Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-08

advantage of this opportunity Of pledg.
ing our continuing adherence 10 the
principles Of the cooperative plan,
which has brought much happiness into
our lives, and helped us to become better
railroaders and better citizens;
"And finally be it Resolved, That the
original Of this set of resolutions be
rendered our president, Mr.. 4. +. Nit
ten. In grateful recognition Of his years
of untiring effort in behalf Of our com.
pany, and as a permanent manifestation
Of the love and esteem In which he is
held by his more than 0,000 CO. workers
Of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com.
pany."
These resolutions were adopted unan.
imously.
Mr.. Mittcn's Speech
The stenographic report Of the speech
made by Mr.. Mitten also IL made pub.
lie by the company today. 1t follows |:
1T gives me great pleasure to see you
here again ton. ght at my invitation. be-
cause we have reached n nilestone--a
milestone of accomplishment, to which
have directed your view many times. to
that day when the Undertaking OF 1911
was accomplished.
I'VE have today the best street rail-
way service, the most courteous conduc-
tors and careful motormen that there
are anywhere.
Our men have good wages, good
working conditions and more to say as
to how their work Is laid out and ineir
discipline administered than with any
other company
"Those things have been In the coming
This year we have earned a dividend
upon p r T. stock. That Is the third
condition that have called to your d..
tention and told you that we must reach
before any thought Of consid Iteration for
the more than ordinary service that this
body of men and women givo to the
company.
Looking to the future and considering
the conditions under which we work,
the four-city average upon which our
wages are based. the economic conditions
that we all realize and wages coming
down as the cost Of living recedes. saw
that the time for another forward step
was approaching.
Seeing all these things. said to
myself:
LAS these wages 60 down In the four
am I going to say to these men and
women that may ask me the very proper
question. "Do we continue to cooperate
and increase the earnings over and abov.
those produced in other ci.i 6 and only
get as a reward the average Of the wases
paid in the cities where they do not CO.
operate''
Realizing that this question must be
answered, and that IL were a proper
leader I must have the answer before
the question was asked. ! s!gnified to
the company that my contract was to be
considered as completed at the close y,
next March.
Many expressions appeared in the
press at the time as to what actuated
me In concluding my contract. The real
reason Is that I must he placed In the
position Of recognizing cooperative ac-
com nnlishrlent on the part of the men
and women bya financial participation
in the added profits. The time to have
such an understa nding with the owners
is before you undertake q continuation
Of the job.
II want to have your minds clear as
to the purpose OF this meeting. so we
may get down In our seats and consider
YOU I will say, therefore. that SO far
as ] can see there .s no prospect OF a
lessened wage by the four-city average
until the conclusion Of the contracts
which l know exist In the four cities.