The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-03
VOTE FOR STRIKE.
Contihued from First Page.

the assurance OF the engineers and hremen
for that. They will not throw us down
this time as they have before. We have
their agreement In black and white. But
there will be no disposition on the part OF
the engineers to throw us down, They
have got too much at stake themselves.
They know that the electric motor Is COM
ing on the railroads and that II they do not
make their stand now and win their organi-
zation's end Is in sight, and near at hand
at that"
Not only will the suburban steam service
and the surface car service in New York
and Brooklyn be brought to a standstill
very early In the game. but the steam rail-
road service out OF New York to long-dis-
lance points will be brought to standstill.
The Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers
cannot afford TO lose this fight as a matter
Of prestige alone. Mr.. Stone cannot afford
to lose 1t for the same reason, II for no other.
1t is his first big struggle since he has been
made chief OF the order and he cannot
afford to be whipped or outwitted.
But there Is no danger OF either. 1t
was tried on at the last conference. Mr..
Belmont had him at his house and showed
him every attention and offered suggestions
of compromise Of one sort and another,
but Mr. Stone would not yield an inch
General Manager Bryans statement. which
he gave out last evening, follows
rHE INTERBoRouoH's SIDE OF 1T.
On Sept Is, 1902. an agreement was made
between the Manhattan Railway Company
and the engineers hremen and motormen
employed on the same and the Brotherhoo
Of Locomotive Engineers and the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Firemen.
This contract provides that nine hours or
less shall constitute a days work for motor
men, all over nine hours to be paid for pro
rata for each and every hour or fractional
part thereof.
This contract was inherited by the Inter-
borough Rapid Transit Company upon Its
lease Of the Manhattan Elevated Railway.
The chairman OF the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers and the chairman OF the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen. with
their respective committees. have been
officially advised on several occasions that
the marlborough Rapid Transit Company
would adhere strictly to the provisions OF
this agreement made by the Manhattan
Railway Company. and they have all at times
done SO.
The marlborough company was aware
that the contract provided for higher rate
OF pay and for less hours than were being
States. The former management OF the
Manhattan Railway explained their reaso ms
for irving these exceptional rates OF pay
and hours OF work as being on account OF
the long and faithful service OF the engineers.
In the official bulletin Issued Feb. IL. 1909
addressed to motorm and signed by vice.
President Sktt OF the Manhattan Railway
Company. occurs the following:
ENGINEERS:
THE company, approaching the long and
meritorlous record OF its locomotive engi-
neers, desires to retain In Its service all such
employees, and to that end creates special
class to be known as senior motormen.'
who will be paid at the rate OF % 80 per day.
These engineers were not motormen. They
had to be trained In their duties as such
many Of them were familiar with the vacuum
brake only then being used on the Manhattan
railway, and had to be instructed In the
use OF train line air. In many instances they
were past middle life, and have not as readily
learned such duties az would younger men.
nEsr WAGES FOR MoToRMEN.
Preparatory to the opening Of the sub
way careful investigation was made as to
the highest ratio of wages for motormen.
thoroughly equipped as such and thoroughly
familiar with automatic air: also the hours
required for service from such motormen
and the ratio of 81 per day OF ten hours was
fixed as the salary for motormen In the sub
way, there being no higher rate OF pay or
shorter hours for similar service anywhere
In the United States
All employees in the train service OF the
Manhattan railway have been given to under
stand that preference would be shown them
for positions in the train service In the SUD-
way.
The Amaleamated Association of Street
Railway Employees, consisting OF n large
part OF the train employees OF the Manhattan
railway other than motormen and nremeh.
had signifed their willingness to accept
the positions offered In the subway at tne
salary and hours named. and many OF them
have applied for positions as motormen.
At this time a committee OF the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen ap-
reared before the officers Of the lnterborough
company, demanding that the same rate OF
nav and same hours which applied on the
Manhattan should be applied on the SUD
vay, Several conferences were had WIN
this committee. and II was explained TO them
TINT the contract made with their brother
hood would be strictly adhered to by the In
terborough Company. but that We could not
consent to nave 1t extended to the subway
division.
Exnlanation was made to the committee
of yhy they were gwen these exceptionally
short hours and high rate OF pay. ana that
we could not consent on the opening OF a new
enterprise, where a large number OF outside
men would begin service. to the establish
ment OF rate Of pay and hours for labor
which were given to them as mark OF special
favor for their long service. and which are
more favorable than the rates OF pay and
hours of labor on any other electrically oper-
nted railroad In the United States.
LONGER HOURS on STEAM RAILROADS.
final declination Of their demands was
made on Sept. /. The chief of1cer OF the
brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers has
been present at several OF the conferences
and has admitted that at large terminals
of the steam railroads. where IL is poss ible
to fix the hours. his men are working ten
hours per day, and In some instances twelve
The facts are that at oil the large railroad
centres where yard and switching work IL
done the hours for engineers and 1remer
| are twelve, that IL. they are required to report
and take their engines at o clock in the morn
ing and nre relieved at o clock In the evening
We regard the action OF the chief off1cei
| Of the brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineer,
| as being an effort upon his part and his asso
| cjates TO establish a rate OF pay and hour,
| for engineers whom he hopes to install n.
motormen upon the completion Of the cleo
! IRRIGATION of several OF the large steam sys
| tens now working toward that end for theil
| terminals In and adjaoent to New York.