council in committee Thursday
night decided to recommend that, in
view Of the city's distressed financial
condition, the demand for increased
pay be not granted, there was a prob
ability that the council would make
some concession to the aggTieved team
drivers, but now the chances are very
eli IN
The administration officials reason that
to grant the 81 a day rate to the driv-
ers. or even $3.50 for every day in the
month. rain or shine, would result in
demand from every other employee
Of the city for higher wages and thus
the problem would become more veX-
ingly complex.
Question Of Filling Vacancies.
Relying upon the statements of SUI
perintendent Hines of the street
sprinkling service and Supervisor Con-
die of the street and irrigation de-
partments that plenty Of teams and
drivers can be secured at $3.50 day,
the mayor and members of the council
asserted last night that the places Of
the strikers would be all filed Monday
morning. On the contrary. the strikers
declare that every team in the city
can get work from the cellar excava-
ton contractors for 81 Moreover, they
assert that there are not any idle
teams or drivers. The strikers are
confident of winning, even if they have
to rely upon the entire body of the
Federated Trades and Labor council,
numbering several thousand wage
earners.
Last night the officers of the Team
Drivers union issued a statement to
the effect that members of the city
council had requested the striking
drivers to return to work on their
sprinkling carts at the old wage until
the council, at the meeting Tuesday
night. could take definite action, but
the proposition was rejected, because,
in conscience, the drivers claimed they
are bound to stay out until they win
or lose the contention in what they
term a right way. The strikers further
urge all their fellow drivers to stand
firm in the demand for a higher wage,
which has become necessary on ac-
count of the greatly increased price
Of horse feed, shoeing and repairs, be-
sides higher living expenses.
1t was asserted last night that the
city council committees will undOubt-
edly reconsider the determination to
recommend that hereafter no team be
hired by the city whose owner is not
the driver. This was the only cOnces-
sion intended to be made to the team
drivers, but it is not likely that they
will get this much, in the opinion of
the cOuncilmen.