New-York tribune., 1919-08-14
Hedges Favors Giving More
Pay to Street Rail Men
and Asks Judge Mayer
to Authorize Action
Unions Didn't Press Case
District Attorney Swami In
vestigating Charges of
''Conspiracy'' by Hylan

The Interborough Rapid Transit
Company yesterday awarded its en-
ployes general wage increase of 10
per cent.
At the same time Job E. Hedges, re-
ceiver for the New York Railways Com
pany, opcratirl the green car lines,
filed an application with Federal Judge
liar increase for he men on the sur
face lines.
In both cases the advance was rec
commended followi demands made on
the traction officials by committees
from the lnterborough brotherhoods.
1t was said that there was no pressure
brought to bear for the increase by
the Amagamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway Employees, the
union organization which brought on
the B. +. 7. strike. The demands had
and were based on the increased cost
of living. Mr.. Hedges said:
"a regularly constituted committee
of the Brotherhood of New York Rail-
ways Company Employees presented to
me demand for an increase in wages
of 10 per cent. This demand l pre-
sented to Judge Mayer with my recon-
mendation that such increase of 10
per cent be granted"
Judge Mayer to Act
Judge Mayer acted promptly in the
matter and replied that the application
would be referred to the Public Ser
vice Commissioner, Lewis Nixon, on
his return from Washington to-mor-
row. Judge Mayors letter reads in
part:
II fully appreciate existing condi-
tons of living. At the same time it is
Il matter of great Importance in the
interest of the employees and of the
receivership, that | should carefully
consider the financial result, in view of
the present condition Of the receiver
ship.
AS such all increase could at best
be possible only out of such increased
transfers permitted by the order of
Commissioner Nixon | feel that it is
only right that l should confer with
the commissioner. Such a conference
seems to me to be both proper and
desirable, in view Of his order in re-
spect of transfers and in view of hs
jurisdiction.
Will Decide Tomorrow
Washington to testify before the Fed
eral commission which is examining
SRto the affairs Of the street railways
and will not return before Friday, at
which time | shall take up the mat
ter with him and thereafter at once
communicate with you"
Transit officials have been impressed
by the decision of the old War Labor
Eoard in recommending recently gen
fral IL per cent increase in wages to
Che employees of about thirteen trac-
Sion companies in other towns. Little
kelay is expected in obtaining the ad-
vance for the surface car men in ac-
tordance with promises made lately to
rhe effect that the 2-cent transfer priv
slege would provide extra funds for
Cages.
10000 Operating Car Men
The Interborough subway and elevat-
Bd lines employ about 10000 operating
far men. The minimum wage an hour
kas been al cents, with sliding scale
UP to 40 cents. The 10 per cent in
crease will apply to all employees eX-
elusive of those working on the trains.
The surface lines employ 1000 motor
men and conductors, with the same
minimum wage as the others.
The Amalgamated officials at the Ho-
yesterday. Patrick j. Shea, vice -presi-
dent. declared that things were going
quietly. with little possibility of a
strike on the New York cars.
Lo,iA Fsidiger. counsel for the
AmalYa,hated, described the increase in
pay gyahsed to the Ioterborough em-
ployes a. "a double cross" 1t violated
the spirit Of the agrcensnt the strike
leaders made with Judge Mayer and
Commissioner Nixon, he declared.
Pledged Not to Interfere
We pledged our word to them" said
Mr.. Frdiger, that pending the result
of their efforts to bring about arbitra-
uon with the companies in Manhattan
we would do nothing to damage the
existing relations between the COM
panies and the men. We lived up abso-
lutely to our promise, although we
could have called strike and tied up
every car in Manhattan and got our
demands in full
I'VE are tickled to death that the
men were able to get any raise Wheth-
er they will be satisfied with it is an
other question. The union demands
were for 70 cents an hour instead of
the present Al to t9 cents. 1t always
happens that whenever the Amalga-
mated comes into New York the car
men are granted small increase to
discredit the outside organization. /
should say it is double cross"
Mayor Hylan's charges of criminal
conspiracy" between lnterborough
officials and their employees to bring
about strike condition to raise fares
were still being reviewed by District
Attorney Swami. The Mayor asked the
District Attorney to put the case be-
lore the Grand Jury, submitting as
evidence series of letters written by
traction officials and employees during
last weeks B. r. T. strike.
Swami Continues Probe
Commenting on the Mayors charges.
District Attorney Swami said that he
and his chief assistant, Alfred ]. Tally.
were giving careful consideration to
the letter of Mayor Hylan of two days
ago, in which the Mayor expressed a
well-grounded suspicion that there had
been preconcerted combination be-
tween the receiver of the New York
Railways Company and the officers of
the lnterborough Rapid Transit Com
pany to force an increase in fares"
1t Is the Mayors opinion. according
to his letter, that these men have Of
fered inducements to the employees of
the traction companies with the intent
to cause them to strike, the men hav-
ing been told, the Mayor believes, that
II an increase in fares to eight cents
IL granted to the. traction companies
thew will allow their emploves a