Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-14

reached them last evening which will hereaf ter prevent Manager SeWeil ffoln boasting that the men were the h1ghest paid in the state, when as matter or fact they were not. The news when rave them so much satisfaction, Wnle not having any direct influence upon their case, must necessarily aHect IL III some way. was that the trolleymen employed by the Torrington and Win chester Street Railway Go. which plys between Winsted and Torrington, yes terday voluntarily increased the men wages from 20 cents an hour to 2l cents. and hereafter all employees after being one year in the serice of the com- pany shall be entitled to receive 2l cents an hour.
 This rate is probably the best in the state, but it is by no means exceptional in New England, whereas the rate, which was one of the elements that caused the strike, is one of the lowest in the state. When the wage rate was changed it was actually reduction in wages the men got, notwithstanding that it looked like an increase. Up to that time the men were receiving 70 cents an hour. The new system was that new men should receive IS cents an hour, they should ibe in the employ of the company about two years before they would receive 20 cents an hour, and finally, providing they remained 1n the company's employ four years, they would get what the employees of the Torrington and Winchester Go get after one year, 21 cents an nour.
 By this system the company got the greater part of it's work done for IS. fc, DQfn e,Uc put in vogue if an emp1oye was q min ute late ill manning his car no notice was taken of it, but after it was en- forced an 1S-cents an hour man was given the car and the old hand had to miss a day Every advantage was taken of the man earning 21 cents an hour in order that the man getting q lower rate of pay should do the work. It was Manager SeWell's boast that the company gave the cent increase vol untarily, but the other side of the pie ture he never touched upon. All the old men. as the 21-cents men were called, were gotten rid of as fast as possible. so that in a general way the average rate of wages paid was IS cents an hour Now the Torrington and Winchester Go, one of the smallest and youngest in the state, has Volun- tarily granted their men an increase that is not hemmed in with features highly objectionable. It is an increase without any string tied to it.
 Last evening and yesterday after noon were somewhat livelier than the preceding day and night. An old man named John Riley was arrested on South Main street by Officer Tehan for placing a cartridge on the tracks. The cartridge looked to be the kind that was given away as souvenirs by the military while they were here last week
 Early in the evening car on the same line became manageable, the brake getting out of order. Fortunate 1y no one was riding in it. It came to town crawling and was taken to the barn immediately. An attempt was made to derail a car on the same line about 10 o'clock. The attempt was made in the vicinity. of Meadow street by placing bar of iron on the rail. The fender pushed the obstruction off.
 Stones were thrown in several places and some glass was broken, but no one was hurt. The caged car was the subject of many butt and in some in stances the solitary passenger or two was included.
 A few instances of the way some passengers are treated occurred in the north end. A colored man alighted on North square with his dinner pail, or it may have been "growler'' He sped directly toward a store, but some two or three fellows who saw him get off the car preceded him and tipped the clerk.
 Pound O crackers" said the eolored man.
 'Hain't got none, snapped the clerk
 sHain't, hey?' growled the man tsHaint, I a-lool1in' at 'em?''
 All sold,' replied the clerk.
 The man went to another store but one of the crowd preceded him and in consequence he changed his mind tc bread But he had the same 1nisfor- tune in his pursuit of bread It was afl gone: not 3 loaf left.
 Yesterday afternoon a collector fol 6ne of inc local wholesale houses got off car at North square. He felt thirsty and thought q schooner would do bim good.
 Give me an ale.'' he said to a bar keep on Bishop street. unconscious thai two fellows who saw him get off the car had entered the saloon before him
 HUH No q tSd1u the Dar Aeep. Thereupon he attended 10 two roiored men. three women and two small boys all with '.growlers.' The collector was getting inpatient
 "Give me an ale.' he gasped. Do yor want me to die of thirst?n
 "Oh. twill do you good to die young. : said the barkeep. and then he said te man who had just dropped in ssXVh1f'II yoI1 have 2''
 How long're yeh goin' to keep me here?" said the collector.
 "Oh. you're young yet. and your sal ary goes on just the same" said the barkeep.
 Well, by the god of wine. if yor don't make me tired with your way ot dein' business. Give an ale. The dialogue was Imaginable, but the col lector did not for moment "cateh on, and finally he went to another saloon He did not notice face that lie haG left behind him in the other saloon He could not get an ale there, and ht gpft wondering what kind of to7lacct ehe saloon keeners on Bishop street smoke