The San Francisco call., 1904-04-07

measure was actuated solely by a desire TO
put into operation some measure whereby tne
employees might be insured exact justice when
charged with infractions of rules or wnen lhey
presented grievances regarding WORKING coI-
ditions that were worthy of redress. Inc pro-
vision covering this matter was so drafted az
TO preclude the possibility that IT woulo ps
abused, invoked at all except in important
cases
The refusal of the company TO enectiveiy
recognize the union by accepting the proElsloh
which removed all barriers to the union eAel M
cising full jurisdiction over employees destroys
the value OF everything the officials nave salu
heretofore. and repeat in this statemene, IN tba
cerning their professed good will toward ths
union. The companys general manager anu
president have repeatedly said that they recos-
nized the right of their employees to JOIN tne
union but as a matter of fact. they have Tor
some time past openly and formally refused
to consent to the exercise OF that right, i eSet
going so far as to. require applicants for work
to sign an agreement not to JOIN the union
Under such circumstances it is hardly to De
wondered at that the members OF the union sc
riouslv question the sincerity of the general
statements Messrs. Holland and Chapman make
regarding recognition OF the union ith am q -
In view of the known practice of the COM
many in refusing recently to nlre men VINO
would not profess ant1-union sentimeh.s @ S,,a anu
sign contracts not to join the union, the quC.a
ton from the award of the Anthracite Coa1
Commission declaring against discrimination
because of the union or non-union afnidtoh
of employees savors Of effrontery
The provisions of Arbitrator Straus award
creating three classes of employees aroused more
cr;ticism and created greater dissatisfaction
among the men than any other feature OF MS
decision Once broken in and accepted as a
competent empoye platform man commences
70 render service to the company equal in value
to the that given by his associates ip the sere
ice and fair reason exists why ne snoodu m NJ
receive like remuneration. Thls facl Is 50 eNi !.
dent that extended argument 10 estaplsil l. ~ II
seems entirely unnecessary. In our propostioIi
10 the company merely asked thal al Iner
nerforn1inv like service should receive equal
wages and in fixing the rate OF wages We a.
cepted Arbitrator Straus nguIe e 7, viii he
those we formerly contended Tor ~ VIII pe
remembered that the testimony given pelvIe y,
the arbitration board last year showed that m tne
cost Of living had advanced at least iV per
cent ITO ouote a very conservative authority,
and the wage rate proposed by the union - -
exactly 10 per cent increase over na,ntad ts out
force one year ago. although, as poin.ea ous as
in our statement of yesterday, the number OF
men who would receive an increase IN the pres =
ent rate or wages is less 'haii oN -
the company's employees .
The company lays stress on the iact Wase
reductions have. recently been mace IN Vasloos
indistries and quotes John Mitchelfs ADVICE
to the coal miners to accept 51a per cent re.
duction in their wages. These reouctlons were
avovedIy made because of fall IN tne prices
~ the products OF the concerns making the
cuts In wages. How can the United haiiIoaus ia ~
fairly claim that similar condiuons aleco os
nany's nrofits are daily increasing and condi-
| tions promise with certainty that they win CON
tinue 10 increase for some time to come
rho amendments of clauses in the exlstlne
| n aoreement proposed by the union are OF minor
Importance. The changes are very sinsh. amo
! to accede to any of them is indeed surprising.
| The first amendment relates to the privileges
granted employees of riding free on the cars.
| They are now permitted TO do so on their owl
| divisions when in full uniform. Ihe union mo
| asked that this privilege be extendeo' SO lhss M
| employees might ride on any OF the lines Oh
| showing their badge to the conductor
Tn regard to paying wages to men for time
lost while they suspended IL II was
found that they had been guilty Of no of1ense
a similar rule exists now. The present agree,
ment provides that suspended employe shall
be paid wages for time lost If the ofheiais OF
the company decide to order his reinstate-
ment The union proposed that the same
course be followed II an arbitration board
should order his reinstatement On the uni
| form question the rule now Is that the men
shall purchase uniforms made according tc
snecifications formulated by the company.
The union asked that these specifications be
made by representatives of the company and
the union in conference. :,
The proposition regarding time tables Is
| merely the Incorporation in the agreement o.
a proposal repeatedly made by the officials oi
| the company during the last year or SO. -
The attitude of the union on the student