Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-01
ORGANIZED LABOR FIGHTS
PROPOSED FARE |NCREAsE:
Commissioner Hirschbcrg Tells Com
mittcc Car Company Must Show
Its Necessity.
EMPLOYEES DESIRE RAISE
Representative OF Street Railway AMI
Electrical Workers Urge Advanced
Rate Would Enable Company to
Pay Better Wages.

That organized labor in Richmond
VIII night an increase in street car
fare TO the highest court In the United
States unless convinced that Il liz a
necessity. was tho statement OF Labor
somnrissioner John Iiirchberg last
n fhe c,, before the Streets Committee Of
Speaking as the mou,hpiece of the
central Trades and Labor Council at
.he meeting or the committee to con-
slher the petition OF the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company last night
relative TO G-cent fare. Mr.. Hiroh-
herg practically demanded valuat ton
of the property of the company
Laboring men in Richmond must be
shown That G-cent fare is necessary
before Il is granted" Mr.. fIirchberg
the statement OF Mr. Williams general
counsel and spokesman for the street
car company. as to this matter"
Quotes Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams at The last meeting of
no committee and when he presented
the case OF tho company quoted form
er president Taft and a great many
others in his argument for s-cent
who hold the opposite view.
I'm Boston today they are losing
more money at 10 cents than they
people don't ride.
I'm not making a threat. but I'm
mere 70 say 10 this committee that
until the car company shall show that
they are getting an Unequal rate the
Central Trades and Labor Council OF
Richmond Will fight these Increased
rates to the hiGhes, court In the land"
Dcmnnds Showdown.
Further in his address the Labor
,roI inc 80, only way the company can
caTds on the table face up"
properly OF the COMPANY
Hirchbors stated that nc believed that
me laboring people would be glad TO
saving might be Hundreds OF thousands
oil dollars TO them.
saying that nc did not believe that
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany ever believed that II would re-
celye an additional charge for trans
isrs. the Labor Commissioner called
the idea ridiculous.
=. G. Bookman, president of the
AmalSamated Association of Street
hallway and Electrical Employees of
union which he represents and asked
t.,at the Council grant the fare SO
that the men could get a living wage
lie stated that the men now could not
eight hours work. even with the re-
cent increase. and that they were COM
pclieo to work twelve hours, and then
|. made approximately sl16 to sla5 a
e.
he stated tiat the cents An hour
which the company would grant the
men was an increase to them of from
30 20 SO cents a day. and that II would
cost the public, very little.
Objects to Penalizinx AL
At this SIR. Hirschbers stated
Il don't believe you men are going
TO penal.ze all OF the people for the
benefit of 600 or 700 men. There are
street-car union, and I'm not so dense,
either.
1T appeared that tie Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company was grati-
hed to know that their men were going
20 organize"
Further Mr.. Hirschberg told Of being
enc OF a committee from the Central
investigated an attempt to organize
the street car men in Petersburg and
richmond over year ago. He stated
to the e nea tbs, and
company had written the union, max
ing the proposition that X they were
allowed by the company to organize
get the G-cent fare.
The formation of the union at that
time was contingent upon these men
asking from you. men tthe Council)
the scent fare. II looked to me that
IL was company's organ!zapio ma SIX
ing as labor union, to mulct you out
Of 6-cent fare.
HSIe VI Ban iEatOn never MATERIAL
because of information ] gave the Cen
trail Trades and Labor Council"
After requesting 4 valuation Of the
property OF the company. Mr.. Hirsch-
berg asked that the company make
public to the committee list of stock
holders.
Prineipni Stockholders Listed.
Mr.. Williams answered that the
twenty principal stockholders were
listed with the State Corporation Com
mission, but in the argument which
followed ii developed that there were
600 Stockholders in Richmond. Both
PRESIDENT Thomas S. Wheelwright, OF
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pnnE and a number of other officials
denied any knowledge OF the alleged
letter to their employees concerning
the organization of a union.
Ordway Fuller, chairman Of the
Streets Committee, asked the Labor
Commissioners If the unions which he
the present fare of the car company
stay in force until the investigation
had been completed. 1t was estimat ed
that the Investigation would take six
months time. The Virginia Railway
and Power Company are only author
fare up to about The middle Of Feb
ruary.
''Ys." answered Mr.. Hirschberg,, az
he survey is made and the cntinued
6-cent fare is made contingent upon
the finding of the investigation"
a Question of Fair Fares.
Men representing the company next
asked the Labor commissioner
whether. as the six tickets for quar-
ter fare was considered fair five years