Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-11-18
trustees Instruct Commit
tee Petition Council Kill
Two-Man Crew Law.
CARMEN WILLING
IF WAGES RAISED
Correspondence Between Chamber Of
commerce and Labor Council Shows
Garments Union Adopted ResOlu-
ti0n Covering the Question.

The street car situation was virtu-
aily the only matter outside of rou-
fine business that was discussed yes
terdav at the regular meeting of the
trustees of the chamber of commerce,
and following the discussion the trus-
tees instructed the special committee
in charge of the matter to proceed
with the circulation of petitions, to
be addressed to the city council, urg-
ing the repeal of the city ordinance
which demands that two-men crews
be operated on all street cars.
A month or more ago the matter
was taken up by the trustees, at a
regular meeting, and at that time it
was decided that petitions be circu-
lated. to obtain signatures of local
people, and thus to place the matter
before the city aldermanic body, that
they might consider again the advisa
bility of repeating the ordinance. Be-
fore the special committee began it's
labors, however, the Central Trades
council asked that a. conference be
held with Representatives of the cen
trail labor body, relative to the mat
ter. Such conference was held, and
some correspondence was exchanged.
At yesterdays session the special
committee referred the entire situa-
ton back to the trustees, asked for
further instructions, and were in
structed to circulate the petitions.
Developments Interesting.
Following Yesterdays session of
the trustees, the correspondence in
the matter was given to the press,
for the benefit and information of the
public.
The correspondence created some
interest, especially SO far as relates
to letter from Secretary T. A. Wilson,
secretary of the Central Trades coun-
Gil, which contained a copy of reso-
lutions by the Street Garments union,
agreeing to return to the one-man
crew system if the wages of motor
men and conductors were raised s
cents an hour. The publication of
the correspondence brings this fact
to public attention for the first time
The trustees had expected another
letter from the Central Trades coun-
Gil before yesterdays session, but
none was received, doubtless because
of the fact that President w. B. Hicks
and Secretary T. A. Wilson have been
out of the city the greater part of the
time the past fortnight or longer.
The correspondence in full as Civ
en- out yesterday is as follows:
The Correspondence.
"Pine Bluff. Ark, Nov. 81, 1916.
III. I. Holderness, president, Cham
Der Of Commerct.
"Dear Sir:
Relative to conference between
yourself and our president, w. B.
Hicks, and committee of the Central
Trades council, in Your office on the
night of October goth, regarding re-
cent published. decision of the board
Of directors of the Chamber of Com
merce to circulate among the citizens
a petition to the city council for the
purpose of allowing the street car
company to operate its cars under
the one man system.
"This body will deem it an especial
favor if your people will grant us an
opportunity to present to you our OBJ
jections to the system, before the Pc
tition is circulated.
"Would ask that. if it can be so ar
ranged by you, that meeting or your
board of directors be called, at when
time our committee will take pleasure
in meeting with you. 49,,
eff such action is taken favorapty
and we are notified of date OF meet
ing, it will be taken as an especial
favor by our organization.
every truly yours,
"W. B. HICKS. President.
"T. A. WILSON, Secretary"
To- Chamber of Commerce IN tue
following letter invited representa-.
tives of the Trades Council to meet
with them on the night of Oct. ~:
"October 25, 1916.
''W. B. Hicks, president; T. A. wilson
secretary, Central Trades COUNCIL
City.
Gentlemen:
President H. I. Holderness, on yes,
terday referred to me for reply oi
your esteemed favor of the 2lst, rela-
tive to a former action taken by TINS
organization with regard to clrcula'-