The San Francisco call., 1904-04-07
DEMANDS OF MEN DENIED.

The reply Of the United Railroads
to the demands of the Carmens
Union was handed to President Cor
nelius of the latter organization early
in the day, Just after the representa-
tives OF the company had informed
him that it would not comply with
the request of his union to cease hir-
ing men. The communication is as
follows:
san Francisco April 6. 1904.-To Messrs.
Richard Cornelius. President, and j. IL Bowl
iiC. Secretary Treasurer. Amalgamated As
sociation Of Street and Electric Railway EN-
ployes Of America-Gentlemen Referring 10
your letter Of the 2d TO the president or this
company, and TO the conditional form OF
agreement that accompanied II. we join you
in the hope that serious controversy may be
avoided. and that relations during the
coming year may be unstrained and pleas
art. We now make formal reply and should
be pleased 10 hear from YOU in answer, either
in writing or in conference with your com
mittee. or in both ways. you may prefer
Your proposed agreement is in ten sections.
The first ard second propose arbitration IN
regard 10 grievances or complaints The thlrd
does away with the wage scale recently liked
by Mcssrs. Mahon and Straus; and the thlrd
also relates to badges, suspensions and uni
fcrms The fourth, nth, sixth, seventh ana
ninth propose different runs. timetables, hours
and wages from those fixed by the award re
ferred TO. Tie eighth section makes 1t obllg-
atCry unon all employees eligible 10 the union
IL obligatory upon the company 70 olscharse
all non-union men who are eligible TO the
union The tenth provides that no employe
of this company shall suffer reduction IN
his wages becase Of or through the operation
OF this proposed conditional agreement. While
we are again willing TO leave 10 the arbitra--
ton at present provided the Interpretation Of
TIE meaning OF any clause OF the contract we
nav enter into we cannot leave to any form
I OF arbitration matters affecting employment
and discharge; and while the company will
treat directly with the duly accredited OH
GERS of the union under the recognition given
last year the company cannot treat with
complaints that involve the abdication OF the
management and legal obligations OF us busi-
ness, but must stand by the present agree
The clauses in relation to arbitration. as
well as the clause obliging employees to join
] the union within sixty days, involving the alb
dication Of this company Of its rights and duties
/ in the management of its business, cannot be
! acceded TO- The company. as stated last year,
has no lawful right 10 yield 10 others the
selection and dismissal of its employees, and
cannot Indirectly divest itself of duty i'm
posed BY law. nor arbitrate away, nor sur
render the powers necessary to perform those
duties II is ou- duty. as we have stated, tC
/ select steady, sober and trustworthy men e
/ operate our cars; to make ali useful rules and
regulations TO govern their conduct. and tc
! provide satisfactory service to the travelling
/ public And while the company recognizes the
| right OF every employe to belong to a union
| the demands Of the association limiting or re-
! stricting the company in the performance Of itt
duty in the selection. retention or dismissal OF
employees are respectfully declined. And We
!
Anthracite Coal Commission on this subject:
Nine The commission adjudges and
/ ployment or IN any way discriminate
! against, account OF membership or non
membership in any labor organization; and
/ that there shall be no discrimination against
or interference with any employe who is no
a member of any labor organization by mem
! bers OF such organization.
As TO section 3. all employees now rid.
/ free their division on badges and rid,
| free throughout the city when in full uniform
na he r1of ffc wa Z
change this liberal provision, nor to go furthe
in respect TO uniforms than to permit a
present, platform men TO buy wherever the,
please. provided they conform 10 the specifica
tions OF the company. In section 3 yol
Of a member Of the union for alleged violation
of any rule OF the company he shall be paiC
for time lost, provided he is found mot guilty
! of such violation. This is the rule as provided
| by section OF the present agreement
1 ton NAV decide whether anv Of the connnanv,,
rules have been violated This would tax,
from the company the power TO conduct fl
own business. and to this We cannot consent
but must abide by the present agreement IL
this respect.
Clause 10 VIII be gladly acceded to by us
L provided the prooostion with regard to wages
made by US later in this letter is accepted
Clauses 4. .. 9. Z and in your proposed agree
ment cover wages: hours runs and time.
tables, fall Of which have been lately passed
upon by Messrs. Mahon and Straus in theii
award. and the company cannot accede TO The
unions request in these respects. In view Of
contract, and of reports of a lockout and re.
duction OF wages on our part. desire tC
make an open statement of our intentions az
regards WAGES and regards the late award
/ Before announcing our intention in this re
spect Il Is fitting to state concisely the his
! tory OF the past two years bearing upon oul
l relations with each other. When the United
I Railroads took control OF its several proper.
/ ties April J. 1902. 1T found the wages PAID
the Marl1et-street line - cents an hour
with bonus for long service. This scale wa.
one OF the highest paid anywhere. The otbei
/ lines taken over by the company were payinf
4 lower rate and the company then STATED
that these lower wages would be raised [,
the higher Marl5et-street scale Nineteen day,
thereafter strike occurred and a demand wa,
made that the wages be raised to 25 cents fat
I that being the highest rate paid under the Mar
! ket-street graduated scale. The company con
! ceded this demand IN full although a lowe
basis woud-it vas and is sure-have beer
| practicable. This increase was made (withou
/ any effort at a compromise fgure) for the pur
! pose OF securing entire contentment among tn
I men and to insure a prolonged period ofspeace
| This expectation not realized. Within ST,
! 1o03 renewed demands made asking 10
! a minimum rate OF B3 1-3 cents per hour up Z
~ cents Ter hour. The company considere,
this demand most unreasonable, but agreed L
submit the same TO arbitration. Investigation
showed that the average wage paid in 81
I American cities but Is cents per hour
] Thirty-scven days were consumed in takfn
the testimony in the arbitration proceedings an