The Washington herald., 1908-07-11

Work in the shops OF the Washington
Terminal Company. the corporation own
Ing the New Union Station, was stopped
short yesterday morning when forty-two
Of the forty-hve machinists employed
there walked out and declared themselves
on strike.
This move. # is said, has seriously Grip
pied the work OF the shops, and some
thing radical and quick will have TO be
done in order to get out the great amount
Of work awaiting completion. which has
TO do with the repairing Of locomotives
and passenger coaches.
The order 20 strike came TO the ma
chinists from the vice president OF the
International Association OF Machinists.
p J. Conlon. 1t was issued Thursday
any but the night shift OF machlnists
from going TO work
Yesterday morning. however, the order
20 lay down tools was effective. and prac-
tcally all the machinists in the shops
answered the sumons.
Claim They Are OverwOrlSed.
The thorn In the side OF the union ma
chinists has been the management Of that
department OF the Terminal Company's
business. The heads of the union claim
that the company requires the men TO
work overtime, nights. Sundays. and holi-
days. without overtime pay.
Emmett l. Adams. who represents the
governments interests for the Interna-
tiOnal Association OF Machinists, when
seen by a reporter for The Washington
Herald last night, said:
The strike OF the machinists employed
by the Washington Terminal Company
was made necessary by the rules Of our
association. after every effort made by
our officers TO bring about a satisfactory
understanding had failed.
1T might not be amiss TO say that the
rate paid by the government for ma
chinists for en- eight-hour day is 47 cents
an hour. and the rate paid by contract
shops in the District is Il cents an hour
for an eight-hour day, while the Wash
ington Terminal Company has only been
paying 50 cents an hour for nine-hour
day
"AH other employers OF machinists in
the District and throughout the coun-
try generally. are required to pay 80
per cent additional for all time work
in excess Of tho usual days work This
is done to discourage as far as possible
the practice Of working men long hours
and depriving other men OF an oppor-
tuaity Of working at all.
Strike Ordered by Board.
THE Terminal Company has a system
which compels the machinists TO work
any number Of hours that the company
may see ft 10 impose upon them for the
ordinary straight time, and after making
every effort 10 bring about a solution OF
the difficulties through the officers OF the
Terminal Company. who are principally
officials Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
and having failed in that effort, our gen.
eraI executive board has sanctioned the
withdrawal Of our membership from the
Terminal Company.
The strike Is in charge OF A F.
Stnrke. who is the business agent Of our
men on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
and is In every way qualified TO handle
matters OF this kind.
I'VE feel confident OF the sympathy OF
the best people OF the District, and the
outlook appears 70 be bright for an
early settlement"
Master Mechanic Horris, OF the Wash
ington Terminal Company, refused tc
discuss the question IN any way, but
when asked II there were any machinists
at work. he replied. There are not"
Police Are Called For.
Fearing an outbreak OF the strikers
reserves from the Sixth and Ninth pre-.
cincts were sent TO Ivy City, where The
shops are located. TO guard the com.
pany's property. The men left early II
the evening. under command Of Sergt
Emerson, Of the Ninth precinct
Sergt. Emerson was given orders to de-
ploy his men so as 10 cover the prop.
erty about the shops, and in case of ar
outbreak 10 use all his force to save the
property Of the company from demage
In case OF trouble he was 10 Immediately
report TO police headquarters At az
early hour this morning no report haC
been received