New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-09
LIGHTS OUT In PARIS.
ELECTRICIANS STRIKE.
Great Inconvenience to Al Business
Cause of Trouble.


Paris. March S.-An unexpected strike on the
part of practically all the electricians of Paris
at . o'clock this afternoon resulted in the almost
complete stoppage of the business of the city by
nightfall. a number of theatres had TO foregO
their performances several Of the evening news
papers We're unable to get out their editions and
the great department stores were hurriedly
empted The strikers demand the fulhlment o1
The promises to improve their condition which
they say. We're made to them last July.
Many of the great department stores Of Paris,
especially those in the centre of the city. rely
entirely upon electricity for lighting and heat
ing These buildings are not pped for gas. and
when the electric lights went out this evening
no oil lamps hand. As result. candles
had TO he installed hurriedy in order to help
the shoppers and the employees to leave the
buildings
The Prefecture of Police. the buildings OF the
various ministries and the public institutions
also We're without light. and even the Elysee
Palace was temporarily thrown into darkness
The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies have
gas pipes, and were therefore able to go on with
their business
Almost al the theatres including the Opera
and other Of the subsidized houses, were com
PEELED 20 put up announcements that there
would bO no performances. and that the money
minor variety halls were open. The boulevards
We're practically in darkness except for few
gas jets. Only the Avenue de rOpera and a
small section of the Champs Elysees We're IL
Illuminated by electricity, the men working in the
plants supplying these districts returning TO
work early In the evening. The cafes and res
taurant5 presented weird pictures. with faring
candles all the small round tables.
NEWSPAPERS BADLY HANIPERED.
II was impossible to get out the later editions
Of the afternoon newspapers. and the Offices of
the morning papers were scenes Of confusion.
Typesetting machines and printing presses are
at a standstill, Only the "Parisien" will appear
IN its full size tomorrow morning because II
possesses its own electrical plant. The man
ayers Of all the other morning papers do not see
their way to getting out other than two or four
page papers set up by hand and printed on i'm
provised plants
The reasons for the strike by the electricians
as follows; The company that supplies cleo
tricity recently got concessions from the Munic-
ipal Council, and it now refuses TO carry out
certain resolutions passed by that body. under
which the electrical workers may have an eight
hour day and old age pensions. These stipula-
tions not written in the contract with the
city. but It was understood that they would be
granted. The men exasperated by what they
characterize bad faith the part OF the
company. and now demand recognition as en-
ployes of municipal department with the priv
ileges attached TO employment by the munic-
ipality which include vacations pay while they
are sick and pensions at a specified age.
OTHER CITIES TO JOIN MOVEMENT
The strikers called meeting to be held this
evening in the Labor Exchange. but this build
ing was closed owing to the lack OF light. The
men then proceeded 10 another hall, where they
could see. and after a number OF violent speeches
had been delivered they voted 10 continue the
strike until all their claims we're granted. II
was announced at this meeting that the eectri-
cians OF Lyons. Marseilles and other large cities
in France were prepared to join the Paris
movement and demand similar concessions. The
strikers tonight showed themselves as strongly
in favor OF taking over the electric lighting
plants by the various municipalities. This feel
ing is direct outcome of the socialistic ten
dencies prevalent among the electrical workers.
delegation of prominent citizens including
a number of members OF the Chamber OF Depu-
ties. called Premier Clemenceau at a late
hour tonight and discussed the situation with
him. The Premier promised to bring in a regi-
ment of engineers quartered at Versailles to
replace the strikers, but it would appear that he
later decided not 10 take this step. for no orders
were sent TO Versailles. on the contrary.
Premier Clemenceau expressed his determine
ton to use every effort to overcome the strike
oy conciliatOry means. He probably will have
an interview with the strikers delegates during
Tonight or early tomorrow morning.
IN the mean time the strikers have resolved
TO maintain a firm attitude and fight the end.
The strikers number thirteen hundred highly
skilled Workmen, and 1t will be almost npos-
slble to replace them. AS rule the men ceased
work quietly. butt I'm some instances they ex-
tnguished the fires of the central stations which
II will require forty-eght hours to get going
again. and in few cases they removed certain
portions Of the electrical apparatus, which it
VIII take at least a week to replace.
The postal authorities report that the tele-
phone and telegraph services have not been
greatly disturbed by the strike. these services
having their private electric plants
The other boulevards of Paris which with
out gas lamps being patroled tonight by
policemen bearing torches.
The Metropolitan the Partisan subway sys-
tenn. did not have to stop running its cars be-
cause of the strike