Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-23
FEW TAX|CAbS SEEN
Chauffeurs Employed by Local
Companies Not Sent Out.
HAD ASKED FOR MORE PAY
Manager Cline of Federal Company
Denies That It Is a Lockout-Will
Probably Increase Salaries.

More than 100 chauffeurs employed by
the local taxicab companies are not at
work as a result of their recent demand
upon the companies for more pay and
fewer hours.
The complaint of the chauffeurs is
that they are required to work from
fourteen to eighteen hours a day for an
average wage of about SO a week.
There Were but few taxcabs on the
streets last night, while cabs and car
r1ages with horses attached to them oc-
cupied the street stands in place Of the
horseless vehicles.
Automobiles Not Sent Out.
Yesterday morning the managers of
the Federal Taxicab Company and the
Auto Livery Company ordered that none
of the taxlcabs or passenger automobiles
be sent out. Following this order not a
horseless vehicle of either company was
on the streets yesterday.
The Terminal Taxicab Company, which
furnishes conveyances at the Union sta
ton, failed to send out some of its en-
ployes, it is said. but had enough taxi
cabs in service to handle the incoming
passengers.
The lockout was brought about by
the members of the Chahffeurs' Protec-
tive Union requesting that their pay be
increased and their days work short
ened They gave the several companies
until D O'Clock yesterday afternoon to
make reply. but did not threaten to go
on strike if their demands were refused
When committee of the union went
to the managers yesterday afternoon at
the hour specified it is said the officers
of some of the companies refused to
recognize the union. One company Is
tod IN off 49,
an increase in pay from 20 to % cents
an hour.
Manager Cline's Statement.
A. l.. Cline, manager of the Federal
Taxicab Company, said last night that he
did not recognize the action of his com
pany as lockout"
I'VE did not send out a cab YESTERDAY
after o'clock in the morning. This
course was decided upon in order to pre-
vent any injury to the cars which might
result in their being left in out-of-the.
way places in case the chauffeurs aban-
doned them. according to their program
as published in the newspapers, and also
to prevent our patrons from being incon-
venienced by being left stranded in the
cabs. We will not send out any cabs
until the situation has been cleared up
We are not discriminating against the
union men. Just SO they do their work
we do not care whether they are union
men or not"
Mr.. Cline was asked whether the chauf-
feurs would get the increase In pay they
demanded.
Our company decided some time age
to give the chauffeurs small increase in
salary" replied Mr.. Cline, land 1t is prob
able that this will be granted. I do not
wish to say at present just what the in.
crease will be. | understand that the
Terminal Taxicab Company also decided
some time ago to raise their salaries, and
that the increases will go into effect Feb
ruary 1.
1.-The chauffeurs work for US by the
hour or on commission" said Mr.. Cline
when asked il the hours of work would
be lessened 'They can work just as
many hours, therefore, as they WISH
A meeting of the Chauffeurs' Union
was held yesterday afternoon at Costel-
los Hall, 9th and G streets, and the sit
uation was discussed. The union is
affiliated with the International Team
sters Union, and it was decided to tel
egraph for some of the international
officers to come to this city and take
charge of the strained situation. A tel
egram was sent and officers from the
general body are expected to reach this
city tomorrow.
During the lockout the chauffeurs will
establish headquarters at some central
point, where the unemployed operators
can assemble.