Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-26
"Jnnuary %. 1922.
10 Inc Council OF the City of Rich

.,, January 20, 1922.
inc council or the City of Rich
mond. Richmond. Va.
Mountaineering company re.
oei'cd ON the afternoon of January
%. from the City Clerk. IL copy OF
resolutions adopted by the Council
on tho same day. The resolutions, In
Terms. advise this company of the
IounciIs approval and support OF
INC foiiowinS propositions:
!. That tho G-ccnt fare shall re-
mum as provided In the present or
dinance.
Z. fa) The elimination Of jitney
competition on streets traversed by
The Virginia hallway and Power
company. except where jitney routes
'htcrsoct with street car lines. and
on free bridges and appronchcs
'hcreto, and further except on Laurel
street between Park Avenue and
franklin Street. or any other por-
ton Of III street which II may be
necessary for the Council to desig
nate In the rcrouting OF jitneys.
"tb) The right IS reserved to IN.
Council. however. In time OF strike
or other emergency to authorize n
temporary operation on said streets
with any form OF TRANSPORTATION
found necessary.
80 That the application OF the Vir-
for motor bus limo shall be taken
mp By tho Committee on Streets i'm :
medlatcly and disposed Of
-. That tho employees OF tho Vif-
ginia Railway and Power Company
be reinstated without discrimination
to their seniority and working
agreement as OF December !. 1921.
and that tho wage scale of said date
BIO continued pending the award of
~
bi'ration. tho arbitrators to be Sc
iected In manner and form as agreed
upon by the company and the en-
ploycs.
-. In the event the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company shall fall
10 recognize the fairness OF the fore
going propositions and shall refuse
TO accept the same within forty
eight hours after duo receipt of tho
notice thereof thecn the Council
of the city OF Richmond will forth
With proceed to repeal the ordinance
allowing the company to charge a
G-ccnt rate OF fare and require them
10 operate under the provisions OF
their original franchises~ and
further. that the Council VIII pro-
Vide other and adequate means OF
transportation for the people Of the
tty OF Richmond on az permanent a
basis az possible.
Service Seriously Imprniacd
This action of the Council. IL is to
he assumed. was for the purpose OF
providing for settlement of the diff
iercnccs existing at this time be
tween the compsny and Its former
employees. which have seriously i'm
paired, and are now interfering with.
the resumption OF normal transpor-
tation service.
ro decide whether the proposal. OF
Tho Council OF the city OF Richmond
OFFER any correct aud proper basis
IF adjustment, va must b.icay take
account OF the present conditions and
causes which have produced them.
Tho Board OF Directors OF this
company. after Il full and careful
consideration. at it's meeting In No
rcmber last. reached the conclusion
that. pursuant to recommendation OF
responsible operating officers at this
company, there should be a substan-
tial reduction In the scale of wages
paid the mon engaged In street rail
way service.
Since 1916 during the period OF
increasing Industrial as we'll as llv-
ing costs. this company had increased
The wages OF It's employees seven
uIpes. Since the war period. there
had been no reduction in the wage
scale. II had been the hope OF the
the action on the part OF this com
pany In increasing wages in times
OF increasing living costs. notwith-'
standing it's financial stress and the
necessary Withholding OF dividends
TO its shareholders. tina, when there
was an abatement and reduction In
living costs, the men would. By VOL
untary act. show their appreciation
and make, or at least without COM
N
the high wage scale to which seven
increases Of the company had car
ried it,
Cites Other Corporations.
AT the conference in October with
the employees of this company, this
matter was presented to their repre-
sentatires, but on concession was
suggested. During the period fol-
lowing. general industrial depres-
sion throughout the country was
making itself seriously felt in the
territory in which this company
operates. resulting in n steady and
increasing reduction in revenue. The
effect OF this industrial depression
IN part. upon the earnings OF this
company may be. TO some extent, un-
derstood and realized from the fact
that from July ] to December 81.
1921. there was reduction in the
number of passengers carried in the
city of Richmond OF 2,2l5,S63. While
the depression has been accentuated
in the last few months. 1t has been
continuous during the ,past year. and
as result, few, ic any. industries
have not made effective economies.
including drastic cuts in wages.
Richmond has been no exception The
largest industries in the city OF
Richmond have. months previous TO
the action of this company. made re-
auctions in wages. Many OF the in
lustrics have suspended entirely:
Others haye worked on part time WITH
reduced wages We think we ma,
safely say that this company was on,
of the last industries in the city
make any reduction in wages, and
we think we mnY further say thai