Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-03
TROLLEY MEN IN
FAVOR OF A NEW
WAGE ADJUSTMEA
Suggest Company Make Pay
in Accordance With Volume
of Business.
RECEIPTS SHOW A DEFICIT

cognizant of the fact that there
has been a falling off in trolley car
patronage in Wilmington in the
past few months. conductors and
motormen of the Wilmington & Phila-
dciphis Traction Co. have taken the
initiative in proposing to the COM
pany a readjustment of their wages,
IN accordance with the volume OF
business done by the company. This
was decided yesterday by unanimous
vote OF the men. acting as members
of Division No. Ss2. Amalgamated As
Hociatior Of Street and Electric Rail-
way Employees. The plan proposed
~ that as long as conditions remain
as at present, the men are willing
60 accept a reduction in pay OF D
cents an hour, to return TO the pres
ent rate when business returns TO
normal
This is i'm line with similar action
taken by workers in some other lines
at industry in the past few months.
Position of the Men.
A. meeting last night the Trolley
mems Union decided TO endeavor TO
hold the present wage scale for train
men and other employees of the trac-
saon company represented by the
union yet al the same time they
stated that they wanted to display
a spirit OF cooperation towards the
company. The position Of the en-
rloycs of the company. according to
statement issued in their behalf
today. is that for a period OF one
year. beginning August Ia, 1921,
whenever the number of revenue
passengers carried in any one month
during the said year approSimstes the
average number carried in that same
month in the years 1919 and 1920.
with other conditions as at present.
the wage scale shall remain un-
changed: but that during the months
of the said year when the number of
revenue passengers is lower than the
average OF that same month in the
years 1919 and 1920, with other con-
sii'ions as at present, the employees
will accept voluntary reduction of
wages of FIVE cents an hour for that
month"
This. IL was explained, means that
N business returns to normal or near
normal. the present rate of wages for
the employees of the company repre-
scented by Division No. S42, viii re-
rnainsat 60 cents an hour maximum.
the minimum being Sc cents an hour,
and il business is similar to what it
lis at the present time, when there IS
n reduction in patronage, due TO In
durtrial conditions, then the volun-
tary reduction of five cents an hour
will apply, effective August IA. 1921.
The executive board of Division, No.
S42 will confer with officials of the
traction company shortly and place the
position of the men before the COM
pany, with the hope that business will
soon return 10 normal or near normal.
Ipefcit shown. Company Reports.
.. Mr.. T.. w Wilson, vice-president
and general manager TO the traction
company when seen today in regard to
the action OF the men. made the fol-
lowing statement:
we have Just been advised OF the
plan of wage adjustments proposed by
our employees and We appreciate very
much this voluntary and thoughtful
assistance on their part which is so
much needed by the company at this
time. Due TO the industrial and busi-
ness depression resulting in so much
unemployment and which has so
seriously affected Wilmington and
vicinity the traffic on our trolley lines
during the past eight months has
fallen off considerably and the deficit
Of our Railway Department for that
period has amounted to S56,i9S.6S. The
readjustment of wages viii help TO
reduce this deficit In addition TO TAX
ing care Of this deficit We have been
obliged during this summer 10 expend
large sums OF money in the recon
ssruction OF our tracks. etc, made
necessary by municipal improvements
on Delaware and Lancaster avenues.
Washington, Eighth, Ninth and other
streets and the building of the new
Washington street bridge and ap-
proaches. These extraordinary ex-
penditures will aggregate over $500, 900
and the banking arrangements for
this amount is a serious problem.
which Immediately confronts us.
we are therefore very much graft
fed at the action taken by our en-
p.oyes. in order to help out the com
pany in its time of need