Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-15
NORFOLK WORKERS
VOTE TO TEST OUT
ARBITRATION PLAN
Conferences Are Attended
by Company Officials
and Union Men.
LABOR COMMISSIONER
MAKES FOUR PROPOSALS
Advocates Appointment of Board
to Fix Rate of Wages
and Hours.
ANTI-sTRIkERs ARE ORGANIZING
Aucge Vote Taken at Sundays
Meeting Was Illegal, and Call
for Secret Ballot.
LABOR COMMISSIONER
MAKES FOUR PROPOSALS
NT1-sTRIkERs ARE ORGANIZING
Aucge Vote Taken at Sundays
Meeting Was Illegal, and Call
for Secret Ballot.

Thsre will be no strike Of stree, car
employees IN Norfolk for three. days at
ieasi in ,bs, Was ihs given out
Thomas B. wheeiwrighh1. OF the ss'0sr. Vir.
Einia Railway and Power Company: l..
Randolph Williams. general counsel of
the company. and a delegation of union
traction men went to Norfolk yester-
day to confer with officials of tho Fed
eral Board Of Meditation and Concilla-
tion- Nesotiations arc expected TO con-
tinuc for several days.
Holmes j. Brown and T. J. Williams.
representing the Federal labor board.
arrived there today. and Immediately
began discussion of the grieva nces
and points at issue between the street
car men and the officials of the power
The Federal officials were informed
mat meeting OF Norfolk traction en-
during yesterday forenoon. had re-
suited in decision to give arbitration
chance before putting into effect the
Every effort 10 avert tie-up OF the
trolley lines in Richmond and the other
cities viii be made.
Offers Four Proposals.
Labor Commissioned John Hirschbers
offered Two compromise proposals yes
lerday TO both sides, covering four
/. Appointment OF a board TO AK tho
rate OF wages, working hours nd con-
diiions OF the workmen, also clothed
win authority TO investigate.
,eT;buna unat ne No-sniE eities Of Richmond. Pc
make a physical valuation OF traction
3, In case such valuation indicates
that the present rate OF fare is in
sufficient TO pay the rate OF wages
contained in the award of the wage
board and provide reasonable divi-
dend. then the wage award shall not
become effective until an increase in
fares has been granted in the cities
named.
4. Provided tina, the employees. or
the four unions involved. shall re-
quest the proper authorities of each
or the four cities named to make the
valuations proposed as quickly as pos
sible-
Sends Copies OF Letter.
Copies of the letter were sent TO
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany and to c. g. Bookman. chairman
OF the joint Committee of the unions.
with a request that their wishes in
the matter be expressed at an early
Vice-Presdent c. b. Buchanan yes
terday denied the report that union
men were being discharged. I'VE do
not deny our employees the right to
organize II they see ft." said
The street car men will meet Thurs
day night In Colombo Hall and those
who did not vote at Sundays meet
ing will have an opportunity to cast
a ballot then.
Dissatisfied with Vote Taken.
Bills were distributed at the Reser-
voir yesterday by two men, who were
dissatisfied with the way the Sunday
strike ballot was conducted, which
read:
I'VE. the motormen and conductors
in the employ OF the Virginia Railway
and Power Company, do hereby state
that We are opposed to ehy strike of
employees. and will not participate in
any strike within period Of six
months time. and hereby enter our
protest against the present contem-
plated strike of employees of the com
pany, and we further state that the
strike ballot OF Sunday. October II. was
illegal and by unfair methods, and we
demand a secret ballot vote according
TO the bylaws of the association"
Two meetings of an organization
dubbed by the men an antistrike club
were held yesterday at the Reservoir
Y. NJ. c. y. John Wylie. former secre-
tary of the union. acted as temporary
chairman. Two additional meetings.
open to the public, are announced to
be held there today. 1t was said last
night that ESQ men had joined the
antiStr r{ke club.