The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-16
MORTORMEN
VOTE TO
STRIKE
Employees Of tho Manhattan EIs.
vited Railroad Object 10 tho
Physical Examination System

New York, Oct. 16--The members OF the
local Order OF the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers and OF the Brotherhood
or Locomotive Firemen at a meeting in
the. Horton building I'm East One Hundred
and Twenty-hfth street last night voted
almost unanimously for the adoption OF a
resolution pledsing themselves TO refuse
to submit to the physical examination or
dered few weeks ago by the INTERIOR
ouGh Rapid Transit company for its mo-
tormen. Only two votes were cast against
the resolution.
This action by the brotherhoods, Il Is
said. Is tantamount TO a declaration OF a
strike unless the Interborough company
consents TO modify its order. That opin-
lon was expressed by w; l.. Jencks, chief
OF Local 106 OF the brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers. to which the motormen
Mr. Jsncls added. however. that before
To lie o evsny w go Spf 1r hs w
hausted to settle the matter amicably.
Mr. Jencks, together with j. l.. Smith
OF the executive committee OF the broth
president OF the Interborough RaDd
Transit company. tomorrow and inform
him of the decision OF the motormen.
Doar,S,ag Arrangements sas will, will be made Them 4
mont and the executive committee, at
which an attempt will be made by the
executive committee to get the company
70 reverse or at least materially modify
II this fails Grand Chief Warren S.
Stone of tho Locomotive Engineers OF
han Of the Locomotive Firemen OF Peoria,
Ill, will be called upon to make last
attempt on behalf Of the motormen.
Then IL nothing favorable to the motor
work, IL is asserted No other mass meet
ing OF the men Ia necessary to declare n
strike, It is said. The matter from now
on will be In the hands Of the executive
Even II the grand chiefs dsapprove of
n strike. IL Is said that the men will stop
work unless the order is modified.
prescribed by the Interborough company 8
order. the opinion was general at the
meeting last night that IL is more strict
than that which Is In force on any other
railroad In the country. For instance,
one OF the provisions which was gener-
ally objected TO was that which makes
Il necessary for a motorman 10 be able
inch long at a distance Of 80 feet, alter
nately, with one eye and then with the
other. That. 1t was said. was unreason-
able.
The motormen. Il was declared. are
willing TO submit TO anything within rea-
son. but they could not accept the com
pany's order In It's present form
Mr.. Jencks said that Mr. Stone and
MI. tdlfhnaI, bn' phAelSs "O"o
probably be In New York I'm a few days.
In order that there may be no misun-
derstanding as 10 the motives OF the
company I'm ordering the examinations,
Mr.. Bryan and Superintendent Hedley.
ISSUED circular yesterday addressed ITO
all motormen." 1t assures the motorrnen
that the examinations are solely for the
purpose of insuring the lives OF the pas
sengers. the employers and the property
or the company, and says; If the ex-
animation proves that by the AID OF
glasses any name eyeuight can be Inn
proved so as TO make him n safe per-
son to perform the duties OF n motor
man. the company will require that this
man must wear glasses when on duty.
Your committee disclaimed AT the last
two interviews any lack OF confidence
I'm DIR. Leonard Pitkin. the company's
surgeon, who will make these examina-
uons"
The wives OF the motormen have an
auxiliary OF the brotherhood. II met
yesterday in the Twelfth Ward Bank
building on One Hundred and Twenty
NTH street. and an address was made TO
them by an officer OF the mems organl-
cation. The women applauded every
time he referred to the alleged grievances
OF the men.
IL was said on good authority that
the guards. conductors and other or
ganized as local go. OF the Amalgamated
OF Street Railway Employees
will not interfere in the present dispute.
President Pepper OF local ss2 says that
Its members are satisfied and have no
grievance.