New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-07

Called to meet at 8 o'clock last night
it was when the lnterborough men,
pathered in Lyceum Hall, in Eighty
sixth Street. ceased cheering William
B. Fitzgerald to listen to P. j. o'brieh'
vice-president Of the Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION. At the time there were l,ooo
in the hall. which was rapidly ming 70
capacity.
"You are called" said O'Brien, big OF
frame and voice and minus coat ana
collar, "to hear the report OF your
committee appointed to take up the
matter in dispute with the INTERIOR
ough. You gave your committee full
power to go ahead, but they have de-
cided to report back to you men that
you might make your own decision"
NJ. j. Curley, president OF the union
of Interborough employees, who had
been comforting on the platform with
P. j. Rooney, Louis b. Fridiger, Hugh
Frayne, organizer OF the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor; George Keenan,, vice
president O. the Amslgamated; James
II. Vahey, the Boston labor lawyer, and
members of the committee, stepped for
ward, a sheet of paper in his hand.
Reports on Negotiations.
Brothers" he began, when O'Brien
had succeeded in again obtaining quiet,
ION Friday, August 81, the employees OF
the marlborough Rapid Transit Com
pany, at special meeting assembled at
the Lyceum, adopted and passed res
olution authorizing this committee TO
make a further demand on the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company for
the return of the contracts of employ
ment signed by the individual mem
bers. for the reasons stated in said
resolutions; and it further provided
that in the event of the failure of the
Interborough TO return same or in the
event of their refusal so to do, that
this committee is given full power and
is authorized to declare suspension
of work on all the lines of the said
marlborough Rapid Transit Company.
"0n the 5th day of September, 1916,
your committee, together with their
spokesman, Messrs. Fitzgerald, 0'Brien,
Shea and Fridiger, met in conference
with Messrs. Hedley, Keegan and
Quackenl ush, the attorney, and, pur-
suant to the power and authority vested
in us by said resolution. we requested
and demanded the return TO the men
of said contracts of employment, upon
the ground mentioned in the said reso-
| luton.
Foresee Long Litigation.
"Mr. Hedley positively refused to re-
turn said contracts, and stated that
each individual employee who desired to
nave his contract returned would have
to go to court and have the same set
aside. This, we have been informed by
Mr.. Fridiger, would be long and
tedious proceeding, and that appeals
that would probably be taken TO higher
courts by the company in the event Of
success on the part of the individual
member who brought the suit, would
probably take years before a final de-
termination would be had.
The officials OF the company were
then asked if they would submit the
question OF the fairness of the con-
tracts of employment. as we'll as the
fairness Of the methods employed in
obtaining signatures, TO board of
arbitration for their determination
and positively refused to arbitrate such
questions.
"The officials were then requested to
lay the whole matter before the Public
Service Commission and let that body
determine the question of the fairness
or unfairness OF the contracts. as well
as the methods used in obtaining sig
natures 70 same. This SIR. Hedley also
refused to do.
Officials Wouldn't Farley.
Every effort was made to adjust this
matter amicably. and our spokesmen
stated TO the officials Of the company
that that was their purpose and their
sole purpose; that they desired no
trouble, and wanted an amicable adjust
ment Of the differences, but no sugges-
ton could be received from Mr.. Hedley.
Mr.. Keegzn or Mr.. Quackenbush except
their positive statement that the only
relief that the men could obtain would
be through the regular court proceed
urc.
while the thousands Of members at
last Fridays meeting by the said reso-
lution suthoyiy vour committee in