Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-25

0u1ihoSS SUiCe HootH SVo
 ! SHORE LINE TRoLLEYMEN STATE THEIR POSITION (continued from Page Two.) against The Shore Line Electric Rail-
 way Co. in it's fight against right? In any manufacturing industry, the management is free to squander and
 waste it's resources whether material or labor, because no one suffers the de-
 struction but the owner. Such is not
 true, however, of a public utility such as trolley or steam railroad and any organization directing the policy and operating such utilities are nor ally-if not legally-boInd to apply Its resources in the most efficient man ner. In this particular it will be in teresting for us to submit few per- tnent points for your consideration. You have all studiously watched the conductor as he used to tear a curi- ous small piece of paper from a small tin box and slip it into a small spring high over your head This is known
 as the Duplex System-a product of
 MT. Perkins brain. We find an an swer why The Shore Line Co. is the the fact that MT. Perkins has a patent on this family pet. It is burden to the conductor. and the tremendously increased clerical force in. the main l onice, and nuisance to the passen- ger. l. There has been considerable adverse criticism among the former patrons of the company relative to reducing the number of white poles particularly on the Putnam lines. Abundant rancor still exists in the minds of these same people because some of the most ac- commodating and best patronized cars were eliminated regardless of public sentiment. The company has main tained a Public be- Damned" attitude | and considered the public lived to ride on their sacred cars
 The large touring cars bought and maintained by the company is elo- quent evidence. of squander. Who ever saw any of the officials riding on a lowly trolley car? Are they made of a superior clay that entitle them
 to greater luxury than the travelling public? Bear in mind the public has to pay for those luxuries and gross in ef3iciency in the form of a higher and higher fare!
 The notornnen and conductors have been subjected to the rigid rules of a steam road. An attempt has been
 made to introduce such complicated piece of machinery on these Putnam lines. It is an attempt to put a Packard 12 cylinder motor onto a Ford body! Rather a difficult. operation when the machiniSt is not thoroughly conversant with Packards.
 Why is it not a legal crime as much as it is moral crime to destroy or squander the resources of public utility? We have brought these facts
 to your attention to show you the present management of The Shore Line Electric Railway Co. has not only
 sa crificed its honor by breaking it's
 signed agreement but it also does not
 merit the confidence of the employees or the public.
 We ask justice. A wage sufficient
 to maintain a family according to American standards of living. We commend for your consideration a statement of the wages recently granted during the period of our con
 .Boston-soc per hour.
 Worcestershire per hour.
 Proyidence-5sc per hour.
 Shore Line-42 1-2c per hour.
 in the state The Shore Line system connects with Providence and Wor- cester lines where the employees are paid IS 1-2c and IA 1-2c more per hour! We do not expect the same wages but1.we do expect fairer
 Any statement that our wages ave- ragged $4o.ee-s5o,0o per week is as false as it is humorous. Our average wage. was approximately one half of " to get that.
 The time has arrived for the public to demand the real motive behind the action of The Shore Line Electric Co. Is Fit a. play for state aid; is it an attempt to drive organized labor and all collective Bargaining from it's sys- tenn; is it an attempt to willfully run the system into the hands of a re- ceiver? Weydo not know, The public and we are on common ground. We welcome a thorough. searching inves- tigation of, our record as employees. Does The Shore Line Electric Railway Co. as employer grant the same free. dom to an. impartial board which commands the confidence of the pub lie and ourselves? When that has been effected a new and advanced phase of this situation will have been on the part of all will accomplish this result.
 It is not necessary to stretch the imagination to realize if the system failed under the present management to secure sufficient revenue wher public sympathy was unified it vii fail to a greater degree now that pub lie sympathy has been aEenated- This sen ntiment viii prevail until the stig ma of dishonor has been erased iron the records of the management of Tho Shore Line Electric Railway Co.
 We will call attention to those re sponsible for this trouble that it vii not remain local. It. will spread to { EreGter and greater area and the heavy hand of public condemnation