The San Francisco call., 1904-04-25
COMPANY is FIRM.

(OMPAN1 Is FIRM.
Officials of the United Railroads could
not be seen at the company's offices
Yesterday, but last night an official
statement was issued, which is as fol-
lows:
1t is hoped the carmen when voting will
derstand thoroughly the full meaning of their
vote The company has gone TO the full limit
of concession and this should be understood.
We desire to state unequivocaiiy and finally
that after two years of repeated concessions
made for peace through. We are pay
ing our men great sum for peace that has
not yet materialized. year ago we were
paying men the highest wages paid on
earth TO men In. similar employment on any
large system-this year we have been paying
them increase on that high wage and have
rendered them a liberal continuation of that
high scale
statement that is being circulated to in
f1nence the men now earning 2I12 cents per
hour runs 10 the effect that the high priced
men have been Disseminated against. This is
whispered, not outspoken. The present scale
of wages has been in effect for fve months
and this is the record of dismissals for that
period. During the last five months two and
and nine-tenths per cent of the 2614 cent men
and only one-thrd of one per cent of the 2I13-
cent men dismissed monthly. One-third
of one per cent is extremely low percent
age We have had some figures made to sat
isfy Ourselves to the generous effect the
wage scale rendered by the company will have
when in full operation.
Take single division: On the Sutter- street
system where 1SS men employed. on the
ceiving 26Il cents will Immediately move into
the 27 n cent class At the same time 10 men
receiving 20 cents per hour will move into
the 26L cent class and ii must be understood
that these promotions will continue throughout
the entire year over the entire sysem from day
to day as the men complete their one two
years of service This is merry illustra-
tion of what will be taking place over the
entrA system.
generous has been attributed to cowardce and
has been credited to the force of the union
and the men are being told that we purpose to
Weld again. The man who acts this as
sumption will deceive no so much he
all kindness not to allow themselves TO be mis-
led
The company here states that 1t has gone to
the full limit Of concessions. that 1t has not
and does not intend to discriminate against
its higher paid men, that 1t has no designs to
destroy or disrupt the union; that an evil
dence of perfect good faith in that respect, 1t
kis willing now to contract with the union for
a period of from to three years. and this
despite the fact that every indication points
to a season of hard times that Its urgent de-
sire is to get along with It's employees without
friction and earn and retain their confidence.
ANY other course would be shortsighted and
prevent the maintenance of peace for which
we are paying extra quarter OF q million
dollars annually. The charge. when made, an
swers itself Why should we be willing to pay
so dearly for peace and then voluntarily pur-
sue the very course that would defeat our
selves?
We have tried voluntary tender of increase
when no demand made; we have tried
full and we have tried arbitration. All have
failed and we have left open to us the only
course still untried II the union remains un-
Yielding We are prepared to try 1t. and yet
in the face of all this, IL Is our earnest nope
that good common sense will prevail among
10