The Detroit times., 1910-04-09
DUR. AND CAR men
T|LL-sTAAD PAT IN
WAGE DISPUTE :.
Hutchins and Mahon Exchange Let
tiers, Both Refusing Flatiy To -'
Recede From Positions Pre-
y ~visusly Taken. -
Men Name Jofn Mcvicar as Arb.
traitor, But VIII Consent To Open
Wage Clause Only.
"The company cannot aaord 10 pay

80 cents an hour. We will arbitratt
the whole agreement or nothing.
This Is In substance the reply sub
mitted by President Jere c Hutchins
kof the Detroit United railway, TO In
\ ternational President w. ID. Mahon
N OF the street car mems union, Friday
morning, in response 10 the demands
OF the companys motormen and con
\ ductors for an advance in wages &c
80 cents an hour and time and one
half for overtime,
President Mahon and the local agree
ment committee at once drafted q
reply which was submitted TO Presi
dent - Hutehins Friday afternoon
charging. the company with openina
mp the wage clause in the agreement
by arbitrarily changing the wage rate;
and offering TO arbitrate the wage
question alone. AS an evidence OF
Their willingness TO arbitrate- this
basis, the men name John McVicar as
their Arbitrator. Surprise IS expressed
~ the letter at the attitude taken by
the D.fU. -R. -o,e.
Thus, the warning factions are ap
parenuy no nearer a settlement than
before. President Mahon's letter calls
Tor another reply from Mr.. Hutchins
~ IT Is not satisfactory Presiden,
Q-ahon's next move will probably be
20 take the matter up with the execu
tive committee OF the Amalgamated
'Association OF Street and Electric Raj!
way Employees of America with a view
70 calling the men out.
Mr.. Hutchins' letter follows: -
April s, 1910
William d. Mahon, Esq, President
Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway EN-.
ployes r-~of America, Detroit,
Mich: a.,o,ao, .... .aa..
Dear Sir; ..As | promised you
on Wednesday last, when you
called upon me. accompanied by
the, officers and the local commit
tee OF Division No. 20 OF your as
y ISOLATION, that We would give due
consideration tC what was said TO
us and advise you, beg to say:
II understand correctly, Di-
vision No. 26 has declared by a
n majority vote of it's members that
strike vote is advisable unless
and conductors a fat rate of 80
cents an hour and 40 cents an
x hour for overtime. and that this
N question has been referred under
your bylaws, to yourself as presi-
dent" ana the executive commit
tee'of the national association for
Ratification r" """.''t+. '~H
We realize cur total inability,
out Of the income received from
the public, to comply with such
demands. OF our own volition,
the scale we are now paying is %,
20 and q cents an hour, while the
agreement in effect between us
provides for a maximum scale OF
rs cents---the higher rate we are
paying, having been in effect for
some SIX months.
Analysed, this rate OF pay means
that our niotormen and conductors
are paid for their service more
than cne-fourth OF the average
fare received by the company. and
IA know OF no city like Detroit in
America or any other country
where the rates being paid equal
ours. And while this is true, the
rates of fare in effect In Detroit.
from which the revenue must be
derived to pay wages, are lower
than those in effect in other Amer
lean cities. And there is a per-
sistent demand that these rates
Of fare shall be lower,
Article No. 20 OF the agreement
In force between us specifically
provides as follows:
This agreement and the pro-
visions thereof shall continue in
force and be binding upon the re-
spective parties hereto until such
time as II may be- changed by the
mutual consent of both parties or
their duly constituted representa-
n tives." --.----~-- 30.
In view-of the binding agree
ment between US, as expressed in
Article 26, above quoted. our off,
GERS have from time to time with.
IN the fastsfca asv;7f os,Sscsegess =
the various features OF the agree
ment with representatives OF the
association. These more or less in
formal discussions OF the matter
have resulted, insofar as I can
understand offy IN specific de-
mand for an advance in wages in
no way justified under the agree
ment or by the company's income.
We have, therefore, declined 10
. open the agreement for that spe-
cific purpose alone, availing our
selves OF our equal rights as set
forth in Article %. and following
your own well-established prece-
dent when, under that article. you
refused on our request in a time OF
severe depression 10 open the
agreement for our relief in the
matter OF wages.
III the agreement between us has
any binding force whatever upon
you or upon us, Article 26 must
continue TO bind both parties now
as II has done in the past; until it
shall nave been replaced by
properly negotiated new or amend
n ed agreement between us. ..... 81,
| am now AM always have been
ready % discuss with you our re-
Iations with a view TO the hest i'm
terests OF. everybody CONCERNED
Y But ! am not Wiling to set. aside
and disrupt any of our existing
covenants without the consent OF
both parties.
Last fan, Approaching the m;
creased cost or ffviffg, the com.
pany advnrred-tnv rares-uf pay to
the extent of~fts ability to meet
this condition, and in other ways
has met increased expenses that
IN the aggregate place upon II tho
ffeatosy burden that ns-Income