New-York tribune., 1920-09-16
BRIT. Enrolls
100 Men a Day
For: New Force
Company Officials Say That
Places of the Strikers
Will Be Filled Within q
Month at Present Rate
Union Leaders Optimistic
Compers Reported to Have
Promised Financial Aid;
Six Injured i'm Collision

Applications from new men, desirous
of filling the positions of striking con-
ductors and motormen, are being &C.
-4~.sI -s the sasa Of more than one
hundred a day officials Of the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company said yes
terday, and it is anticipated that the
new permanent operating force Re-
ceiver Garrison is building will be 100
per cent efficient in less than month.
Service in Brooklyn yesterday was
more nearly normal than on any pre-
ceding day Of the strike. There was
no violence, but six persons were
slightly injured when Third Avenue
trolley in charge Of Motorman Benja-
min Estrio crashed into another Third
Avenue car in charge of Motorman An
sono Lamocchio. Estrio, a strike
breaker, said the air brakes failed to
work.
Officials Of the company said last
night that, in their opinion, the period
of embarrassment for lack of man.
power had passed.
Strikers Optimistic
Despite evidences that the company
Is mastering the situation, strike lead
ers yesterday expressed determination
to Eight to the last ditch" and there
WAS more optimism at the Labor Ly-
ceum than has been noticeable for the
last week. This was largely attribu-
table to an unconfrmed report that
Samuel Gompers had promised to back
the strikers with funds from the
treasury of the American Federation
of Labor.
Strike leaders said last night that
sufficient contributions have been re-
ceved to insure the availability of at
least $500,000 for the families of needy
strikers by the end of the week. Dele
gates from all Amalgamated locals in
New York and New Jersey will meet in
the Labor Lyceum Sunday morning to
subscribe to the fund the leaders are
raising.
Contributions received yesterday in
cluded one of $4,000 from the milk
wagon drivers union and another of
$4,000 from the Amalgamated Associa
tion of New Jersey. Leaders indicated
that other unions in New York are exs
pected to swell the fund materially
within the next few days.
A committee of labor men yesterday
appeared before the Board of Estimate
and urged the restoration of munic-
lpally operated busses in Brooklyn, al
leging the service provided by the
company to be wholly inadequate. The
board took no action.
B. r. T. Ranks Filling Fast
Receiver Garrison said yesterday he
was receiving a gratifying response to
advertisements for men to fill the de-
pleted operating ranks of the company
He made it plain that the door is open
to the men who went out on strike to
resume work if they act in time. They
will enter the company's employ as new
men, however. and will not have the
seniority privileges that many acquired
through extended service.
The Public Service Commissions re-
port showed that the company operated
1876 trains, comprising 986 cars, on the
subway and elevated lines yesterday
There were 719 surface cars in opera
tion on fifty-one lines. The Halsey
Street line was opened to night service
last night, making a total of six sur
face lines now operating after dark.
Company officials said the Fulton
Street line would be operated tonight
Less than 200 strikers we're present
last night at their mass meeting in La
Dor Lyceum, Willoughby and Myrtle
avenues, Brooklyn. Seats had been re-
served for at least 1900, but rumors
spread that hundreds of men were re-
turning to their jobs on the B. r. T.,
having become discouraged at the prog
ress made in their behalf by strike
leaders