The sun., 1916-09-08

opOsN " NuGHI ttVV ~
rectors1, but 7 do not see how they can
DO anythinr Inherent. II that u right
on the Railways II is right on the sub
way and right on the elevated"
TIC men. 50 the record shows, asked
ifedlcy to mud out from his board On
this subject. so he might give them an
nswer a few days fo,..'yins. He an
swered
Il do not have to. I will answer you
now. will meet with you on those
policies. I will negotiate with you and
tslk with YOU and gather with you in
these meetings for the. Intcrboroush
Rapid Transit Company on precisely
the same policies ! am doing on the
railways"
Then on the 3o,h of August" In
quired Cohen. you were in accord. that
YOU and the marlborough officials That
you could not settle in conference
was to 20 to arbitration"
Yes. sir
Refused Then 20 Nrbitrate.
Hcdlcy refused on Septembc. : to
arhi;ratc on the working contracts that
had been signed by the marlborough
men. James l.. Quackenbush. counsel for
the marlborough. supported him In this
refusal.
Did you concur with the suggestion
OF Mr.. Fridigsr that the in
which these contracts were secured
should be left to arbitration" asked
Cohen. Fitzgerald said he did. and
was willing that the point be decided
by the Public Service Commission.
How does II happen. then. that with
an agreement to arbitrate which you
regarded as binding the company as
we'll as yourself In the marlborough and
New York Railways situation. that ready
as you were on the 9Th Of September
to submit the matter to public investisa-
ton and inquiry and decision, on the
9Th OF September a strike takes place
OH both lines without any formal re-
, quest OF this commission for an inves-
tigation OF the facts on your part?
We want your answer 10 that as fully
and frankly as you can give it,
THE OFFER" said Fitzgerald. was
made on the part OF ourselves. the cm-
pioyees. men representing the employees.
to arbitrate the fairness or the unfairness
OF the service contract hat was being
circulated among the lnterborough men.
Yesterday MIR. Hedley said that he was
going to circulate and secure signatures.
and II was contemplated and we assumed
that II his position was not to arbitratc
the question OF the fairness or the un-
fairness about the marlborough and the
service contract. that his position was
going to be the same upon the New York
Railways. he being the manager and the
same oficial for both companies.
Psts strike Up TO Hedie..
1T was Their brought pack to the men,
and whatever has taken place has taken
place on the mems own free will. Bu,
had Frank Hedley said to us yesterday
1 w. usil mt ctr.,lata tlnSa lnffars
among the surface men. or we will arbi-
trate.' which was just As much his duty
az u duty. there would have been nc
strike on the green car lines this morn
ing"
Now. Mr.. Fitzgerald" asked Cohen
'in order that We may have 1t on the
record, II is your conclusion that thC
difficulty is due to our belief that the
management Of the railroad Is really
seeking to destroy your organization OF
prevent II from going into the railwa.
system. Is that the fact?'
ut Is belief and fact replied Fitz'
gerald with emphasis.
do you think honestly tina, the public
should be suffering the inconvenience OF
= strike when the ..s.c between you AND
the company Is whether the company
has. In good faith. lived up to Its agree
ment not to intimidate or coerce the
men"
II want to say in answer to that. Mr.
, Cohen. that there Isn't any one who re
Rrets and more sincerely regrets that thu
city Of New York Is disconnected with
their transportation facilities than I do
that I arm not responsible that the EN-
ployees are not responsible that the Of
hcials OF this company are the ones who
are directly responsible for any trouble
| Among the street railway mon OF this
city.
speaks Of Duty TO Workers.
III It comes to an issue that the live,
OF working. people are going to b.
jeopardized and the positions and liveli
hoods taken from them, and we arr
going to sit idly by. because II means al
inconveniencing Of the people Of New
York. the livelihood Of these men an'
their liberties are more to me than tn
inconveniencing OF the people II New
York"
When Mr.. Shonts was called as a wit
ness he aid In answer to a question
that whatever Mr.. Hedley said to thu
men was in behalf OF the company. Thu
president of the two roads led up t.
the time the strike was called.
II had supposed. until l read tn
papers Saturday morning. September 2
everything was harmonious they hat
adjourned from one Wednesday to an
other Wednesday at 2:30 o'clock. A
this meeting on Thursday with the rail
ways. In which they had injected thi'
other element. when I picked up tn
newspapers end read that they had thi
meeting and passed this resolution AM
} lodged this power In Mr.. Fitzgerald. an'
Mr.. Fitzgerald was repor,cd In tn
papers as saying that II the INTERIOR
; ough did not cancel these contracts h
was going to- tie up the city Of New
York from The Bronx to Coney Island
> said It va pretty near time that W
should get busy. II that was the spirit ii
which the matter was being handled
. that II was time for US to get Busy t
see II We could not protect our rights"
;. COMPANY Rescinded Action.
Now. Mr.. shonts. the interpretation
according to Mr.. Fitzgerald's testimony
of Mr.. Hedley's statement was that tn
company was really contemplating I
nut these agreements into circulation |
the railways situation. as It had alread,
done in the subway and elevated situa
> ton. Now I understand your testimon,
to be that that Is not the fact. that tn
company had no such intention. that a
the time It had actually decided not I
do II. Is that a fact?
THAT Is the fact, as the record q
!, the minutes will show
WAS Mr.. Hedley present.
"Oh. no."
.He did not know then at this con
ference what action had been taken b
the board Of directors"
MOT that I know Of"