New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-23
DILEMMA FOR BELMONT.
Continued from first page.

way motormen be taken from elevated hremen
that subway conductors be recruited from the
ranks of the union guards who have served
three Years and proved themselves competent
and SO on through the list They want the
subway scale 10 be as high as it IS on the eIe-
waited road. II the wage scale was lower there
would ne no tnducement to change from the
elevated service. The men fear Il they permit
a lower wage scale TO 90 into effect on the ur-
derground a force OF non-union men VIII be r.
cruited which VIII endaneer their present stand
ing It VIII not he long. they argue. before the
company viii want 70 cut The wages Of elevated
employees TO the scale paid Tor The same work
in the subway. This would mean strike. and
the company would be prepared to light II with
the reserve subway force
DIr. Jeucks declared yesterday that a preced ant
had been established several years ago which
backs UP the contention of the men. When
the Suburban Elevated Railway was merged
with the Manhattan" he said. the scale Of
wages on the Suburban was much lower than
that on the Manhattan \ conference was held
and the wage scale on the Suburban raised 10
be equal TO the Manhattan. We consider that
as a precedent for the subway
When Mr.. Belmont announced yesterday that
there would be a conference late N the Scer-
noon it was said that Vice-Prasident Bryan
from the employees association. headed by its
president, George z. Pepper. appeared ct the
company's Office No. 1875 Broadway. at $50
p. m, and Immediately admitted to the
inner Office. At O'Clock an Office employee in
formed the reporters who were waiting for Mr..
Bryan that all the company officials had gone
for the day and that there would be no state
mAnt. The committee had also left the building
by one of'the exits from the Interborough's Of
fees
President Pepper was seen last night at his
home. No. 800 West NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ST, and said
With two or three other members of the
Amalgamated Association of Street and Elec-
trio Railway Employees I met Mr. Bryan and
General superintendent Hedey Of the INTERIOR
ough company. We talked over what should be
done with the old men who had worked for years
for the L, expecting promotion when the
chance came, If the Interborough decides % let
the L" men work IN the subway. That 7 be-
lieve, is the main point. We made it plain that
We did not want any Of our men 20 lose time or
position by being transferred. We do not want
them 10 lose the benefit Of their years OF ser
vice"
ne said further that they had talked about
the wage scala He declared that agreement
was reached about raising the subway motor
men TO the scale now IN force on the elevated.
He expressed confidence in General Manager
/ Bryan and the belief that a strike would be
avoided. He would not say what conferences
I had bea1 arranged for to-day ar what 1lrfar-
their headquarters in the evening and talked
over the situation with President Jencks.
PEPPER FOR THE OPEN SHOP
II wish to say. however" Mr.. Pepper declared
IN closing the interview, that I have always
beer oppose to the closed shop in this city. u
/ makes no difference TO me whether man is
union man or a non-union man when he asks
for a position
! The empty store building at No. Is Dey-st., in
which the marlborough has opened a temporary
/ employment bureau for subway employees, was
a busy place yesterday. Applicants appeared by
! the score and filed out the printed blanks which
were handed them These blanks ask number
OF questions as to the applicants fitness for sub
/ way work. special stress being laid previous
/ experience in street or steam railroad work
/ There is no reference to uniOnisrn-
/ General Superintendent Hedley the
/ employment Office most OF the morning, run
ming through the blanks sorting out those of the
said 10 be pleased with the showing made and
/ to have expressed the opinion that there would
I be trouble in getting satisfactory men for the
subway positions. OF " hlCh there three thou
sand, matter what steps the elevated en-
pIoyes might take.
The special school which the Interborough
company fitted up for the instruction OF subway
motor and train men worked overtime yester-
day. The men handled IN classes Of twenty
and spend hour in the car each day until they
are sufficiently acquainted with the apparatus 10
be tried trains In the subway When
. not at the school they are supposed 10 study the
subway textbook, which is issued 20 each pros
pective employe.