The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
Send New Appeal to Garrison
to Submit Controversy to
War Labor Board.
UNION TO MEET TUESDAY
Leaders Hope for Receivers
Answer Before Then, but
Agree to Await It,


u letter last night to Lindley M oarri-
sson. receiver for the B. r. 7. and It's
,tubsidiary companies, asking MI. Garri
sron 10 submit 10 the War Labor Board
sfor decision the controversy which
Threatens to provoke another strike on
the company's lines.
* Before the letter was drafted hundreds
sDf the employees who Joined the union
awent to the Labor Lyceum, Myrtle and
ewilloughby avenues. Brooklyn. expecting
.sthey would be permitted to attend the
Executive committee meeting Ihey
were turned away, individually and IN
groups, and when they reached the side
swalk again all said they understood
there would be a mass meeting Tuesday
might In Arcadia Hall, Halsey street and
Broadway. at which n strike vote would
s-be taken.
None of the union officers or members
of tho executive committee would stand
J sponsor for this assertion. However, p.
~. OBrien. vice-presldent OF the national
organization, said the mass meeting
would be held. Asked II a strike vote
would be taken at the meeting In the
r.event that Mr.. Garrison rejected the new
bid by the union mon for asettlement Of
slthe controversy. he said there was moth
) ling to to say at present"
III a strike is called" Mr.. O'Brien
SAID. tne pupho Will DO siNeh "A'p'0
notice"
4. The executive committee members
s.mado no secret of the fact that they had
s,Ereat hopes Mr.. Garrison would answer
I their letter before Tuesday night. But
s,none Of them would deny the unofhcia,
statements made by the mon that the
employees had been informed strike
vote would be taken at Tuesday nights
! meeting.
~ rrha ,n.at,or ~ thu aracutlva commit
tee has two purposes. Its frst .'as 10
discuss the reply OF Receiver Garrison
20 the mems demands in which the re-
cener refused fatty to recognize the
union or to meet a committee that rep
resented the union. They were even
ssmore hot under the collar. though. be-
2 cause of n printed statement which was
!. distributed In bundles yesterday at all OF
the companys car barns This statement
: bore the signaturS of Mr.. Garrison, re-
peated his refusal to have anything to
do Yith the union, and was characterized
by the union men as q defiance OF them
: and their organization.
Answer of Men to Receiver.
|. The letter sent to Mr.. Garrison said:
q your communication of April re-
: ceived and contents noted. The commit
tee notes what you say In reference to
subject matter The employees have been
fully guided in thetr action by your no.
tice of March IL that the employees
could join any labor organization which
they pleased. On the other hand the
. management Of the system will as here
tofore deal with a committee of its owr
employees in all matters affecting the
: relations OF the employees to the sys.
TEN.
Every member of the committee 1:
an employee ranging from eighteen
years to nine months. They have been
: selected by the employees of the vari-
Gus branches of the Tystem at mass
meetings Of employees which were held
TO discuss the hours and conditions OF
their labor and formulate machinery to
meet with the views of the receiver
There Is now under investigation by
tho National War Labor Board the case
9 Of forty men who have been discharged
for union activities There is n con-
tinual intimidation carried on by the
officials Of the company among men who
have been active in organization work
The committee has been patient with
The hope that as an officer Of the United
States District Court you would carry
out the principles and policies as laid
down for the guidance of employees
and employers by the proclamation OF
President Wilson when he created the
National War Labor Board The COM
you to grant them a conference to take
up the matter of hours, wages and con-
J ditions.
SHOULD this request OF the committee
: be acceptable to you as receiver of the
: Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. We
: respectfully suggest that all matters IL
controversy be referred to the War La.
Z Dor Board for adjustment"
= The letter was signed by all of the
: members of the executive committee anC
! was sent at once by messenger to the
: p. r. T. offices. All Of the committed
: members said they would await patient
ly Mr.. Garrison's answer, and that Ger
tainly no arrangements for n strik,
: would be made until they had his reply
The Garrison statement, which an
noyed the union men when it was dis
! tributed to the employees at the ca
: barns, said:
"As you have observed from the news
: papers the Amalgamated Association o
Street and Electric Railway Employees
: OF America has approached the manage
men and asked 1t to make a contrac
! recognizing that organization and deal
: ing directly with 1t In regard to mat
: tiers concerning our employees. Tn
! management will not deal with any out
side organization and has so informe,
the representatives of the above name,
: association.
THE management will gladly dea
! with it's employees, either through tn,
existing machinery available to the EN-
! ployees in the shape OF the department
OF trustees. or through any other &C
: credited committee selected, by the mel
J in any way that Is agreeable to then
! from among their own numbers. TO rep
2 resent their interests in any natter
! they desire to take up with the man
! agement'
Hope to Eliminate "swing."
B. r. T. officials have under consider
: alton a plan for eliminating the Swing
: period, which Is one of the grievances o
the platform men. 1t became known yes
terday The Swing" is the time be
|. tween the two tours OF duty required O
: many motormen and conductors and 1
occasloned by slack periods durin
: which 1t Is not necessary to operate a
many cars as during the rush hours. TIL
employees assert the Swing" lengthen
their day unreasonably.
Forty representatives of the employ
: ees were met on various parts of tn
system yesterday by officials OF tn
) company who asserted that the ICON
sensus of opinion" among the worker
was against strike According to +
: II. T.. representatives. the 1925 a mont
paid platform men who are on full tim
: is higher wage than Is paid for simila
I. service anywhere else in the Unite
: States.
James II. Vahey general counsel 70