Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-14
BOTH COMPANY AND
UNION MEN ADVISED
TO USE ARBITRATION
Labor Commissioner Hirsch-
berg Makes Move to
Prevent WalkOut.
COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER
FARE RAISE FRIDAY NIGHT
City Officials Say They Will
Avoid Claim of Delay as
Cause for Trouble.
BLAME PUT ON "AGITATORr
Sormer Secretary Of Employees Or.
sanization Heading Club Being
Formed to Oppose Strike.
BLAME PUT ON "AGITAToR"
CORNER Secretary Of Employees Or.
sanization Heading Club Being
Formed to Oppose Strike.

State Labor Commissioner John
airschbcrg and officials OF tho Federal
department OF Labor are making every
mort to avert strike OF street car
nen In Richmond. Norfolk, Portsmouth
iod Petersburg. II was announced last
light
Although vote favorable to a strike
las been taken by the l.6oo employees
'L the Virginia hallway and Power
company, ii was predicted last night
nat trouble will be avcrted by the ac-
ION OF representatives OF the Federal
ooard OF mediation and conciliation.
"nich Is now holding a conference
NTH Joint committee OF street car
nen In Norfolk.
Determined that any delay on its part
IN the matter OF considering the petit
ION OF the Virginia Railway and
power Company for an increase in
'asGenger fares in Richmond shall not
'e used as an argument in the strike
controversy. the City Councils Com
nittee on Streets held a meeting yes
erday afternoon at o'clock and. on
notion OF Councilman Moore, voted 10
rave a hearing OF the matter at S
'clock Friday night.
Agninnt Ears. Increase.
To this meeting the public generally
MEMBERS OF the committee stated after
the meeting that the prospects OF the
company being granted Increased rates
we're slim unless it couid''be shown that
NE present rates were not yielding a
'ropcr revenue on the actual value in
iested. as might be shown by a physi-
al valuation and audit.
Form Antistrike Club.
One development OF the last twenty
our hours .SAs the organization among
some OF the Older employees of the
company of an antistrikc club at the
Rese!vci. y. NJ {. y. last night at s
o'clock.
Presidcn, Thomas S. wheelwright, Of
he company. stated yesterday that he
lid not believe that the employees OF
he company would strike, but that 1t
,ould not be said that the company had
,een idle in preparing for such a con-
rouble was due TO an .agitator."
i Commissioner Hirschberg. in let
: ,er sent TO President Wheelwright Fri
lay, says that he hopes that Mr.. Wheel.
wright has been incorrectly reported
IS unwilling TO arbitrate differences
.fectins wages and hours, and e1-
ng to leave the questions at issue TO
IN impartial board.
In another letter to c. G. Bookman.
general chairman of the conference
inions In the cities affected. Mr.. Hirsch-
>erg says:
Exhausted ali means at It's disposal of Of
bringing about peaceable settlement
II the differences between the employ
.es and the company? Are the en-
tnces TO arbitration and have they ex-
lausted all efforts to bring about such
IN arbitration OF these grievances?
Wheelwright's Statement.
nIGs rresidsnt ,bs ,Whselwright yesterday
gard to the strike situation:
We do not believe that the en-
oloyees or our company. want to. or
:urbanee in cur organization is being
created by walking delegate" of the
smalgamated association. who ap-
pears to make It his business to 60
arc OF the employed and to threaten
he industrial prosperity of any com
lmunity in which he can find a field to
lHork. having come here from Brook
| yn and other cities where he and his
l;onfederates have sought to operate
"All of the matters concerning the
Employees have been thoroughly dis
|,ussed in conference. and agreements
satisfactory; certainly to the employ
.cs, were drawn and signed by both
pertaining to the Norfolk and Ports
mouth division being dated last July
and the one affecting the Richmond
ing been concluded in the latter part
Iof September.
The .agitators cndeavor to make an
| SSuo VI 'hS toitpd'iy statement that
t cannot arbitrate the wage question.
I'm our agreements the company and
he employees agreed that ali ma tiers
would be submitted to arbitration. in
The event that medium was found
necessary, excepting matters Involving f,
Increased costs of operation. 1t was
lagreed that 1t would be useless to ar
joitrate those questions when the where |
withal to carry out the award would
| be lacking.
Bonrd Would Lack Power.
"Tf the same board of arbitration
would have the power to fix the fare
| so that Increased revenue would be |
|orovided with which to meet the arbi- |
|tration award in the matter of wages, |
Linen, of course, the situation would |
|be different, and the question Of wages
would be a proper one for arbitration |
|along with others"
John Wylie.. former financial secre-
|tary OF the Richmond carmen's union,
was elected president of the antistrike |
|club at the meeting last night. Mr.. |
|Yylie stated that he resigned from |
The union about week ago because |
|ot criticism and that Recording Sec !
rotary II. T. Lawford resigned at the |
|same time. He stated that the anti |
Strike club was formed by older en- |
|pioyes who condemned the recent strike /
lection as illegal and who insisted that |
|the bylaws of the union provided for |
Ia secret ballot. He said that there are
zoo members OF the Richmond union.
Continued on Second Page)