The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-01
Hirshcberg Charges
Company Urged Men
to Organize Union

Charges made by Labor Commits
sioner Hirschberg to the effect that
the Virginia Railway and Power
company was behind the movement
made by the employees to organize a
union in 1918. and that its support
of the organization was contingent
upon the employees asking for a six
cent fare enlivened last nights seq
sion of the streets COMMITTEES, held
to give the people an opportunity
to oppose the proposed increased
rate of fare.
Mr.. Hirschberg defied contradic-
ton of his statement, saying he had
a letter In his possession signed by
''one of the company In which his
allegation was substantiared. e.
Randolph Williams. vice. president
of the company. exhibited mild sur
prise at the information and re-
Quested the name OF the writer.
This Mr.. Hirschberg declined to d.
vnlge. only stating that none
of the gentlemen present were i'm
pIicated..
Mr.. Williams seemed at a loss to
account for his own ignorance OF
the transaction, but insisted that II
VAS in no way relevant to the ques-
ton before the committee-that OF
increasing the rate OF car fare.
Mr.. Hirschberg presented the de-
mands Of the labor council. insist
ing on a complete valuation OF the
company's physical asset He said
that the people OF the city would be
glad TO pay the cost OF he investi-
CATION. even though it be $4,000
and that they would agree TO a con.
ttnuation OF the fve-cant straigh,
fare, which expires on February IL
pending the report of the investiga.
ton commission.
G. q. Bookman, president OF the
Amalgamated Street Railway en-
ployess appeared "a before the con,
nlittee as the first speaker He be-
spoke the serious consideration OF
the companys proposal. saying tina,
the employees would receive. from
Ave to eleven and cne-quarter cents
an hour increase of the six-cent fare,
irrespective OF the two-cent trans.
fer charge. was granted.
The meeting finally became a
four-cornered debate. Mr. Hirsch-
berg and Dutch" Koch presented
labor's arguments and Harvey Will
son assisting Mr.. Williams in de.
stockholder in the company. Mr.
Wilson explained that he il simply
a stock h.nlders in the .hopapa.ny. His
remarks were confined to one pars
ticulariy insistent question Aired al
Mr.. Hirschberg with the regularity
and parsistency of a machine CUR
First he asked the labor commits
sioner if he thought the fare
charged ffve years ago a fair one
Mr. IirSrhhnrO \
did. Mr.. Wilson then asked, in
consideration Of the advanced costs
of every kind of material and
labor since that date, If he did not
consider a six-cent fare a reason.
able reaues, at the present
Dutch. Koch arose to inquire OF
Mr., Williams the amount which
would be saved by the company
through the removal of the r. +
and r. railroad tracks through the
city and the consequent reduction OF
bumps suffered by the company's
cars Mr.. Williams confessed tina,
he could not guess the answer.
1t was at this point that the ar.
gument degenerated into a confused
and hying naasSv OF questions and ar.
swers or evasions. denial and con.
tradictions following 30 swiftly or
the heels of statements that the
members of the committee seemed
puzzled and dazed
Mr.. Hirschberg spoke feelingl,
of the method taken by the com.
pany in securing the increase, say,
ing that 1t sought to get its demand.
by telling the pople that its en-
ployes must receive an increase IL
wages.
If this is to continue" he said
j let the council include street cal
employees in tho budget and pay
them from the City Hall"
Mr.. Williams replied that ever,
laboring man who demanded an in,
crease was doing exactly the same
thing. the consumer. the man who
rides. standing from all raises IL
wages. no matter what trade receiv,
ed it.
Councilman Nelson brought re
lief to everybody by moving ad
journment, subject to call Of tho
chairman.