Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-04
COUNCILS IGNORE
! TROLLEY STRIKE
Philadelphia Officials Will Take No
Action Looking to Arbitrating
Differences.
MAYOR ADVISES AGAINST IT
Says Law Provides Court for Settling
Such Controversies.
UNION LEADERS ARE INDICTED
Murphy and Pratt Charged with Riot
ing and Inciting to Riot.
WILL STRIKE ORDER BE OBEYED7 2
Officials Assert Small Percentage of
WorLmen VIII Heed the Conn
mnnd to Walk out Fri
day Night.
Says Law Provides Court for Settling
Such Controversies.
UNION LEADERS ARE INDICTED
Murphy and Pratt Charged with Riot
ing and Inciting to Riot.
WILL STRIKE ORDER BE oBEYED

PHILADELPHIA, March 3-For the
first time In five years the citizens were
excluded from the sessions Of their chosen
representatives this afternoon. An hour
before the time of convening the Select
and Common councils. a vast crowd had
gathered on the fourth floor Of the city
hall, but policemen kept all save the coun-
cilmen, reporters and few privileged per-
sons outside the gate which leads to the
council chambers.
The grand jury this afternoon returned
indictments against John j. Murphy, presl-
dent OF the Central Labor union, and c. o.
Pratt organizer Of the car mems union.
Murphy is charged with riotng and in
citing to riot; Pratt with riotng lncting
to rot and conspiracy.
Message of the Mayor.
Tho strike was practically ignored by
both councils. A message from Mayor
Reyburn reviewed the situation briefly and
stated his policy Of non-interference in
these words:
1T is not the city's duty, nor yours or
mine, to interfere between the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit Company and its employees.
The courts OF law are available for the re-
dress Of any real grievances which either
S1ists, nor can exist, in proper cases, why
tAsy and all other disputants should not
submit their differences to the courts or
adjust their disputes between themselves
1t Is of the utmost Importance, however
for the good name of our city and for the
safety Of its citizens, that no steps should
be taken by your honorable bodies or by
any others which would undo or would
in any way or manner interfere with that
which has already been done or lead any
person to think, or beliebe, that he can by
tho aid of the machinery of the executive
or legislative branches of the municipal
government, enforce any demand not cog
nizable in the courts or voluntarily adjust
abls between the parties.
Amy attempt however honest It may be,
which tends to draw away from the parties
themselves, or from the judiciary the de-
termination of disputes which under the
constitution and laws Of the commonwealth
ave entrusted TO them, necessarily weakens
and lmpairs our form of government and
in the present case would but tend to pro-
long the agitation that will delay the resto-
ration of full service by the transit COM
pany. This the public is entitled to have
and confidently believe by the contlnu-
anoe Of present peaceful conditions it will
soon be fully restored.
In bringing about peace and good order
rely on tho cooperation and aid Of coun-
ellis and the support Of all law abiding cit
izens."
All Petitions Referred.
That the council were in entire accord
with the view of the mayor In the fore
gong was made evident by the absence of
any action or discussion relative to the
associations and trades unions bearing on
the strike were heard without comment. A
resolution from the central Labor unon,
signed by John ]. Murphy, the president,
requestion arbitration. was introduced in
the common council by James Clough. a
member from the Thirtieth ward by re-
quest" as he explained. It was referred
TO the law committee
In select council Thomas Mcfarland pre- |
sented a resolution instructing Mayor Rey- |
burn. William II. Carpenter and George H. |
Earle the city's representatives on the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit board of di- |
Tectors, to demand the SUBMISSION by the /
company to arbitration.
Councilman Henry ]. Tralnor immedi- /
ately moved that the resolution be tabled |
He said he was informed that an act of the
legislature of 1898 permitted either party in |
"a dispute over wages TO carry his case to |
The court Of common pleas and that this |
gave the striking carmen an adequate rem
edy in law The motion to table was car
rled with only few dissenting voices.
satire by McFarland.
Mr. Mcfarland twice attempted there
after to gain the privilege OF the floor in
order to present another resolution, but
President Hazlett refused to recognize him.
rms resolution satlrically called upon
our peerless leader. Contractor James p.
MoNlcoll who Is now sojourning in sunny
Florida under the sheltering palms, in com
pany with certain influential republican and
democratic members OF the councils, and
the founders OF the Worklngmen League
party to Immediately return and issue the
necessary orders to Reyburn and Clay TO
change their bellgerent attitude"
railing to bring this resolution officially
10 the attention OF the council. Mr.. McFar-
land distributed tyDewrtten copies TO his
colleagues after adjournment.
director Of Public Safety CLAW today
wrote the president Of the Builders, ex
change directing that all building materials
near places under course of CONSTRUCTION
be moved from the streets by tomorrou,
night This Is to prevent rlotous persons
rom securing missiles Tor use against the
police and trolley cars
The director also issued an official -,
tiee 70 industrial establishments throuan-
out tho city calling attention to the duty
OF preventing the stress from being filled
with grea crowds, which may be influenced
to acts OF disorder and IawIessness by irr
sponsible persons
Company scouts Arbitration.
Arbitration has been secuted by the Pnu-
adelphia Rapid Transit company officials.
iae eity's representatives on the hoard OF
oireotors OF the company and in fact by
practically all persons connected in an
oIIleial capacity with the transit company
The action taken at the meeting Of the
Central Labor union last night. when that
Organization made final preparations 10
carry the threatened sympathetic strike
Ccontlnued on Second Page1