The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
STRIKE ON
NATIONAL LINES NEAR
Tranway Company, Too, HaviRa
Its Trouhles.

1t is predicted that as soon as the
properties Of tho National Railways are
returned to the company h latter will
have on its hands 4 general strike Of all
it's employees for higher wages, shorter
hours. recogrpion u the union n spe-
cisl privileges which win contribute still
more to cripple II in the face of It's other
d~inicuities The employees Of the Con-
stitutionalist administration Of the Ma
tional Railways, who are the same men
employed by the company In normal
times. declared themselves on \ strike
the other day and on that account the
service Of trains between Mexico and
the northern frontier suffered still an
other cause for interruption. The au-
thortties. who openly aid and encourage
strikes against private concerns. soon
put a stop to this n against them
selves.
A decree was published in the oficial
press stating that as the railways had
been taken over for military purposes all
their employees were considered as SUBJ
ject to military rule n would be pun
ished a. mutinied soldiers and military
officers II they refused to work and carry
out their duty hat any hindrance to
the movement Of trains and the free
working Of the railways would be con.
sidered a. sedition and hat the admin.
~istration would under no circumstances
tolerate any obstruction on the part OF
the labor unions or recognise the rights
Of the latter to foment strikes against
IL through the employees Of companies
whose properties II had taken Over fol-
operation.
The Mexico Light and Power Conpan,
and the Mexico Tramway Company
allied British concerns. which from tn,
standpoint OF capitalization are amonl
the most important In the republic ant
employ many thousands of workmen
have been heavy sufferers through de
struction, ruin Inc taking over OF thei
properties BY the revolutionary admins
trations and strikes on the part Of theit
employees fomented by the latter. prin
cipally tho ConstitutionalistA. An idei
toward foreign capital In general ma,
be obtained by a glance at the misfor
tunes OF this great combined e~nterpris
since the trouble reached southern
Mexico.
Properties Taken Over.
The properties Of the Mexico Tram
way Company were taken over by tn
Constitutionalists on October Is, lsl\
following a general strike Of all 1t
employees for higher wages, shorte
hours. privileges and recognition Of thei
union As empowered TO dictate whethe
the company has the right to discharg
employees. hli vacancies and tho like. A
the company had already been losin
money, fares for points within the cit
limits OF Mexico being six centavos, O
less than one cent American money. tn
company refused to accede to the d.
mands of the strikers, who we're or
c%ouraged by Gen. Heriberto lara, Con
stitutionalist Governor Of the FEEDER,
district, and the properties were take
over for operation BY the authoritie
who promised the employees to satisf
their demands.
Under the Constitutionalist admins
tration the employees Of the tramwa
company OF Mexico have received Nv
raises In pay. The frst. which va
granted them In January last. wal Il
so per cent. on all wages OF three psst
, and less q day. 20 per cent. on wag,
|, Of from three to six pesos, 81 per Ger
on wages OF from six to seven pesos ar
2b per . on wager Of from seven
> nine pesos.
/ Wages were raised again In the san
proportion last August. The tramws
, employees pscently threatened to 70 {
{ another strike for hiEher wages, b
their committee sent to treat with n
authorities about tho matter was jail,
! and they were made to understand tn
their conduct was unpatriotic In hampe
: ing the administration at the preseI
time with their demands.
Tramway company ofnclals are expee