Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-03
TERMINAL RAILWAY
EMPLOYEES STRIKE
Car and Electrical Department
Men Quit After Wage De-
mand Is Rejected.
ABOUT $50 MEN Affected


partment and electrical department Of the
| Washington Terminal Railway Company
| walked out shortly before noon today. aft
er having been treating for several months
,, with officials of the Terminal Company.
When the conference committee repre-
senting the Brotherhood of Railroad Car
men. after a conference with Supt.
w. J. Wilson of the Terminal. passed
| the word to the men that their wage and
time demands had been rejected, several
hundred of them dropped their tools and
with their overalls and jumpers in bundles
under their arms marched to their hall at
304 B street southeast
This small army Of workmen attracted
great deal Of attention as they marched
up 80 street. but they were warned by J.
r. McCreery, general vice president OF the
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen. to make
no demonstration. Groups Of boys who had
been laying in supplies of torpedoes and
other noise producers for the celebration
OF the Fourth of July took the occasion to
start premature celebration. This was
hushed quickly by the leaders Of the
strikers
Final Demand This Morning.
The final demand on Supt. Wilson was
made this morning after a meeting at
304 B street by the conference commit
tee, consisting of r. c. Compton. chair
man; ]. A. Allen, representing the shop
mon; e. b. Hornig. representing the
electricians and Pietro Dintino, repre-
senting the cleaners. icers and water
men. The latter is leader Of the Italians
known as Pete
Mr.. McCreery, representing the men,
says that the walkout directly affects
about $50 men. and that according to
the early reports all obeyed the call
except about five men.
Supt. Wilson, speaking for the tor
minal company. said that probably only
about half that number have quit, and
that the company is in good shape to
handle the situation. No serious delay
in handling the trains will be expert
enced, he says
Regarding the matters in controversy
between the employees and the company.
statements were obtained by The Star
from each side.
Mr.. McCreery. as spokesman for the
men. says that for about three months
they have been deferring this action
from patriotic and other motives. At the
time of the inaugural celebration they
withheld action at the request of the De-
partment Of Labor. and at that time they
acquiesced to suggestions made by
Conciliator Blackman and later have been
poys
Refused to Sign Rules.
esst. men n hsSs essn ..s ssfssas J..
rand the highest any q them receive i
a day. We saw Mr.. Wilson today and
requested set Of rules which are prac-
tically the same as have been in effect,
but which he refused to sign. We asked
10 cents an hour increase and an eight
hour day.
'"The answer of the company is that
they are willing to compare rates Of
the Terminal with the Iates paid by
more and Ohio and the Pennsylvania.
These in some cases are lower than
the carmen in the Terminal employ are
receiving. We do not consider this a
railroad proposition. The terminal is
located entirely in Washington and
does not run out OF Washington, It
should be governed by conditions which
exist in Washington and not as they
may be in other places along these
two railroads where 1t may be possible
for the employees to get cheaper living.
The carmen and electricians include
many skilled men and the rate of pay
Is in many cases less than is being
paid today in Washington for unskill-
ed labor"
Superintendent Wilson. speaking for
the Terminal Company. said: I'VE have
increased the pay for common labor to
are looking into the rates of the B. &
O. and the p, B. & W., which own the
terminal. and in fact into the rates for
the entire eastern territory Of which
the terminal is part. The men would
not give the company time to make any
investigation. They wanted their de-
mand met at once. for eight hours and
time and half for overtime. Their
delay of trains. as we are in excellent
shape to care for all traffic