Arizona republican., 1921-05-29
ALBANY STREET
 GAR WAR SHOWS
 M PEACE SIGN
 SINCE JANUARY
Bitter New York Traction War Enters Seventeenth Week With Neither Side Yielding Point
BY R. H. WHITNEY


 portation by street cars here and in surrounding towns is practically de- moralfzed. This is the seventeenth week of a bitter labor fight without the slightest sign of yielding on either side.
 Technically, the contestants are the Uni4ed Traction company, oper- afing every street car in Albany, Troy, Watervliet, Rensselaer,, Cohoes and Green Island on the one hand, and 1000 members of the Amalgamat- ed Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America on the other
 Some cars are running, and on short hauls in the business section ot Albany passengers are riding. Cars are forced to operate, as otherwise they would forgeit their franchises. Fares range from to cents.
 War Upon Jitneys
 Hundreds of buses are attempting to operate at sliding fare of from 16 to 25 cents, but scores of police and private detectives are arrestine drivers on technicalities as quickly as they appear on the streets with pas sengers
 The drivers demand a jury trial furnish bail and return to their trade and are again promptly arrested But convictions are held unlikely be- cause 1uries must be made up of citi- zens-indignant at being deprived oi transportation.
 Meanwhile Albany is the scene oi frequent disorders.
 Company's Side Henry B. Weatherwax, vice president of United Traction. tells me there IS no strike on any of the lines Cars are running. he said, and peo- pie are patronizing them In the following statement he explained nls position
 During the month of June. 1920 representatives of the Amalgamated represented by Divisions l32 and 14s demanded an increased wage of from 45 cents to S5 cents per hour for motormen and conductors; other em- ployes to be increased proportion ately) to take effect July 1, 1920.
 We had accumulated deficit ot 12,5s4-S2. As our surplus on Jan l, 1915. was S1e192317. our net defi- cit was s420,67165. So we couldn't grant an increase in the face of sucl a loss.
 Offer Made
 But after a conference we agreed to. pay motormen and conductors 6l cents an hour up to November l. 1920, pending a decision of the pub. lie service commission regarding in creased fares
 'We told the men if increased fares were granted by then the rats of 60 cents would remain effective tt July l. 1921. But on January 21 1921, the public service commission refused to grant an increased far, | d sr..r -f. .--r further decreased gross revenues $50, 900 per annu.
 "On January 22, 1921, we told tn, men that the wages granted July 1 1920, would be discontinued and pa, reduced to 45 cents. Even the pay ment of 45 cents meant the loss o over s200, 900 a year. "On January 29 all of the mer walked out and disorders began. Out | breaks have continued intermittent \ ly since.'
 Cost of Struggle The United Fractions quarterly re port filed with the state public serv | ice commission covers one mont l of normal operations and two oi | strike conditions, bcing for January February aud March. During the corresponding thre 1 months in 1920, United Traction line carried 11.4s1.S33 cash passengers a against 3.6S9.2s0 this year. a fallin off due to the strike and consequen ] refusal of the public 70 use the car i of 7,S42.553 passengers. | The report shows cash loss fo l the period of s754, ,T30.64
 While its passenger Tevenus fell of more than s507 .000 it's expense O conducting operation" increased al most s267. 900.
 The total increase in the company liabilities is placed at sS54 3O9.0S
 Unions Stand
 Joseph Fl Droogan. leader of tn | strikers. and a lawyer, said that up 1 ward of 1000 men were out.
 The strikers claim, he said, tha | with increased fares in effect wage should remain at 60. cents an houi but that the company has taken ad vantage of a technicality wherein tn increased wages were to be continue only if the fare increase was allowe by November l. 1920.
 Such cars as are now being op erated. he said, are being run b about 300 strike breakers. Police an militiamen guard them. He laid tn entire blame for present condition on the company's refusal to arb trate.
 The appellate division has hande down a decision that United Tractio company need not carry out the arb tration clause in it's contract with th union.
 Mayor James R. watt. when al preached said: q have nothing say, absolutely nothlng.