The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-16
BIG STRIKES THREATENED.
ELEVATED MEN MAY GO OUT THIS
UEEK-HARBORT TROUBLE TOO.

whether or Not TO strike-Leadep
Say They VIII. and Threaten 10 Tie
Up the whole system-Stea mboat I'm.
glneers May Paraiyze Harbor Tranlc.
The directors OF the PETERBOROUGH Rapid
Transit Company unanimously refused.
Yesterday, the demand OF the new union
Of their conductors. guards and other en-
ployecs besides the motormen for q nine
hour workday. and the union arranged last
night to take a vote to-day on the ques-
tion whet her or not strike shall be declared
10 enforce the demand
The officers OF the union freely predicted
that the vote will be for q strike and that It
will be begun before Saturday night. They
talked OF tying up completely the elevated
lines in Manhattan and The Bronx.
At the same time there developed pos
Nbility Of a strike between now and May
among the engineers Of all craft In the
harbor. which, should it take place, would
paralyze the steam traffic OF the harbor
including the ferry service on both the
North and East rivers. The marine en-
gineers have demanded a rs per cent. in
crease in wages. The steamboat and tug
owners have refused to grant the demand.
The directors Of the interborough COM
pany met In the Office OF President August
Belmont yesterday morning TO consider
the demand Of the elevated railroad men
for nine-hour workday throughout the
system. The meeting began at II o'clock
and lasted till 100. In that time the mems
grievance committee Of eight, headed by
George Z. Pepper, president Of the new
union. was received and they stated their
demand and the reasons why they thought it
should be granted. The reply Of the direc-
tors was embodied In this unanimous reso-
luton:
Resoired, That the Board OF Directors OF
the Interboroush Rapid Transit Company.
after hearing the statement Of the committee
OF employees Of the Manhattan division. re-
grets that IL cannot comply with the demand
OF the committee for q nine-hour day. mas
much as the present hours are - short as.
and the rates Of pay are higher than. those
OF any other railroad system in New York or
other large cities.
The decision was communicated to the
committee by General Manager E. P. Bryan.
The committee looked greatly disappointed
There was no doubt that most Of its mem
bers had expected to get all they asked.
Il don't see how there can help but be
have been turned down completely. But
haitian and The Bronx. There'n be plenty
OF people walking in few days.
The committee seemed to have every
thing arranged for quick action. On hear
ing the decision Of the directors they went
immsdiatsly TO . printing Office and had
slips printed calling for an all-day meeting
Of the union to-day In Colonial Hall at i0ist
esrsst end Columbus aysnus. to vote for and
Z to 10 A. NJ. from noon to p. M. and from
sP u. To 10 In order to give all the men
tina to vote a. they come Oh their runs.
The member Of the committee divided
the printed clips among themselves and
took different routes on theelevated roads
TO distribute them. Copies OF the call for
at Nfty-fif street and Sixth avenue and
At other central points.
When the vote Ii complete tonight, II
II Ia In favor Of strike, the executive COM
mittee OF the union. which Is officially
known a. Manhattan Division No. $50 Of
the international Association Of Street
Railway Employees, will meet at once and
designate the day on which the strike shall
begin.
before 1t can 60 into effect as. author
lied IL must receive the sanction Of W. d.
Mshon. president Of the association. but
Mshon IL on the ground already, and there
is no doubt that his sanction will be given
II strike is demanded by the mens He
came here yesterday from Detroit in re-
sponse to hurry call DO be on hand when
the critical moment arrived. He Is staying
at the Ashland House. He was in con-
ference yesterday with Herman Robinson
local organizer OF the American Federation
Of Labor. and with Pepper.
Mahon 10 unfortunate In the matter OF
strikes. All the recent strikes ordered
by his organization have been failures.
The most recent Of them il the strike at
Waterbury. which was practically lost a
day or two after II was declared.
The executive committee Of the mems
union met late last night and issued long
statement. This said in part:
The existing circumstances In the condition
Of the men on the Manhattan elevated rail-
road seem to indicate that strike OF the
employees IL Inevitable. II In the last resort
Of the men toward correcting 4 set Of intol-
erablc grievances which have existed for the
last six years. but which the officials OF the
marlborough Rapid Transit Company. while
aware OF their existence. have refused to
correct or rectify.
After repeated requests and conferences
with the officials the principal cause OF COM
plant was the excessively long workday on
ell the lines. Since the death Of Col Hahn.
the former general manager. the length OF
the workday has increased until to-day some
Of the crews. including the guards and con-
ductors. are on duty from ten to seventeen
hours o day. The average work day for