Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-13
HIGHER STREET
CAR FARES MAY
Be ASKED SOON
Or the Alternative Of Obnoxious
One Man Vehicle is Rumored
Proposition.

Alleged contemplated action Of
the Tri-City Railway company to
seek permission to place into effect
the so-called zone man" street car
service, or to be allowed an addi-
tional increase in fare is causing
considerable comment. This is be-
ing heightened by rumors, that the
employees of the company are con-
templating reopening their con-
tract, which was signed Aug. 8,
1919, after 5-day strike.
John G. Huntoon. general man
ager of the company. said today
that no official action had been TAX
en- by the company, but he said
that the situation relative to the
zone man" system or an increase in
fares had been discussed by COM
pany officials.
Rumors relative to the employees
contemplated action of reopeEins
their contract, could not be sub
stantiated today as officials OF the
union refused to discuss the mat
ter. However, it is understood that
the executive boards Of Division
No. 3l3. of Rock Island and Moline,
and Division No 312 Of Davenport,
street railway employees, have dis
cussed the matter of giving notice
to the company that the unions de-
sire to again negotiate for higher
wages.
Among the union men various
opinions are expressed. Some Of the
men hold that they should receive
an additional increase in wages.
Others say that the contract should
be reopened in order to protect the
present scale of wages, which the
men claim is in jeopardy in cas-
the company should come forward
with an announcement that wages
must be reduced or the company
must receive a higher rate Of fare
Still others of the conductors and
motormen claim that The contract
should be reopened in order TO
avert any possible chance that the
company might succeed in ipaug-
urating a "one man street car ser
vice.
Those favoring an increase ia
wages above the 81, 81 and 90 cents
an hour schedule cite the increases
in the cost of living since the con-
tract was signed, which has lead
other unions to put in requests for
wage increases that in various in
stances call for scales from 81 to
$3.50 an hour.
The union is strong in its sup
port of oman operation o. cars.
1t is claimed that the "one man
system is not a success. The union
has always held that one man can
not properly handle a streec car
1t is claimed that one man can not
operate the car and collect fares at
the same time and keep up TO the
schedule time On the runs.
The contract signed by the men
and the company last August was
dated from Aug. 6. 1912 to June /
1920, with the stipulation that the
contract was to run an addiriona
year III case neither side took ad-
vantage of the 30-day clause, which
stipulated that either side could re-
open the contract upon giving the
other side 80 days notice.
While it is known that the re-
opening of the contract by the
union has never been taken up in
union meetings, it is rumored that
the matter is scheduled TO come uI
in formal way soon
No information could be learned
as to what the officials Of the union
would recommend in case The con-
tract is reopened. However, the
| situation from the unions point OF
view seems to be fight to retain
the present wage, or possibly OBJ
tain a substantial increase and te
fight any move the company might
make to inaugurate the "one man
| street car service.