New-York tribune., 1920-08-30
Walk-Out, Called After
All Night Conference,
Came as Big Surprise;
Began 5 A. Nj. Yesterday
Public Service
Inquiry Ordered
Mayor Alleges Attempt
to Gain Higher Fares;
Receiver Makes Denial

The inhabitants of Brooklyn awoke
yesterday morning to find their bor-
ough almost completely tied up by a
strike of B. r. T. employees.
Not one surface car moved over
any part of the B. R. T. system af-
ter S a. m. The paralyzing effect OF
the walk-out was so we'll spread that
the company was able to muster only
enough men to operate twenty-five
two-car trains on its subway and
elevated lines.
Company officials refused to make
any promises as to service for this
morning. 1t was intimated, however,
chat no surface cars would be oper-
ated until some time tomorrow. An
attempt, however, will be made to
increase the subway and elevated
service. 1t is plain that the great
mass of the Brooklyn public will
have to depend upon the makeshift
vehicular and bus service witch
Mayor Hylan has pressed into oper-
alton for their trangportatien D.
Manhattan this morning
Strike Comes as SurRsseY & 0S )
Receiver Lindley NJ. Garrison de-
clared it was impossible to operate
any of the surface GAYS, because the
company had practically received no
notice of the strike and the men who
had been mobilized for the emerg-
ency had been dispersed following
the first report that the trainmen
had decided to hold off for at least a
week.
Not being forewarned of the tie-up,
the thousands of Manhattanites who
usually focked 20 the nearby beaches
on Sunday mornings jammed the en-
frances to the bridges and later fought
Tor any kind of vehicle to take them
TO their destinations. Larpe numbe rs
VINO had gone to the resorts the dav
pelofe virtually were marooned. 1t was
estimated that at least $4,000 persons
were left stranded at Coney Island a
few having made their way home dur
ing the night in jitneys, taxis and
wagons. Only small number was
anle TO get away from other points.
Inc union leaders claim that 1900
of the 1900 employees OF all the lines
are out and that the men still At
work are mainly motormen, signal
men and towermen of the subway and
elevated systems, who are aiIilia,ed
with other unions.
Soon after Mayor Hylan was an.
prised of the acton of the carmen. he
said there was a report current that
the B. r. T. officials were not verv
ANXIOUS to avert a strike, and if the
men struck that would give them sn
opportunity to renew their demand for
an increase in fare"
investigation Under Way
This question and others will be
taken up by the Public Service Com
mission, which has begun an investi-
CATION of the trouble Alfred NJ. Bar
rett, Acting Public Service Commits
sloner' mas ordered hearing at the
commissions Office, 40 Lafavette
Street, for 2:3o o'clock this afternoon
Among those subpenaed are Patrick
.. Shea, international ice-president of
the Almagamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway Workers of Amer
lca; James Sheridan, another mic,
leader; LOUIS Fridiger counsel for the
strikers; Lindley NJ. Garrison. re~eiv.r
Tor the B. K. 4. l:nes, and a ,cora ~
other officials OF both the trann,en
and the company.
When questioned OH the Mayors
comment respecting the companv's at
titude to the strike Mr.. Garrison sa;d.
i nave just seen the Mayors state
ment given out this afternoon. In il
nc goes back on everything he has
previously said on this issue. Yester-
day he told the men plainly that judge
slayer and the receiver were right and
thereafter urged the men not to strike
Upon the same facts he now in
sinuates that the court and the re-
celver are wrong and should change
their position. he now misstates the
issue, distorts the facts and intimates
that the court and the receiver did NOT
try in good faith to avert the strike.
but really wanted it as means of oh,
tanning higher fares. This is false and
malicious"
Three Main Demands
The negotiations which hrouvb+
about the present tieup began six or
seven weeks ago, when the workers de-
manded increases in wages, shorter
working hours and the closed shop Al
the last minute, when a strike seemed
inevitable, the trainmen receded from
their demand for the last condition and
agreed to arbitrate all the other eriey-
ances Receiver Garrison held that he
was willing to submit to arbitration
all the questions except the closed
shop, but Federal Judge Julius Maver
who is really in charge of the situa,
tion, agreed to submit only to a i'm
tied arbitration. desiring to have tn.
final word as to the power of the COM
pary to meet the award
The agreement between the men and
the company terminated on July %