New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-09
REFUSES MAYORS OFFER.
THE COMP4NY'S LETTER.
Nr. Mcclellan Says He Doesn't
Knozc What City Can Do.

,,,- ,s.r,,ersn Yesterday afternoon received
-. w. president Bryan of the PETERBOROUGH
,,.-,s 7,-o,st, Company reply to his offer 10
= ,,,a5,stor or arbitrator in the strike
.o.-.ao,,sf. declining the Mayors offer. The
-. ero,,, the company reviewed the relations
,.t,h ,bo strikers and asked the Mayor to fur
-. lie. nrotection and non-interference from
the strikers
-.,,-r further in trying to settle the strike
he said:
Ear has been refused by one of the prin-
-Hg what more IS there for TO do? MY
N.L'a-9 -.o-ds good The refusal of the company
- .at-e advantage Of il does not lessen my de-
- - see the strike settled and traffic unham-
per- H. Rapid Transit Commission a part of the
oi,zt Government, could. I suppose, take some ac-
- - hui what that action would be 1 cannot say
,,r6erstand there is a clause in the contract
- nrovldes for forfeiture of the operating
mi and vacation OF the contract. Now. sup
80 for the sake OF argument that the contract
- declared forfeited. There would be court
rrnoeriings which would take time, but we viii
imagine them decided in favor of the city
W-bsr could the city do? Run the road? How?
To operate a municipal railroad would mean the
asia hlfshulent Of a special department with an
anpr0priation Of about 100000 with the re-
CENTS OF the road turned into the Sinking Fund
and not TO be used 10 defray the expenses of the
Department: a encouragement of the Civil Ser
vice law. If the State board would consent and
don't know what the Rapid Transit Commits
sion can do. but Il seems 10 me that. if the SER
vice is TO be continued there are quicker and
better ways do Il than by declaring the lease
10 :he marlborough people forfeited. In any
event there is no power to vacate that lea Sc
unless II could be proved to the satisfaction M
the courts that the operating company has
failed within a reasOna bic time and after rs
ing its best efforts, 70 run the road 10 the sat
isfactioD Of the Rapid Transit Commission, rep
Tesenting the city No; don't know what.the
city can co The situation is most regrettabI
one.
The letter from the company says, in part:
We have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your communication of the 9TH inst
in which you offer to act as mediator or arbitra-
tor IN ehectlng an adjustment of the existing
differences between the Interborough company
and lis former employees.
We appreciate the solicitude for the nubIic
convenience which prompted you to intervene
but il view OF the vital questions affecting the
permanent interests OF the travelling puhIic
which are involved We are compelled with great
respect. 10 decline your offer
Our differences with our former employees do
not relate merely 10 matters Of pay and hours
They are much more radical. They involve the
question whether the management OF the prop
erty shall or shall not be in the hands of the
company and its officers and whether the rules
which they have established for the protection
Ct the travelling public shall be adhered to or
set al naught by the employees Of the road
The real questions. have said are:
snaL me company be permitted to put in force
such regulations as are necessary for the pro
lection Of the travelling public?
Shall il be compelled TO abandon the standard
railroad test concerning the physical oualifica-
mons Of Inotormen, which has been found to be
essential?
Shall it be permitted TO discharge negligent
employees. who have risked life and property
without dictation?
n other words. shall II be permitted 70 dis
charge its duty to the travelling public by man
aging the property in the way which due re-
gard for public safety requires?
We beg TO say TO your honor that the COM
pany is able 10 do this. and do il Immediately.
II the men whom ii has employed TO operate its
several lines of road are afforded due protec-
ton, and If the patrons Of the road guarded
against acts and scenes of violence the part
of those who have abandoned their posts Of
dirty
We have at this writing some five thousand
men engaged IN the management Of the prop
sty. We are operating the subway on a quick
operating the elevated roads as well IL the
fering with the stations and trains
We call upon you. the chief magistrate of
the city, sworn to enforce the laws, TO protect
the travelling public from all acts OF violence
and disorder. Nothing can prevent us from
establishing, within a short time q swift and
safe service all Of lines II the authorities
Of this city fully perform their duty TO protect
life and property. Our appeal TO you is made.
not alone for the protection Of our property, but
for the protection Of those very classes-the
poor, the weak and the delicate Of both sexes
referred 70 by your honor in your communion
ton 10 the company, who compelled TO pat
roniZe our lines and who are entitled 10 safe
and sure carriage upon them