Evening journal., 1908-04-04
NO STREET CAR
STRIKE PROBABLE
CONTINUED from First PaSe)

longest in our service, from IS to 20
years, have come to us and voluntarily
given US their assurance that they
would stand by us"
This assertion by General Manager
Samuel s. Hoff, Of the Wilmington City
Railway Company to THE EVENING
JOURNAL this morning, indicates the
latitude of the motormen and eonduc-
tors of the Wilmington City Railway
Company In the face of the 10 per cent.
reduction in their wages, according to
Mr.. Hoff's view.
There is a movement all over the
country on the part of railway COM
panies to reduce the wages Of their
employees.
In Chester, where the employees of
the Chester Traction Company organ
lied and protested, all danger Of
strike seems to have passed.
Situation in Chester.
The Chester Times last evening said:
Conductors and motormen Of the ches-
ter Traction Company held another meet
ing at midnight, in the rooms Of the Sec
ond Ward Republican Club, over Upton's
cafe. at Thirteenth street and Hdgmont
avenue. The chief object was to hear
report from the committee appointed 70
wait on Superintendent Arthur @. JACK
relative 10 restoring a 10 per cent. redue-
tion taken off on April !.
It was stated by one Of the members
that the result Of the conference was
very unsatisfactory, and an organization
was deemed advisable. "In order not TO
Inconvenience the travelling public the
matter was left TO arbitration but su-
perintendept Jack refused to listen,' con-
tinued one Of the men,
It is hoped to settle the matter ami
oably. The organization was effected with
the election OF these officers; President
William Lockhardt; vice-president, Georf
Smith; corresponding secretary, Joseph
o'ryeil; financial secretary and treasurer
James Palmer; executive board. W. II.
Harvey. II. winterbottom, Frank Hollins'
Charles Evans; conductor, William Now
er: warden. NJ. P. Casey
Statement Of Motormen.
one of the motormen Of the Chester
Traction lines said; "rhe whole thing IS
inconsistent on the part Of the corpora
tion. A few weeks ago 1t reduced our time
of working hours, now II comes along
with a reduction in wages 1t would not
! have been so bad IL the notice had been
posted a day ahead OF time, but it was not
nut up until 6 o'clock on April first, after
the men had been working a whole day on
reduced wages and were not aware Of the
fact. That is what riled so many Of US.
Another said: II would not be in favor
OF a strike. That would be foolishness. for
| the company could fill our places al
once"
p. ]. Shea vice-president Of the Anal
Ramated Association Of Street and Elec-
| trio Employees as international concern
who was called 10 Chester and arrived at
4 o'clock yesterday morning, reached here
in time to prevent tie-up. The men we're
bent on a strike, according to various
statements, after a meeting that lasted
almost to daybreak.
mo" said Mr.. Shea, ''men, would ad'
wise YOU to appoint committee to wa''
on Superintendent Jack and try 10 nA
up the matter. II you can't IT'S time tneh
to talk trouble"
To a Times man Mr.. Shea said; Il :"
these men to settle this matter ,nem-
selves amieably. do not want to get int'
any trouble"
He has organized local branch OF fn'
Amalgamated Association and said thal
about one hundred trolleymen have joined
it
'sThe men are not asking an increase o.
wages; they simply want the old rate re-
stored. It does look rather ineonsisten
that men of the Chester Traction linei
should be paid only 1sik cents an hou'
for taking cars over the same tracks al
the PHILADELPHIA Rapid Transit Company
which pays its men p cents per hour. GU
in Butte, they pay As cents but you see
how inconsistent it would be TO demand
a uniform universal rate"
Statement of Superintendent
superintendent Jack this morning said
owe simply shall have to stand pat o.
our proposition Of i6 2-S cents per hour
but as 10 how long business conditions WI
remain as they are. we cannot tell hu
we win remedy matters just as soon az
possible.
"As TO the matter of refusing to arp
trate. the committee went back. then re
tnrnea and said It wanted to arbtrate
told Them in plain terms that we pro
\ nose 10 run the road on the basis stated
for the present and it is up to them e
accept or reject
Il told the committee we are not reduc
ing wages to make money on them. bu
because we have not the business and ar
losing money every day we operate oui
cars. / asked their corporation TO pre-
vent any too great a further loss.
I'VE do DOT want any strike" but Mr.
Jack intimated the company will have q
meet that situation when it comes, if 1
does.