New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-14
CAR MEMS PAY GOES UP.
COMPANY RAISES WAGES.
Nezo York City Railsoay Grants In
crease of It's O1cn accord.

The eight thousand conductors and motormer
employed by the New York City Railway Com
pany will be agreeably surprised to-day when
they learn that the company. on it's own initia-
tive. has increased their pay considerably The
Increases will begin on Sunday. September Is
The notice which was issued yesterday by Oren
Root. jr. vice-president and general manager
was signed also by II. II. Vreeland. It will be
posted to-day in all barns of the company
The new schedule. which will take effect on
Sunday. September Is. provides that the pay OF
motormen in their first years service shall be
increased from 50 10 a day to 50 25 a day: second
year. 81 25 TO 50 IS: third. fourth and fifth years
81 S5 10 50 As. and after years 81 so to 81 60
The pay of conductors in their first years ser
vice VIII be raised from 81 10 81 Is; second year
81 Is 10 So %; third fourth and fifth years. 80 25
10 81 S5 and after five years. 81 35 to 81 as
There are about eight thousand men affected
by the order. This includes every electric line
in Manhattan. whether OF the original Metropol-
itan Street Railway. a leased line or one op-
Grated by the company. The increases will ag-
gregate from S7Oo 20 $500 a day. which will
make the total increases in year from $780,
600 TO 100000
Mr.. Root said that there was no particular sig
nihcance in the increases.
There are two reasons why we have given
ognize the services OF our men, and do recog-
nize and appreciate them exceedingly. The sec
ond Is that we wish to get the best men possi-
bic. And think we have them. We are al
ready paying higher wages than any other street
railroad in this country. and by the new move
VIII go still further. We wish to attract the best
class OF men. ana the best wages will surely
bring them"
Mr.. Root was asked how IL was that motor
men receive more pay than the conductors and
are classed ahead of the conductors.
The motormen are really somewhat higher
class because they are a little more valuable"
he said. They have TO be blessed with GER
tain amount Of strength and height. and. besides.
must be cool in cases Of emergency. The con-
ductor can be OF any height. and does not nee
essarily need TO have particular strength or cool
ness. The increases are uniform, however. al
though the motormen will continue to receive a
little more than the conductors"
Nj Root was particularly pleased when MAX
ing the announcement 10 say that the increases
were made entirely the initiative of the officials
Of the company and not through any effort on
the part Of the men TO get the extra money.
The men have not approached u.s." he said,
and II is entirely on our own initiative. The
men will still have a certain number OF trips
10 make but they do not have 70 make them IL
conditions are not normal For instance, II they
have six trips to make and are held up for three
hours nv a fire and make only three trips, that
does moi figure IN the wages. The men are paid
so much a day for ten hours work, whether they
make the trips or not In case any Of them
should think thew may have to make more trips
for the extra money they can understand once
for all that they will not" -
do the men work seven days in the week!
Mr. Root WAS asked.
no. not ali of them. ] should say that about
5O ner cent of them do OF course. they can take
a day off whenever they wish. losing tnat Gay
-, Tbosa who ara anxious 10 succeed and get
ahead seldom take day Off Some may take
eyerv sunday of and others every other sun
da,, tust as they feel about IL. Those that work
the most OF course will receive the most benefit
in the increase of wages