The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-26
Failed to Notify the Company i'm Time
That the Agreement Had Been
Ratified by the Union.
WORK WAS RESUMED AT 4 A. M.
JUST FOURTEEN DAYS AFTER THE
STRIKE WAS DECLARED.
Electric Linemen, Firemen, Engi-
neers, Cable Splicers and Team
sters mt Work Last Night.

CHICAGO, Nov. 25.-Although a basis OF
settlement of the strike of the employees or
the Chicago City Railway Company was
decided upon at 1870 o'clock this morning
and the agreement was ratified by the men
a few hours later, not single car is IN
service on the entire system tonight. The
only cars operated to-day were manned by
nonunion crews under the same conditions
that have prevailed since the Inauguration
of the strike a week ago last Thursday
For some unexplained reason the manage
ment of the Chicago City Railway was not
officially notified until tonight that the
strike had been declared off.
While the union was ratifying the agree
ment decided upon early this morning by
which the men were to return to work, the
company continued to operate it's cars I'M
der police protection on the five branch
lines that had been opened for traffic since
the inauguration of the strike, and as no
official notice of the cessation of hostilities
had been received by the officials of the
road at o'clock tonight, the usual time
of abandoning the service since the trouble
began, arrangements were made for the
cars to run tomorrow, guarded by the
police. Tonight, however, Assistant Chief
of the police who have been guarding the
cars. was notified that his services and
those of his men would be required no
longer, as Manager McCulloch had received
word from President Mahon, of the strik-
ers' union. that the strike had been de-
clared off,
The trainmen have been ordered to report
for duty at o'clock tomorrow morning.
This makes the time elapsed since the
minute. The electric linemen, firemen and
engineers, cable splicers and coal team
sters returned to work tonight, and to-
morrow the roads will be operated under
normal conditions.
Mayor Harrison declares Chicago has
great reason for being thankful for the set
Element of the street-railway strike. he
says the citizens have been living In
powder magazine in which men were walk
ing about with lighted matcbs; in their
hands. The city Is almost as much TO be
congratulated on the fact that the maya
zine did not explode as on the settlement of
the dispute, in his opinion. II am very
ENTHUSIASTICALLY well-pleased with the
outcome" MAJOR Harrison said. Il think
the agreement is as fair as it could be
made without fighting the thing out TO the
sides together to prevent a fight for the
last ditch, for In that kind of fight Ii Is
the public that suffers We have great
be long, long while before we have an
other street-railway strike"
The agreement. as ratified by the men
tO-udy anu previously dCCepleQ Dy repre-
sentatives of the company, provides for the
settlement of the wage question by board
of arbitration. Their present wages are
not to figure in the calculations, but in
stead, the new scale is to be based on the
market value of the mems services. AS the
company claims to pay the best wages. the
new arrangements, 1t Is thought, may not
result in an advance in the pay of the en-
ployes. Clause of the agreement pro-
vides for the betterment of working hours,
a new schedule to be arranged by the COM
pany in conference with committee of
trainmen. The company retains the right
to run as many cars are necessary at
all times, "endeavoring always" the agree
ment runs, Ito make the work as agree
able to the men as is consistent with the
performance of it's duty to the public"
The third and last clause provides that the
strikers shall be taken back without preju-
dice. Membership in the union shall not
constitute proper cause for discharge from
the company's employment. With this ex-
ception the company retains the right to
employ, discharge or discipline it's employees
as it fit
1t is estimated that the strike has cost
the company loss of $254.1S9 in receipts
alone, and has cost the men $s0,54S in wages
lost.
President Mahon. of the national organi-
zation of street car men, tonight wired
Congressman E. j. Livernash, of San Fran
cisco, to represent the employees of the Chi
cago City Railway Company in arbitration
OF the wage scale. Congressman Livernash
represented the San Francisco men in their
strike.