Norwich bulletin., 1919-07-18
PUBLIC APATHETIC OVER TROLLEY STRIKl

The arbitration provided for in 1918 was to cover grievances only. The rates were positively fixed and not subject to arbitration. and that the denced by the fact that they did not ask for an arbitration of the matters covered by the agreement of 1918 but presented an entirely new demand. and when they finally asked for arbi- tration they submitted a plan differ ent from that in the 1918 agree ment.
 From the first we have scontended that it was useless to arbitrate wages must be met by increase of revenue. or we would. if an award of increase was granted, be obliged to suspend operations. for the reason that we would not be able to meet our pay rolls and other expenses.
 We have no quarrel with our men: we certainly have no quarrel with the people of eastern Connecticut. The people appreciate. It Is a great eco homie problem that should he worked out through the CO., o-operataion of all the interests involved We have for many months. been carrying all the burden of having out more than. we collected. The men have had their wages and the public has had all the service we could give.
 We were willing to struggle on at the old wage rate and endeavor to work out our affairs so as to keep for eastern Connecticut the necessary transportation service long provided hv the Shore Line. but the men in sisted upon our doing the impos- sible.
 R-w. PERKINS,
 President Shore Line Ky. Co.
 Labor Alliance Offers Services.
 Tn r mittee of the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy met for the purpose of discussing the present troll ley situation and hopes to be able to ofrer some solution of the difficulty
 The following vote was unanimous ly adopted:
 Voted: That the executive commit tee of The Amerfcan Alliance for Labor and Democracy go on record as offering it's services in an effort to conciIliate the differences between the employees and the officers of the Shore Line Electric Railway Co, in the pres ent trolley difficulties in and near New London
 The executive committee includes workingmen- hankers. educators, bus mess men. lawyers. etc. and the men are all with considerable influence in their various walks of life.
 Sidewalk Solutions.
 Wherever men have met for the last few days .se one topic has been the trolley strike and what was to be expected from it. The following were actual comments heard:
 The people are to blame for this situation They haven't any brains. Why don't they patronize the trolley instead of these other things and then the trolley could get the money it needed and pay it's men.
 How is man with a family going to live on any less than $25 a week now? The men ought to get a raise.
 /see the lawyers formed a union the other day and adopted scale to keep the wolf from the door. The public will have to pay that, won't they? Why not pay the increased fares that would let the men get more pay?
 They say they are getting less than common labor at 50 cents an hour; but the laborSr earns his, doesn't he?
 If they'd get rid of some of these high paid officials. chuck the hand register after them and raise the g. cent fares to cents. the road would have enough money to run on.
 I'd like to see the old men on the road get something more. but lot of the young fellows don't deserve it for the way they treat the public.
 The men have been very fair in the way they have handled their de- mapds. They'd be willing to accept a little more even if they couldn't get
 
 If the trolley job don't pay enough, the thing to do is to go get one of these 50 cents-an- jobs There are plenty of contractors around here looking for men.
 It don't take any better man to be a motorman or a conductor than a po- liceman, and policeman manages to live on S4 a day.
 The people will have to pay in the end. Why not accept a 10-cent fare give the men their money and get the cars running again?
 think the company is pleased over the strike, as it gives them a chance to say: How can we run the road without state aid? Why we can't even pay the wages demanded by our employees
 Who is to blame? Why. those who pa tronize the opposition conveyances. But wait till next winter and these same people will demand heated troll leys and schedule time. and then holler thet- heads off about bum service.
 If the statements of the officials of the road are correct. I don't see how they can afford to pay the men any more.
 If some of those high paid officials who do nothing but draw their pay and those who assist them had the can tied to them. the company might be able to pay good money to those who earn it.
 The men complain about he 1aborer getting more money than they do. If that is so. why don't some of the kick CTS get out and get their pick and ,kEr HIItnE