The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-04
CAR WALKOUT.
SCHEDULED FOR
TUESDAY NIGHT
Not a Wheel Win Turn Wed
nesdas Unless City Provides
Relief Declares Head Of
Local Union.

LuGdi UillUIls
Memphis faces a.street car strike that
VIII completely tie -up the service
wednesday morning unless the city
commission comes to the rescue in
passing mn ordinance allowing the car
company to Increase Its fares IRON to
. or cents. ",
''In this event. said @. u. Arm
strong, secretary treasurer of the Mem
phis Street Garmeit's union, there must
be some guarantee that the carmen will
get the increase allowed by the national
war labor board which calls for a new
scale OF Sc 70 40 cents an hour for con-
uuctors, motormen, barn and shopmen.
Superlntendeiit ~ w Ford said Mon
day II the strike is in effect Wednes-
day morning no attempt win he made
to operate any cars
Discussing the thtreatened strike
Mayor Monteyerde said Monday:
A strike WIN not In any way affect
my attitude itregard to the passage OF
an ordinance giving the Street Railway
company a slx-oeht fare during the
vote remains MS II was. | pledged my
self when running for office not to stand
Tor tho granting 'sof any increase in
fares for the street railway company
until the people had voted on the propo-
ssition. and made their recommenda-
Further than this the mayor had
nothing to say
The emergency ordinance. for n Six
cent fare for the street railway com
pany was 20 have been published In
The News Scimltar Monday, and the
ordinance passed on first reading Tues
day.
In a conference with the mayor Mon
day, City Attorney Livingston advised
the mayor 10 pAss the ordinance on two
readings hetogeiealllng for the referell-
dun vote. fNh& MAYOR insisted that IL
sslaise bN plnSs NJ ths oEd dl15slWce call
EShe fps ~ fsss M ailrs L n 4 ssAss'ssA'
II the people vote TO give relief ia
the company, then the emergency ord
reading and the company VIII get war
time relief sought; II they vote against
increased fares, the emergency ord
nance will be defeated on third and
final reading.
In a letter sent to President 4. II.
Tutwiler. of the Memphis Street Rail
way ayscompany President c. II. Scott, OF
the Street Carmen's union, officially
notified him that unless the wage diff
ference was settled at the close OF busi
ness Tuesday evening the men would
refuse to return to work Wednesday
morning.
There liz considerable talk that II the
city commission does not satisfy the
street car company in the matter of an
ordinance for an increased fare, holders
OF first and second mortgages on the
Memphis Street Railway company may
go into the federal court seeking to en-
join the war labor board from enforcing
Its rule on grounds that such an order
means nothing more or less than the
coffiscation Of the companys property
Secretary Armstrong said there are
about 440 conductors, motormen barn
men and shopmen who have Joined the
union and that every one. OF thep Will
obey the order of the officers to walk
out Tuesday night at close OF business.
Only about 10 nonunlon men are now
employed by the street car company
said Armstrong. They are said TO be
young boys, Most OF the nUnunion men
Joined the ranks of the union at the
meeting held Sunday night.
The final action, to decide a strike
came without dissenting voice, said
Armstrong The meeting adjourned
about 1880 o'clock Monday morning,
and by o'clock official action taken at
the meeting was written and handed to
President I, II. Tutwiler.
The old wage scale affecting employees
by which the street railway company
agrees to pay men from Fl TO 2S cents
an hour became effective In July. 1915,
following a strike of carmen that lasted
several hours. The contract between
the railway company and the union ex-
pired Aug I. 1918, and the ruling OF
the war labor board calls for the new
wage scale to become effective Aug. l.,
1913. 1t Is to last for the duration Of
respondence between the Memphis
Street Railway company, officers OF the
Street Garments union and the national
war labor board.
Need Increase.
"Thls increase In wages will add
substantially to the operating cost Of
the company. The company is now
In a falling condition and 1t needs and
is entitled to a reconsideration by the
proper authorities Of the fare which
It shall be allowed by law to collect
from its passengers.
1.-The company's Just claim for AN
increase In fares does not rest upon
any right to dividend upon capital
long invested In the enterprise. The
increase in fare must be given because
receipts to keep this street railway
running, 30 that 1t may meet the local
and national demand for it's service
The credit of the company In floating
bonds Is gone, It's ability to borrow
on short notes, If any, is limited The
eXigency presented arises because Of
the great increase In wages. The pub
lie should pay an adequate war com
pensation for service which can not
be rendered except for war prices"
FolloN ing the boards ruling there
was "A meeting between the street car
union and officers of the street railway
company. when President Tutwiler no
titled the men that the company cnuld
not pay the increase unless an increase
in fares was allowed by the city.
Secretary G. T.. Armstrong, OF the
street carmen'g union, said Monday