New-York tribune., 1919-08-09

with any committee representing what
he called a minority of the B. r. 7.
employees.
The hearing virtually took in the
Garrison and other B. r. r. wit
nesses called testified that while po-
licemen were provided for the street
cars the patromen so assigned were
not giving adequate protection to the
crews operating the cars. These charges
were later denied by Borough In
spector Murphy, the ranking uniformed
officer in Brooklyn, and Second Dep
uty Police Con missioner Lahey, who
has taken charge of the police in
Brooklyn since the strike commenced.
Commissioner Nixon's statement
said:
VIII Hear Employees
Judge Garrison, during the course Of
the hearing this afternoon, stated that
he would receive q committee of his
employees. The grievances Of the men
on strike have not so far been stated
to the commission, but it is hoped that
delegation of the strikers will appear
before this commission tomorrow
morning to present them. AS soon as
ployes can be selected, this commits
sion will use all its efforts as a medi-
s.tor to bring about an early and ami
cable settlement"
special hearing was ordered for
~ O'Clock this morning by Commits
sioner Nixon to permit the strikers to
state their side of the dispute.
Corporation Counsel Burr. at the
conclusion of yesterdays hearing, told
the Commissioner, CAS- Public Service
Commissioner you have, in my opinion,
n 70 bn oE+ :,
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, You
must send for the strikers and ascer-
tain their Demands"
"On all sides I an confronted with
infiexible conditions" replied Commits
sioner Nixon, "and | cannot proceed
until I have found out the extent Of
my powers. If found that ] had the
power to do so | would end the strike
to-day. The purpose of this hearing is
TO get the facts, so that action can
be taken"
The chief witness of the afternoon
was Mr.. Garrison. Throughout his tes-
tlmony he kept reverting to the state
ment that under no circumstances
would he deal with an outside organi-
zatlon Each time he made this state
men he banged the arm of the witness
char with his clenched fist.
His Position Clear
MY position is perfectly clear" he
said with emphasis, "and I do not in
tend to change it," adding, ~ always
l have believed in collective bargaining,
but | viii not bargain with 20 per cent
of my employees. When the men pre-
sented their demands for recognition
OF the union refused to accord rec
ognltion. I sincerely believe that the
union did not have 20 per cent Of the
employees. certainly not 20 per cent of
the operating force, so the demands
Of the union did not represent the
majority OF the workers.
Il don't see how any one can mis-
Judge my position. What I won't do
IS have outside people sent to me and
deal with them. have never done
this and I will not do it now"
Mr.. Garrison said he did not know
the scale of wages paid to the en-
ployes, but explained this was because
OF its varying character.
Calls Demands Scenery
In reply to a question by Mr.. Burr,
Mr. Garrison said he did not think
the demands of the strikers were sin
cere. with the exception of the de-
mand for recognition OF the union
II think they are entirely sincere in
their demands for recognition of the
union," he said "1he rest of their
demands is scenery
In reply to a question whether he
was hostile to unions, Mr.. Garrison
replied: "1 have no hostility, no
grievance against them but | will
not be controlled by people not en-
ployed by me.
when was Secretary Of War
labor leader visited nc and advised
ne that unless l discharged certain
men who were working. on the Lin
coin memorial he would call strike.
! assured him that I would not dis
charge the men, even though he did
call q strike.
"I wish to say" he continued with
great emphasis, that if the men en-
ployed on my system come to me thev
can deal with me, or in the event re-
fuse to deal with them they can quit
clean. That is inherent in the situa-
ton, but | will not deal with men rep
resenting an outside organization. If
you choose to call this hostility. all
right, but I don't"
Mr.. Garrison denied the reports
quoting him as saying that he would
quit ii Federal Judge Mayer ordered
him to receive a deputation of the
union men. "If Juuge Mayer should
tell me to recognize the union" he
said, Il would hesitate long time
before I would refuse to do sos
he paid great compliment to the
have conducted wonderful campaign
They have held Brooklyn defenceless
for three days and it is marvellous"
Mr.. Garrison testified he did not
know how many of the B. r. 7. en-
ployes were out on strike, but said the
number willing to take out cars had
increased since the first day Of the