New-York tribune., 1919-08-15
Car Men Ask
500 Raise ON
ain of Strike
/. II. T. Brotherhood Makes
Demand That Exceeds
That of Amalgamated,
and Puts Blame on City

The Brotherhood of Interborough
Rapid Transit Employees announced yes
terday that it was preparing to make
demands for shorter hours and higher
pay that would throw the standards set
by the Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway Employees,
who engineered the B. r. T. strike,
into insignificance.
The l. r. T. men, officials of the
brotherhood said, want so per cent
Increase and an eight hour day. They
have included these demands in an ul-
timatum to be served on the city off,
cials and Public Service Commission.
1t will be accompanied by the threat to
tie up every car in the city unless the
men get what they want.
"The reason the Interborough isn't
getting more money is because the city
officials are playing politics." M. j.
Mangan, secretary Of the brotherhood,
said yesterday. "We've held off long
enough. We want wages that will let
US live decently, and We'll get them or
tie up the whole system Well make
the Mayor walk across the bridge, and
that's more than the Amalgamated
could do in 1916"
Meanwhile tho Amalgamated is 60
ing ahead with its plans to organize the
lnterborough workers along it's own
lines. A mass meeting toward that end
will be held tonight.
To-night's meeting was decided upon
at an all-day meeting of officers of tho
Amalgamated organization at the Con-
tinental Hotel. 1t was agreed that the
strength of the union was sufficient
to warrant this mass meeting and a
possible strike order if the temper
of the workers called for such action.
Judge Julius M. Mayer, who ap-
pointed Receiver Lindley NJ. Garrison,
of the B. r. 7. lines, and who is
judicial overseer Of the properties, yes
terday sent a letter to Frederick P.
Royce, manager of the lines and official
representative of the receiver, in which
he officially recognizes the Amalga-
mated union.
This recognition was the most i'm
portant demand Of the union officials
and removes the last obstacle in the
way of sessions Of the arbitration body
that will fix the wages of the men.
Judge Mayors letter follows:
I'm accordance with paragraph l Of
the strike settlement agreement of Au-
gust 8, 1919, | beg to inform you that
it has been established to the satisfac-
ton of Public Service Commissioner
Nixon and myself that at midnight,
August 8, 1919, employees Of the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit system eligible to
membership in the Amalgamated As
sociation were enrolled members Of
said association to the extent of over
so per cent of such employees so
eligible
81 am writing you direct in the alb
sence of Receiver Garrison, in view Of
the fact that he requested that you
take up matters during his absence.
"You will please, therefore, proceed
as arranged with Judge Garrison be-
fore he went away.
'"The next step under the agreement
is to entertain the grievances presented
by the committee headed by E. D..
Smith, or such substitutes for such
committeeman as may be properly sub
stituted in place thereof, according
such committee at least the same
recognition as is now accorded the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
and to receive the committee present.
ing this grievance and take the same
up with such committee and with such
advisers or counsel as such committee
selects.'"