Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-07

, nomas ). "heclwriBht, president OF
pahy' yesterday at conference held
al o'clock in the. office OF the Vir-
ers n,%ay anI rower Company
Richmond. Norfolk. Petersburg and
submit to a board of arbitration the
question OF wages to be paid unless
.hc same board will have the power at
the same time to TX the rate OF fare
MIR. Wheclwright also told the repre-
sSniatives Of the EMPLOYEES that the
principle OF the open shop.
Those who attended the conference
with Mr. Wheelwright constituted the
general committee OF locals Nos SOL.
sS4. $40 and 3li. respectively. of the
Am Ia lEamated Association Of Street and
Eiectrieai Workers OF America. and
man. OF Norfolk: +. Hathaway and G.
n. Dekaib. Of Portsmouth; G. g.
Booknan and f: ". Stennett. Of Rich
mond; -. T. Gee and H. D. Burkhart
OF Petersburg.
Observed Wilson'S wish.
Mt Whcclwright said yesterday that
Wnon the Wilson administration an
should no, resist the organization OF
their employees ne brought the matter
the attention Of his board OF direc-
ok organized in June. and this. he
SAYS was accepted in good spirit, but
I'm INC distinct understanding that
only those employed by the company
should be admitted 10 conferences
resident G. J.. Bookman. president
oi the Amaigamated Association Of
street hallway Employees here, said
cs'eroay' in commenting on the con-
ference between the four unions OF en-
p poSes C. OF the Virginia hallway and
We didn', .sk for closed shop.
ana the main thing IN our proposals
MS s sa d, The company ;,, turned
aro!trate in cases OF discharge. but
hey declined absolutely to let case
stand on It's merits"
Nr. Bookman said further that there
would be no action taken by the unions
nntN all had met and discussed the
,,aa',9 D,,, The un,en here does no,
week being called on because OF the
Men Me- Bookm ss1' nsid Nth sn, f hay
want enough to live on Mr.. Book
man said that nc, did not think spe
cial meeting would be held 10 consider
meeting.
At the conference yesterday Mr.
Whcelwrisht made the following Etate-
mcn1 to the union officials:
While in Norfolk on Friday. Octo-
her :. learned that you had been
ing me on behalf o 20" Of p Sourselves and
other employees OF this company
while ! had not been previously aa-
nond, nor had any appointment to
meet with you at Norfolk. in order
10 avoid any Inconvenience or delay to
you. arranged to you Friday
afternoon. cancclinE important engage
ments to do SO
~ thi. meeting you handed TO me
formal memorandum OF agreement
bearing date the third day OF October,
1919. between this company and the
t;Iectrical RAILWAY Workers OF Amer
ca OF the several divisions represented
~ you.
Varies with Agreement.
This proposition on your part that
The company now enter into AN agree
nent with the Amalgamated Assocla-
ion is SO At variance with the under
standing heretofore had with the rep
resentatires OF your association OF the
iivisions at Norfolk and Portstn outh
md SO entirely a, variance with the the
Views OF this company, as clearly de-
lined to your Richmond division. that
am somewhat AT loss 10 understand
;ss .e ao nes beexe .Ss
natter is fully understood by you
md. therefore, think II we'll to review
~ some length the situation.
In July OF this year the officers OF
Il his company, including myself, had
several conferences with the chosen
Portsmouth divisions Of your aasocia-
ton. In the course OF these negotia-
lions it seems that point had been
agree and at your suggestion United
States Commissioner Joseph r. Bu-
.hanan Of the DepartNle nt OF Labor,
was sunmonscd TO Norfolk by you. AS
result OF further negotiations through
him, this company addressed to your
chairman d letter dated July O. 1919.
IN which are set forth in detail the
relations between this company and its
employees, including wages. y full
copy Of this communication am hand
ne. YOU with this. y part of article D
u this com m u nication reads as follows:
We also beg to confirm our previous
understanding in reference to the mat
,cr of wages. which has been covered
= py A bulletin, az follows:
LAS soon as the cities of Norfolk
and Portsmouth allow increase in
fare from to cents. the wage scale
Tor n,otcrmcn and conductors will au.
tomatically advance from the present
-cale of 35 TO 40 cents to Al 10 As
:ents.
"A!l matters on which we cannot
agree. excepting the matter of wages,
hours and other questions affecting
operating costs, are TO be submitted to
arbitration. each side to select one ar
oitrftor and the two to select a third
n the usual manner"
The letter in full follows:
Norfolk. Va, July .. 1919.
,,mittee OF Norfolk. No. sci, and
Portsmouth, No. SS4. Divisions
Amagamated Association OF Street
and Electric Railway Employees OF
America:
Dear Sir.-In order to clear up any
possible Misunderstanding of the in
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES