The sun., 1919-03-18
,rity Of strikers had ratified the

majority OF strikers had ratified the
foregoing:
"Of course am glad the strike 10
over and that the men have decided to
return to work. The settlement Is upon
the exact terms offered by the company
before the men went out. namely. the
withdrawal Of the collective bargaining
plan recently promulgated by the COM
pany, a reiteration on my part of my
oft expressed willingness to meet, at any
time, with any committee OF employees.
whether or not they belong to a union,
and positive refusal on the part OF
the company to sign a contract with
the Amalgamated Association or any
other union of employees with refer
ence to the operation OF the property Of
the company-all Of which was In ac-
cordance with the principles and poll
Giles of the National War Labor Board
and was distinctly concurred in and APP
proved OF by the representatives of that
board sent here to adjust the difficulty.
II trust now that all connected with
the company, whether officers or en-
ployees, will do their utmost to serve
the public as well as possible and that
the men will see the futility Of causing
any such inconvenience to the public as
has been occasioned during the last
few days, when the same result could
have been obtained through conference
and negotiations"
John L. O'Toole, Mr.. McCarter's as
sistant. said informally that IL either
side carried to the War Labor Board
the request for nine hours work for ten
hours pay and other subordinate de-
mands of the strikers It would be the
employees, not the company.
Fair Deal Promised.
I'VE will meet the employees openly
and deal with them fairly" said Mr..
O'Toole. I'VE have never made any
written agreement with employees SO far
as know and see no reason to deyiate
from our position. We have always re-
garded our verbal agreement as binding,
and the men have never complained of
their violation
He was reminded that the strikers in
terpreted the compact that they were
then ratifyins as recognition of their
union He replied: They can interpret
1t any way they like. The fact is that
we shall treat only with bodies OF our
own employees"
To neutral war correspondents this
appeared to be a distinction without a
difference. Originally the strike leaders
insisted that the company sign a con-
| tract with the Amalgamated covering
wages. working conditions and hours
As they yielded this point on Sunday the
Public Service Company wins It. But
| the strike leaders assert that Mr.. Nc
Carter not only always refused to sign
contract but would have nothing to
do with any committee representing the
| union. He must now treat with such a
| committee.
Technically II will be a committee of
his company's employees in practice It
will be a committee sent by the union
to state union requests or terms, for I'M
der the new agreement the committee
can be appointed by the union. When
the strike leaders approved the agree
| ment they thought that Mr.. McCarter
| was recognizing their union without
hurting his feelings in saying So But
after reading his statement of yesterday
| they were worried and talked like men
| who thought something was going on
which they did not quite understand.
Collective Bargaining Plan.
| They were also disturbed because Mr..
| McCarter said that withdrawal of the
plan OF collective bargaining between the
company and the employees was offered
| by the company before the strike They
| said that while 1t was true that he had
offered to withdraw that proposal in or
der to avert the strike he stuck to IL
after the strike started and finally aban-
doned II on Sunday because the men as
sured Conciliator Ogburn that they would
not consider a settlement until he did
abandon 1t. So they wanted this re-
corded as part of their victory"
Mr.. Ogburp before leaving Newark
yesterday morning said the basis of set
Element was satisfactory to both sides,
| and that each side gives and takes"
The strike started at 4 4. NJ. wednes-
| day. March IL. 1t Is believed to have
| cost the company about 100000 In lost
fares and other items. and the employees
more than 100000 in lost wages. 1t was
| fhe for the Jitneys.