The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-08

II do not intend to permit the ex-
istence of a Grievance Committee
among the employees of the Rapid
Transit Company" said Manager Bal
llentyne yesterday. when questioned con-
corning the status of the request made
Yesterday morning of a committee of
the motorn1en and conductors that no
Portuguese be employed on the cars.
..The Portuguese are American citi-
/ zens. and as such we will employ them
| if they qualify for car positions.
The placing of five Portuguese, who
were formerly employed on the Tram
way cars. as conductors of Rapid Tran
sit cars on Wednesday, was the basis
for the appointment of a committee of
three men to wait upon the manager
and ascertain his views. When the
men were assigned to cars under the
tutelage of old conductors, the news
spread from one end of the system to
the other and queries were many as to
whether this meant a reduction in the
wage schedule. This query, more than
others, prompted the men off duty to
hold an informal meeting, the result of
which was the selection Of the commit
tee.
The committee met the manager in
his office in the forenoon. The spokes-
man said the men objected to their new
associates, as they believed their pres
ence on the cars lowered the dignity of
the labor they performed. They re-
quested that the manager do not en-
ploy the Portuguese, on the ground
that they would not be able to qualify
for the positions.
The reply of the manager was to the
effect that he did not recognize the
right of the men to criticize his selec-
ton of employees, as, If he permitted the
request to stand it would virtually mean
that all applications received for work
would have to be submitted to the mo-
tormen and conductors before the man
ager could act. Mr.. Ballentyne stated
further that as the Portuguese were
American citizens they should receive
the same consideration at the hands of
the management as the present run of
employees, the only requirement being
that they would naturally have to quail
ify. The committee asked whether the
manager would only consider the appli
cations Of Portuguese who were form
erly employees of the Tramways Com
pany. The manager replied that he did
not intend to limit himself in this way.
The conference lasted for nearly three
quarters of an hour during which the
matter was entirely threshed out, and
it seemed to the satisfaction Of the COM
mittee
The committee asked whether the
employment Of the new men would lead
to a reduction Of the wages schedule,
which is now thirty cents per hour, and
received an emphatic denial of any
such intention.
Speaking of the matter yesterday af-
ternoon Manager Ballentyn,. said that
1t was the intention OF the company to
keep up it's standard in the use OF mo-
tormen and conductors. and this in |
cluded keeping UP the wages at the |
present figure, as this also insured eff |
Client service.
1.-THE community here is composed of |
many nationalities,' said the manager. |
and there are some very good men /
them. l see no reason what /
ever to refrain from employing the |
Portuguese. 1 can say, however, that /
this company will not place upon its
cars any negroes, Chinese or Japanese,
the Asiatics furnish nearly |
two-thirds of the fares, as a general |
average"
, . . . Q
and Nawiliwili. mail and passengers
only, at D. m.
Br. torpedo boat destroyer Virago, for
at 1o:45 a. m.
Am bktn Jane L, Stanford MolleS- |