New-York tribune., 1920-05-06
8-Cent Fare ON
Staten Island:
Strike Settled
Trolley Cars to Resume On
Grafton at 5 A. Nj. To-day;
Receiver Tells Conductors
to Charge Higher Rate
Authority Not Gle a r
Men, Out Since April p on
Richmond Co. Lines, Win
OO Cents an Hour Wage

Cars of the Richmond Light and
Railroad Company, which stopped run
ming April "a when Staten Island troll
leymen went on strike. will start again
this morning at o'clock, but at an
eight-cent fare. An hour after the
strikers voted to return to work at
60 cents an hour for a ten-hour day
Captain John Kuhn, receiver for the
company, telephoned to Edward Black
um. superintendent of the road. to
tell all conductors to collect eight
cents as fare instead Of five,
Captain Kuhn did not say where he
got the authority to issue such instruc-
tlons. 1t was thought that Public
Service Commissioner Nixon might
have succeeded in obtaining q favor
able decision from the Court Of An
peals on his claim to the right to
regulate fares and had advised the re-
ceiver to charge eight cents. Mr..
Nixon could not be reached last night
for a statement.
Nobody was willing to believe that
the receiver had issued the instruc-
t!ons on his own responsibility, as in
that case, there is no doubt the Cor
poration Counsel would ut once applv
for an injunction. The receivers order
gave rise to endless surmise, as indica.
tive of general increase in fares on
traction lines in the city.
Captain Kuhn, who in the afternoon
made the offer which the trelleymer's s
union accepted at meeting in Emer-
aid Hall, New Brighton, gave no hint
at the time that 1t would be neces-
sary to increase the fare in order to
pay the men so cents an hour. When
the strike was declared the men de-
manded 70 cents an hour. Later thew
offered to compromise on IS cents,
The president, Of the company declare d
any increase in pay was out of the
question while the five-cent rate pre-
vailed.
Captain Kuhn told the strikers that
expert accountants had gone over the
books of the company and their reports
indicated that wages of 60 cents an
hour could be paid. He was anxious
to operate the trolley lines, he said, but
could not do so at loss II the union
would accept the 15-cent increase he
offered he hoped that the men would 20
back to work in the morning, leaving
lesser details to be settled later.
When the offer was submitted TO the
men they voted 90 to 12 to accept it
and report for work at S a. m. The
strikers committee. consisting Of
a.
Patrick J. Rooney, Frank Zapoli and
Edward Leahy, is to settle minor de-
talls OF the dispute in conference with
II. l.. Rand, vice-president and general
manager Of the company, tomorrow,
Fol owing the conference q contract
of a years duration is to be drawn up
and entered into by the company and
its employees.
The five trolley lines operated by the
Richmond Light and Railroad Company
are the Castleton Avenue, Elizabeth
port. South Beach, Jersey Street and
Bulls Head routes. About 10000 per
strike, which Grover A. Whalen. Com
missioner Of Plant and Structures,
made the occasion Of announcing his
intention of demanding the forfeiture
of the company's franchise and the
seizure and operation of the lines by
the city.
Whalen's Course Indorsed
While the strike was on Commits.
sloner Wha'en increased the municipal
bus service in Staten Island, and his
efforts to relieve the situation received
the cordial Endorsement of Staten ISL
anders who attended mass meeting
last night in Public School 20. West
New Brighton.
A resolution was adopted at this
meeting approving of Commissioner
Whalen's plan to revoke the franchise
of the trolley company and have the
city assume responsibility for the oper-
alton of the cars. Several speakers ex-
pressed the opinion that if the bus
service were improved somewhat there
wou d be no need Of trolley cars. Frank
A. Verdon, a shipbuilder, presided at
the meeting.