Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-29
Employees Threaten to Quit
Tomorrow Unless Griev-
ances Are Adjusted.
ALLEGE A GRAFT SYSTEM
IS OPERATED BY FOREMEN
Other Minor Complaints Are Made
and Small Increase in
Wages Demanded.

Carmen and electrical department
employees of the Washington Terminal
Company today announced that unless
all their existing grievances are ad-
iusted satisfactorily before o'clock
tomorrow morning they will suspend
work
This announcement was contained IN
a communication delivered this morn
ing to A. NJ. Keppel. superintendent OF
the company, and signed by commit
tee representing the employees, the
mans of which have not yet been an
nounced
The grievances mentioned include the
reinstatement of men who are alleged
to have been recently discharged with no
cause a slight increase in wages and,
particularly the permanent removal OF
"foremen implicated in the extortion
of money from employees.
Text of Employees Letter.
The text of the letter TO Mr.. Peppel.
who this morning announced that he
had no communication to make at
present in regard to the affair. is as
follows:
1--WE, the undersigned committee. rep
resenting the Washington Terminal
Company car and electrical depart
ment employees, have been directed TO
advise you that unless the men recent
IL discharged without cause are rein
stated, that all foremen implicated IN
the extortion of money from employ es
are permanently removed and renewed
from all official authority. and all ex-
listing grievances are adjusted salts
factorily to the men, before o'clock
Tuesday morning. May 80. 1916: there
will be a peaceful suspension OF work
on the part of all employees In the
above-named departments
ton is herein clearly set, forth in the
inclosed pamphlet. entitled. Tribute
That Labor Must Pay" which discloses
q thorough system Of graft and dis
elimination, having for long ume
been perpetrated by some Of the Wash
ington Terminal Company officials,
and which on more than one occa-
eion prior to this time has been called
to your full attention without due
consideration and relief"
Alleged System of Graft.
The pamphlet mentioned in the letter
has not yet been made public. L. A.
Sterne. volunteer organiser of the
American Federation Of Labor. who has
been cooperating with George A! Nolte.
general organizer and first vice presi-
dent Of the Brotherhood OF Railway
Carmen of America, with which the
local carmen are AFFILIATED. when asked
to explain concerning the clause re-
ferring to extortion by foremen OF
the mems wages. stated this morning
that it has been proven beyond doubt
that employees had been compelled by
certain of their superiors to pay from
SIS to $50 to receive jobs, and that they
had been liable to discharge If they did
nCt further pay additional sums during
the course of each month
This is the principal reason for the
ultin,atum, although there are other
slight grievances" stated Mr.! sterne-
The conditions leading to this com
municatio are the worst / know OF in
a shop this side of New York. and on in
vestigation have proven, in effect.
palrone system which has entailed
the paying of bonuses by the men,
The employees represented by the
committee are said to number about
600. and to include car inspectors, car
cleaners, icemen, electricians, and all
men having to do with the condition OF
the rolling stock when it starts on
journey. They organized about two
months ago, and have on more than one
aston, according to American FEEDER
alton of Labor officials. asked confer
ences with the company for the settle
I:Ient of grievances which, up till now,
they have been unable to obtain