New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-04

panies New York Railways and queens
County,. They are what have been Sc.
forth in the previous controversy with
the Third Avenue Railway system:
First. right of recogniticn; second
the increasc scalc of wages; third. the
right Of the1kommittecs Of workingmen
20 meet with the company officials on
disputes or grievances.
"lf these men. after r reasonable
time. which they certainly have given
the companies, before the Commission
started any proceedings oil
course. we did not know il was III
Your minds--if they adopt this course
and walk out, the public will believe
that they have the expression OF opln-
ion from the Public Service Commas
sion. through it's chairman, that they
are at fault, irrespective of the merits
of this controversy. ] am going 10 re-
spectfully ask Mr.. Chairman to kindly
amend the statement previously made
that whoever changes this situation
will be at fault, for the public Will
take il to mean we arc at fault as lar
as the merits of this controversy are
concerned, and that the workingmen
have not any real rights in this what
ever"
failed to see how the employees case
would be prejudiced and long col
loouy followed. The chairman again
cautioned the men not to put them
selves in prejudiced position. lie
denied that his statement favored the
company's position; he said that the
commission sought information for the
public as to where the equities lay and
to set policy for the future avoidance
Of these difficulties.
"Only one interest-the railroad
companies" insisted Mr. Frldlger,
urged on by President Mahon and Cen
eral Organizer William ID. Fitzgerald,
"can be benefited by your remarks.
They now have official sanction. That
is exactly what they hoped for"
Mr.. Cook declared that the company
would have to bow to the report of the
commission, which would have the
force Of public ojinion if not of law.
He said the company would not dis
charge any man for joining the union.
Wont the chairman" persisted Mr..
Fridiger, "kindly, beg OF you, in all
fairness, either amend or withdraw
your statement? Why, the companies
could not find enough money in their
treasures to get that expression OF
official sanction"
Straus Won't Recede.
~ admire your persistency," con-
Guided Mr.. Straus, but what | said
applies as much to you as to the
others. Instead Of Directing, ! think
you ought to be thankful because |
am telling you what will be public
opinion
President Maher of the Third Avenue
system, then called TO the stand, testi-
fed about the resolution of the COM
pany's board OF directors, which left
the employees demands in the hands OF
President Whitridge. Whitrdge, said
Mr.. Maher, when he went TO Europe on
July Is, instructed the companys OFF,
GERS in case of a strike on the Yonkers
and Westchester lines to put the cars
in the barn and wait for the city TO
take action toward resembling an ordi-
nance relating to the operation OF cars
in Yonkers and Westchester
What was his position on arbitra-
tion?" asked Julius Henry Cohen,
counsel to the commission in the strike
inquiry.
"None. His position was clearly set
forth at the last conference with the
men," said Mr.. Maher. "in which he
said there was nothing TO arbitrate.
Mr.. Maher could not tell why Mr..
Whitridge opposed arbitration Of
wages with the Westchester and Yon-
kers men. Later, Mr.. Maher explained
that, as far as he was concerned. the
company would treat with the union
already existing in Westchester.