The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-16
MOTORNEN VOTE TO RESIST.
DECIDE NOT TO SUBMIT TO RE-
OUIRED PHYSICAL TESTS.
Their Committee u Sec August Belmont
and Ask fer Medication OF Order
Say They'll Quit Wsrk n Company
Persists in It's Present Demand.


The members Of the local order Of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and
Of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen,
at a meeting in the Horton Building. in
East l25th street. last night, voted almost
unanimously for the adoption Of . resolu-
ton pledging themselves TO refuse to sub
NIT to the physical examination ordered
few weeks ago by the marlborough Rapid
Transit Company for its motormen. Only
two votes we're cast against the resolution.
The Brotherhood of Firemen voted in
another part Of the Horton Building. They
arc the motormen who were firemen Of the
locomotives before the electric motors
were introduced. The 2sS hremen who
attended the meeting voted unanimously
to stand by the engineers.
This action by the brothsrhoods, it is
said, Is tantamount to q declaration Of =
strike unless the marlborough company
consents to modify its order. That opinion
was expressed by W. l.. Jenoks, chief Of
Local los of the Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers, to which the motormen
belong
Mr.. Jencks added, however, that before
the order will 60 out for the motornen
to quit every possible means will be ex-
hausted to settle the matter amicably
Mr., Jencks, together with j. L. Smith OF
the executive committee Of the brother
hood. will call on August Belmont, presi-
dent of the marlborough Rapid Transit
Company, to-day and inform him of the
decision Of the motormen.
Arrangements will be made then. il pos
oil For k,af, Mr NRalpnnDf
and the executive committee. at which an
attempt will be made by the executive
committee to get the company to reverse
or at least materially modify its order.
II this fails, Grand Chief Warren 8. Stone
Of the locomotive engineers Of Cleveland,
and Grand Chief j. j. Hanahan Of the loco
motive fremen of Peoria, ILL.,. will be called
upon TO make last attempt on behalf
Of the motormen.
Then il nothing favorable to the motor
men is forthcoming, the men will quit work
it is asserted. No other mass meeting OF
the men IL necessary TO declare a strike,
it is said. The matter from now on will
be in the hands Of the executive committee
strike, it is said that the men will stop work
unless the order is modified.
In regard to the physical examination
prescribed by the 1nterborough companys
order the opinion was general at the meet
ing last night that it is more strict than that
which ia in force on any other railroad in the
country, For instance. one Of the provis-
ions which were generally objected to.
was that which makes it necessary for .
motorman to be able to distinguish q letter
three-eighths of an inch long at distance OF
thirty feet, alternately with one eye and
then with the other. That, II was said, was
unreasonable.
Tho motormen, it was declared, arc
will IN aith En- a.
son. but they could not accept the C ON
panys order in its present form.
Mr. Jencks said that Mr.. Stone and Mr.
Hanahan, the grand chiefs, would prob
ably be in New York in few days
In order that there may be no misunder-
standing as to the motives OF the company IN
ordering the examinations, Mr.. Bryan and
Supt. Hedley issued circular yesterday ad-
dressed 4To all notormen. 1t assures the
motormen that the examinations are solely
for the purpose OF insurjng the lives Of the
passengers, the employees and the property
Of the company, and says:
III the examination proves that by the
aid OF glasses any mans eyesight can be
improved 80 as to make him q safe person
to perform the duties Of a motorman 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 in
DR.. Leonard Pitkin, the company'e surgeon,
who will make these examinations"
The wives Of the motormen have an
auxiliary OF the brotherhood. 1t met yes
terday in the Twelfth Ward Bank building,
in East 125th street, and an address was
made to them by an officer Of the mems or
ganizaton. The women applauded every
time he referred to the alleged grievances
OF the men.
1t was said on good authority that the
guards conductors and others organized
as Local 1892 of the Amalgamated Associa
ton OF Street Railway Employees will not
Pepper Of Local 332 says that its members
are satisfied and have no grievance.