The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-08
DELAYED By STRIKE.
AYERS COMMUTERS
Patrons Say Great Falls
Power House Did Not
Break Down Yesterday.

A strike or employees was the cause
OF the lack of cars on the line Of the
Great Falls and Old Dominion railway
yesterday and not a breakdown at the
power house, according to passengers
who come to this city daily in the com
pany's cars.
The fact was also learned today that
most Of the commuters are taking sides
with the conductors and motorInen in
the feeling that has arisen oyer the
order Issued by superintendent King
against treating" The feeling runs
high among the employees. who cons1ier
that they have been grossly insulted.
Incidentally, the passengers are COM
planning bitterly against what they term
the inadequate service accorded them.
Among these are James T. Raeburn, Of
the Raeburn-Garn Coal Company Of
this city; John 3. Storm, Of Storm &
& Co.
Only Six Report for Work.
Il happen to know thu only about
six of all the employees of the company
reported for duty yesterday" said Mr.
Raeburn today '~Tho others were in
dignant al the insult implied ia the
order against treating; but most Of
them were finally persuaded TO go TO
work The conductor Of the car on
which I came 10 town was pacing up
and down the doOr all the way in, so
agitated was ne over the matter
The whole service has been poor this
year. 1 saw a woman yesterday, for
instance, who had been waiting for
nearly two hours on one Of the plat
forms before a car came, and she had
a baby with her. too.
The commuters sympathize with the
employees in this controversy They be
iieYe the men have not been treated
well One morning j found seven mo-
tOTmen sitting on a bench, and asked
them why they did not 90 to work.
One OF them said that they were walt
ing for a chance TO do so. On my re-
turn from business in the late after
noon. I saw the very same men. still
waiting. IF. In the meantime, one OF
them went across the street and
brought a sandwich back to a Chum, he
would be thief, according TO this new
order. The insult has hurt the men
greatly II also has taken their pride
out OF their work. It cannot be very
pleasant 70 60 about your duties know
4 ing that your managers publicly imply
that you are regarded as probable
thief
Most Honest Men.
Even il a few employees have stolen
money from the company, It neverthe-
est than dishonest tmen in its employ"
The order IN stating that employees
furnishing sandwiches and drinks to as
sociates would be discharged, added that
no honest employee could AFFORD TO fur
nish such articles The employees say
that the order furthermore, read that
II any employe were caught" doing SO
he would be discharged Superintendent
King denies that the word Caught was
used.
he said today that there was no
strike: that only one man asked leave
Of absence for the day and that he dis
charged that man, The power house
broke down. he declares, and the pas
sengers today are being taken 20 Great
Falls on the sO-called Manhattan trains.
They are taken across the Aqueduct
bridge in the cars and then transferred.
There is 30 news and no truth in
this talk Of a strike" said Mr. King
today. 1.-THE two men who We're dis
charged are merely looking for motor
iety. / have been e railway man In
Washington for tw 1ty years. and the
men who have WORK Z for me know that
L have ALWAYS treated them faiTiV.''