Evening journal., 1918-05-31
lContlnued From FIrst page.l

the cars. II they vote against arbltra-
tion the tie-up will continue.
Here Is the statement issued by the
striking trolleymen:
/ The conductors and motormen OF
the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company went out on
strike this morning because OF the
refusal Of the company TO grant a
general t0-cent increase IN the wage
Of the men above their present
wage rate.
&C. T. HAYDEN.
HARRY A. BELL.
ID. T. BANKE,
ROBERT CANNON.
FRANK W1NDGATE,
'P. r. DEPUTY,
Committee for the Men"
Here is the statement Of General
Manager Wilson, OF the Traction Com
pany:
The men went out on strike de-
manding a i0-cent increase above
their present scale Of wages which
would mean a 80 per cent. increase
above the present rate. The men
were offered a cent increase TO be
dated back TO May 1st, their pay
envelopes on Tuesday 10 contain the
increase as well as the back increas-
ed pay. The men refused the offer.
II. W. WILSON.
Later Mr.. Wilson issued the follow
ing supplemental statement:
Notwithstanding our promise TO in
crease the wages Of our trainmen six
cents per hour. said increase 10 date
back to May first, and TO be payable
when the Utility Commission would
approve our application for a six cent
trolley fare, our trainmen this morn
ing without warning refused to run the
cars. We Immediately got In touch
with our trsinmen and found that they
demanded an immediate increase OF ten
cents per hour. or about 80 per cent.
over their present rate Of wages. We
have been in conference with them all
morning in an effort 10 have them re-
sumo service and have told them that
II would be necessary TO charge a seven
cent fare TO enable US to meet their
demands. We have made them the fol-
lowing proposition.
THAT we Will give them an increase
or six cents per hour over their pres
ent rate OF wages dating from MAY 1
1913, to be payable on their next pay
day, June s. and that the balance four
cents per hour we would leave 10 ar
the men 10 appoint two ar
bitrators. the company two arbitrators
and these four to select nth arbltra-
tor. The men VIII take a vote on this
this afternoon at 22Ol
o'clock.
Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
tion Company,
IT w. Wilson.
"Nice-President and General Manager"
Mr.. Wilson todN denied emphatlcslly /
he report that had spread among the /
trolleymen that the extra men
engaged for Memorial Day were 10 re-
,eive 30 cents an hour. or s. for the
lay. 1T Is absolutely untrue" Mr.. |
Wilson asserted. THE extra men re-
'eived the same wages as the regular
men,"
The strikers did not refer to this in
heir demands. which were for a ten
increase.
John c. Saylor. Federal Labor super
'isor for this district, this afternoon
that John J. S Rogers, Of the
Bureau Of Labor at Washington, would
rriye in Wilmington this afternoon
o inquire into the situation in behalf
4 the Government
While there were rumors that the
Government might take over the oper-
tlon Of the trolley system for ship
ard and munitions workers. nothing
eflnte toward that had developed up
o early this afternoon.
The trolleymen are holding their
meetings In room OF the traction
Ompany at the car barns.
The men were just about TO leave
he room after their first meeting with
he understanding that another meeting
would be held this evening at s O'Clock,
ccording TO the announcement made
" c. T. Hayden, who acted as chair
nan for the men, when Mayor Lawson
nd City Solicitor Bayard arrived. The
oor was turned over to the Mayor and
he City Solicitor and after listening to
he offer made by Thomas W. Wilson
o the men granting a six-cent increase
o take effect at once and dating back !
increased pay TO May 4, suggested that
committee be chosen to act for the
len. This was done and the commit
ee Joined the Mayor. Mr.. Bsyard and /.
fr. Wilson in conference. After the
oinference City Solicitor Bayard, on
ehaf Of the entire committee told the ,,
trikers Of the results as follows:
That the company was ready II the i.
len would return to work at once. to 4
lcrease the wage scale at the rate of !,
cent for every years service. making =
SO cents for the first year. BIC for T
he second year, $50 for the third and :
for those who worked for the COM i
any more than three years. This in =
-ease would be made regardless OF /
hat action the Utility Commission
Ikes regarding the proposed increase p
! the fare. The company also offered =
} amend the petition Of the Utility !,
ommlssion and ash that an increase n
csrfsre to seven cents should be r.
'anted. Should the Utility Commission Y
-ant the increase to Z cents the COM h
any would grant the additional 4 cents q
crease In the scale OF wages making T
Ie increase total 10 cents over the D
Ie present scale. a
After listening TO the proposition as O
esented a vote was taken and the A
opposition of the company defeated by .,
lanimous vote by the strikers. n
A second conference was held. The n
suit Of 1t was an offer by the COM IL