The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-09-04
THE STREET RAILWAY SITUATION IN LINCOLN

the underhanded methods employed by the
eminent gentlemen who in control of
the Lincoln Traction Company In order
that the general public may be advised of
the real facts in the case. the facts are here
given without bias or prejudice. The en-
ployes of the Lincoln Traction Company
court the fullest investigation and will
ing to leave the decision with the general
public.
Prior to the consolidation of the Citizens
Railway Co. and the Lincoln Traction Co,
the Citizens employees in the ear service
were receiving several cents an hour higher
wages than the Lincoln Traction Co. men
in the same service. Immediately after the
consolidation the wage schedule was equal
led, not by increasing the wage of the
Traction company men, but by reducing the
wage of the Citizens Railway Co. men. As
the public well knows. the wage schedule
of the Lincoln Traction Co. is lower than
almost any other city in the country having
electric street railway service. The
statement of Manager Humpe to the con-
trary is not borne out by the facts. and
Manager Humpe must have known that his
false statement was easily disproved. The
Lincoln Traction Co. schedule for mOtOrmen
and conductors ranges from Is to % cents
an hour. Following is the schedule in sew
eral western cities. and glance at each
will show how much credence should be
placed upon Manager Humpe's statements:
Oakland, Cal. 80 to A. cents an hour.
Sacramento. Cal. % to 80 cents an hour.
San Jose. CAL "A to 80 cents an hour.
Vancouver. B. c., 20 to 311a cents an hour.
Butte. Mont. 3S1a to 40 cents an hour.
Helena. Mont 30 cents an hour.
Salt Lake City. % to 80 cents an hour.
Spokane. Wash. % to 30 cents an hour
Soon after the consolidation the motor
men and conductors sent committee to the
management with a request for an increase
of wages and an adjustment of several other
matters. This committee received no salts
faction. Then the men proceeded to organ
iZe division of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street and Electric Railway EN-
ployes, thinking that they might be able to
accomplish an organization what they
had failed to accomplish Individuals
Almost before the ink was dry upon the
charter of the new organization the Lincoln
Traction Company announced slight in
crease in wages-amounting to about one
cent an hour on an average. The manage
ment took especial pains to tell the public
that the increase was in wise brought
about by the organization of the men,
The increase. however. failed to satisfy
the men. There were other matters than
the wage scale at stake. Among them was
the matter of discrimination. the adjust
ment of grievances and the priority. The
organization selected committee to draft
an agreement and present it to the company
Taking advantage of the absence of several
of the executive board from the city Vice
President Sharp and General Manager
Humpe declined to receive the committee.
In the meanwhile rumors of strike had
been set afioat by irresponsible parties
parties in no manner connected with Divi-
sion No. go. Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway Employees
With a view to putting the organization