Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-10
TROLLEYMEN AND
TRACTION COMPANY
AGREE ON WAGES
Men Accept the Offer of the Man
agement to Increased Pay Five
Cents an Hour.
RETROACTIVE TO SEPT.

The Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
ton Company's offer Of a wage increase
of FIVE cents an hour has been accepted
by the trainmen and will date from
September 5.
In a statement by Vice President
Thomas w. Wilson, he says: The
increase in wages will bring the new wage
scale to point where it is FIVE cents
higher than other city of it's class along
the Atlantic seaboard with one exception,
but in that city while the maximum rate
is the same as il will be in Wilmington,
the Wilmington men will hav higher
minimum rate and also other advantages,
making the trolleymen here witht Ut
exception the best paid in this section OF
the country for cities of this class.
prrrcrr OF S95,00o.
'~The public" Mr. Wilson's statement
continues. will remember that one year
ago the railway company gave its train
men an increase Of ten cents an hour and
stated at that time that II must Imme-
diately file a petition with the Public
Utility Commission for permission to
charge at least an eight-cent fare TO meet
this advance, as each cent OF advance in
the hourly wage meant an increased cost
TO the company Of $4,000 per year. The
company Immediately prepared and pre-
sented to the utility commission in Sep
tember 1919, its application for an
eipht-cent-farr. This was not granted
until few weeks ago. During all this
time the railway company has been pay
ing the increase Of ten cents per hour To it's
employees, and is now faced with deficit
of approximately sos, 900. The railway
company has no other source Of revenue
than the fares taken in on its cars; and
this deficit, as well az the wage increase
Just granted, together with the heavy
Increase in the costs of material and sup
plies, viii have 20 be met by the money de
rived from that source.
Eve believe that the trainmen Will
work in cooperation with the railway
company To give the people of Wilmington
good service which will result IN an in
creased number of fares, and IL is only by
increased receipts that the railway COM
pany can MAINTAIN that efficiency OF
operation TO which tho public is entitled.
Everyone of course, knows that public
utility, like any other business cannot
expcnd more than IL receives, and must be
self-supporting."
The new scale brings the rate To Sc cents
an hour for the first three months service,
SIS cents for the next nine months, and
60 cent. for one year service and there
after. All other conditions of employment
are to continue As at present.
The troileymen's union, Division No.
S42, held an all-day meeting yesterday
TO vote on adoption of the report of the
executive board, recommending accept
ance of the increase Offered by the COM
pany, in Irish-Amcrican Hall At 10
O'Clock last night the Board met with
General Manager Wilson and presented
In writing the acceptance of the increased
rate. and at the same time expressed their
thanks TO Mr.. Wilson for his consideration
of their claim.
The executive board and committee is
composed of the following members of
Division S42: Ii. III. Gallagher, president;
w. ]. Hunter, G. f. Smith, George II.
Hall, Jr., John III. Edwards and J. j.
Mahoney, chairman. Two committeeman
from the late straights were added TO the
board TO handle the wage question and
to represent them at the conferences,
G. III. French and j. f. Wahl