New-York tribune., 1919-08-17
Brotherhood Officials Deny Plot
With Company to Raise Fares
Union Leaders Say They Were Told Wages Couldn't Be
Raised Without More Revenue, but Discovered That
Was Problem for Fnancers and Not for Workers

District Attorney Swami yesterday
began his inquiry to learn whether
there was collusion or conspiracy be-
tween the marlborough and, it's en-
rloyes to force an increased fare
through strike
Patrick J Connolly, acting president
Of the marlborough Brotherhood; NJ.
J. Mangan, its secretary, and Thomas
N Fazakerley president OF the Broth
erheod Of New York Railways Com
pany Employees, were examined by Mr..
Swami.
Frank H. Hedley, vice-president and
general manager of the Interborough.
who also had been summoned. did not
appear. explaining TO the District At
lorney. who announced that Hedley
would have 10 stand examination later,
mat the necessity Of keeping the lines
operating made his presence impos-
slbe yesterday
phatlcally that there had been any
suggestion 10 the workers by Inter
borough officials that they strike to
bring about al increased fare.
Connolly sad, though, that Hedley
Informed him that If the company got
10 more revenue we couldn't get d cent
MO.r as ne lad already scraped the
bottom Of the ,lll." The Interborough 5
general manager. according to Con-
holly, did 1gree to assume re responsi-
ti.ity for d 10 Der cent increase, which,
tie company official IS quoted as de-
ciarng, would bring d sheriff to the
itelborougns door sooner than he
eApected and would cause the company
10 run 5000, 900 more iii hole by
.4Rlary 1920.
Men " anted to Strike
4 had q hard tyne holding the men
,ogether last Monday and keeping
mem from striking at that time ;"
connolly said. IL left town Tuesday
4ad left Mangan in charge, but he was
not abe to hold them back except on
bis promise that he would See the
general manager OF the Interborough
tls, evening
When | saw Hedley he asked
What the trouble with our men .
"i told him the men needed more
money and had TO have it quick.
MY Hedley then told me Of the
financial conditions Of the INTERIOR
cagl. stating that the lnterborough
would be five million dollars in q hole
BY January ], 1920, and that if he
granted 10 per cent increase they
would oc two million dollars more in
hole, which would result in bringing
the sheriff to the door sooner than
expected
q talked with the delegates and
recommended that at this time we seek
~ per cent Increase as a temporary
measure. They disagreed. Some de-
manded 90 per cent. others 60, others
80 per cent more. Some wanted fiat
rate Of - cents an hour. | finally got
them to agree to a 20 per cent increase
as temporary measure with the un-
derstandlng that we reserve the right
to demand OF the company at any time
as good wages or better than any
workers of a kindred nature in this
vicinity.
We voted to submit 20 per cent as
a temporary measure. We called Mr.
ihedley into our meeting and Informed
MIN OF our action. | explained our re-
quest and ne again talked of the
ihanclal condition Of the Interborough
and told US that if the company got
no more revenue we couldn't get a cen,
more, as he had already scrpped the
bottom of the till.
tie offered to assume responsibility
o. glying US 10 per cen. increase to
'aSe effect August II stating that this
would bring the sheriff little sooner
man he had expected After an un-
united debate we accepted the propo-
S,ion offered by Hedley temporarily.
Wednesday l went to the Queens
Soro e Building. 1856 East Forty-second
street., and drafted circular letter
announcing 20 the employees that we
aad succeeded in obtaining 10 per
cent inc.ease- l had $4,000 of these
printed and distributed among the en-
proves This was all done IN one day.
Thursday morning the dssatisfac-
Mon among the men seemed to have
increased called a special meeting
VI me delegates at 10 o'clock Thursday
asht and at that meeting the presi-
uent was instructed to appoint repre-
sentatlVe 81 committee to take up with
'ne management our demands"
Connolly then outlined the demands