New-York tribune., 1920-03-28
Hint of Strike
In Pay Demand
OF /. r. T. Men
Leader in Last Walk7Out
Heads Delegation Asking
La Cuardia for His Help
to s'Improve Conditions''

7 While the men themselves would not
admit it, Major F. H. La Guardia, presi-
dent Of the Board of Aldermen, saw the
yelled threat Of another strike on the
lnterborough Rapid Transit lines in the
attitude assumed by delegation of
employees who called on him yesterday
to seek his assistance in Improving
their working conditions" The dele
CATION, headed by p. j. Connolly, vice
president Of the Brotherhood Of Inter
borough Employees, who directed the
traction strike last summer, conferred d
with the aldermanic president as Act
ing Mayor in the absence of Mayor
Hylan at Atlantic City.
When the men left they would not
admit that the question of wages had
been discussed. on the ground that con-
cluslons which might be drawn in -e-
gard to the conference might put them
in bad light and renew the intima-
tIons that there was a conspiracy be-
tween the company and the employees.
La Guardia Answers Men
Major La Guardia. however, declared
that there was at least a hint Of a
threat made by the men and issued a
statement as a reply to the requests
of the men.
The wages concern the employee S
and the company only" said Major La
Guardla. You men are working for
the company, and it is required to pay
you a decent living wage. The city
has absolutely nothing to do with your
wages. but if the company is willing
that the city should regulate your pay,
every man decent wage.
But if the company believes it can
use It's men to coerce the city into
doing something it is not ready to do
It's officers have made. as they have for
long years, their biggest mistake. The
Cay when the directors of public serv-
ice corporations can take city and state
authorities by the throat has passed.
The company must run its own af-
fairs, but if it is willing to let the city
regulate the pay of every man, begin
ming with the president, all the way
down, will do all in my power to take
up the matter medately and you
can rest assured that the boys Will get
their increase"
Wage Question Delayed
There are approximately $4,000 en-
ployees of the company Last August,
when their demands for an increase in
pay were only partly granted. they
struck and for forty-eight hours not
a train was run on the elevated or in
the subway. The men had demanded
an increase of so per cent and the
company granted 25 per cent to them,
which was to run until January / of
this year, when they were promised
a consideration of the remainder. On
the plea that the city was conducting
an investigation into the financial con-
dltion of the company the officials have
put OFF an answer until the men are
again Getting restless. Yesterday they
made their first move in approaching
the city authorities.
Following the strike last sumncr
Mayor Hylan ALLEGED that a conspiracy
existed between the company officials
and the employees to compel the city
to grant increased fares. The Mayors
charges were made the subject of an
investigation by the Almral extraor-
dinary grand jury. which, after calling
the Mayor and other city officials and
officials of the company and brother
hood as witnesses. decided that there
was not evidence sufficient to support
the charges or to warrant indictments.