with. I regret this trouble, but can only continue to caution the men to refrain from hostile acts toward the company, and the assocation and its officers will use their best efforts to this end."

The presence of the non-union men who had been employed by the traction company to operate the road continued to create scenes of excitement. Under the protection of the militia some cars began to move on the 15th. Mayor Blessing on that day issued this proclamation to the people of Albany:

"The unfortunate difference which exists between the United Traction Company and its employees has resulted in a fever of excitement, and yesterday culminated in a disregard of law and order which is most detrimental to the interests of this city. It is the duty, in this emergency, of all citizens, by their example and influence, to uphold the authorities of the city in their effort to protect the property and the lives of our people. Those encouraging disorder or violation of the law will be prosecuted to the full extent of the power of the city authorities. I therefore urge that all not lawlessly inclined devote themselves to their various occupations and avoid congregating in those places where disturbances have occurred or are likely to occur, that the innocent may not suffer with the guilty."

On the 16th the company again started its cars with non-union employees. Each of these electric vehicles was guarded by twelve soldiers, and the militia was also distributed along the streets through which the cars passed. No passengers were admitted to the cars. About 4 o'clock p. m. members of the Twenty-third Regiment, while on a car on Broadway near Columbia street, fired into a crowd which had gathered there, shooting two prominent citizens, E. Le Roy Smith, a shoe manufacturer, and William Walsh, an employing plumber. Both men subsequently died from the effect of their wounds. It was claimed by the soldiers that bricks were thrown at them and they fired in self-defense. There is a diversity of opinion in regard to this lamentable affair as to whether the militiamen were justified in their action. The Coroner is at present investigating the matter.

Negotiations for the settlement of the strike were then taken up by Mayor Blessing, who had a conference with other city officials, counsel for the strikers, and representatives of the company and of the Albany Federation of Labor. The Mayor insisted that the strike must end, and that if the differences could not be adjusted at once by arbitration the city would take the matter in hand and settle it through the powers invested in the Common Council by the charter. The stand taken by the chief

executive of the city was communicated to the board of directors of the company, and the Mayor also appealed to the men to make a compromise so that the difficulty might be speedily terminated. This action had the desired effect, for the officials of both the company and the labor organizations conferred and entered into the following agreement, which ended the strike on the 18th of May:

"Memorandum of an agreement between the United Traction Company of Albany, N.Y., party of the first part, and the Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees of America, Divisions 132 and 148, located at Troy and Albany, N. Y., parties of the second part, witnesseth:

"First. The parties of the first part will continue to recognize and treat with any committee of its employees, representing organized or unorganized labor, when they desire to be heard in relation to any grievances. 'Second. Any man who may be suspended or discharged by the superintendent shall be entitled to appeal to the executive committee of the company and to have a hearing by that committee.

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"Third. Conductors and motormen who exhibit their several badges by pinning them upon the lapels of their coats shall be permitted to ride without payment of fare on all cars operated on a division to which such conductor and motorman belong, and all other employees shall have passes on their respective divisions.

"Fourth. Inspectors riding on cars shall not be registered as passengers unless a pass is given to the conductor.

"Fifth. The party of the first part will pay all employees for time lost when they have been suspended by the company and found not guilty. "Sixth. There will be no discrimination against any of the men on account of the strike of May 7, 1901, but this shall not apply to those under arrest, or who within the next ten days may be placed under arrest, charged with the commission of unlawful or riotous acts, until the executive committee, after a hearing given to such persons, shall be satisfied that there is a reasonable doubt of their guilt, when they shall be restored to their place, or unless such person shall be acquitted in the court.

"Seventh. The right which already exists is hereby confirmed, viz.: The party of the first part is free to employ union or non-union men, and to discharge them for cause.

"Eighth. The wages of all the motormen, conductors, linemen and pitmen shall be 20 cents per hour, and of pitmen helpers, 171⁄2 cents per hour.

"Ninth. The party of the second part agrees that in consideration of the several agreements herein contained to be kept by the company, that the members of the said divisions will discharge their duties in an efficient, faithful and skilled manner.

"Tenth. To promote the interests of the parties hereto and to reduce as much as possible inconvenience to the traveling public, it is agreed that no proposition for a strike shall be acted upon by any division at the same meeting at which it is introduced. But that at least forty-eight hours shall elapse before such proposition shall be voted upon. And if a

strike shall be ordered it shall not take effect until at least six days have elapsed after notice to the company, during which time the employees shall continue their work.

"Eleventh. This agreement shall continue in force and shall be binding not only upon the parties hereto, but upon their successors or any organization formed by the members of said division for the term of three years from the date hereof."

New York City Rapid Transit Tunnel Workmen.

Several unions affiliated with the Central Federated Union informed that body in December, 1900, that they had a number of grievances against the sub-contractors on the tunnel which is in course of construction for the Underground Rapid Transit Railroad in the Metropolis. A committee was in that month chosen by the central organization to enter into negotiations with the employers on the tunnel for the purpose of arranging suitable terms that would promote harmony of action and thus insure uninterrupted progress with the work until it reached completion. The committee proceeded with its task, announcing from time to time that its overtures were receiving proper consideration, and that eventually an agreement would be consummated that would tend to prevent friction and result in speedily settling any dispute that might arise between the sub-contractors and their union workmen. Such was the condition of affairs about the middle of May, when an event transpired which bade fair to create a stoppage of work on the great underground undertaking for an indefinite period, and which occasioned much comment owing to the growing demands of the public for improved transportation facilities through Manhattan and the Bronx. Operations at the time were under way at various points from the City Hall to Harlem, and more than 5,000 workers, skilled and unskilled, organized and unorganized, were employed.

Members of organizations consisting of safety, eccentric and standard engineers, rock drillers and tool sharpeners, and double drum hoister runners, were engaged on outside work as well as on the tunnel. On the latter eight hours was a regular day, but on the other jobs ten hours constituted a day's labor. Some of the tunnel employers were interested in these outside contracts. The unions had made a demand for the eight-hour day and the payment of their wage scales on all classes of work. Refusal to

concede these terms precipitated a general strike on the outside jobs, and the movement soon spread to the tunnel, ostensibly with a view to forcing compliance with the claims of the outside workers who had struck for a reduction of working time and uniform wage schedules. The principal grievances of the tunnel. trades referred to were in relation to the payment of their scales of wages for overtime work and for bi-weekly payments of wages on the job, but the hoister runners in addition asked that their minimum daily wages be fixed at $2.50 instead of $2.25.

The subway enterprise being of a public character the law limiting the daily labor hours to eight, except in the event of extreme emergency, when overtime was permitted, was not being strictly observed, according to the statements of the men. While they did not have any desire to work more than eight hours, they said that if absolutely necessary they were willing to do so if paid the amounts stipulated in their respective schedules of prices. They, however, declared that the sub-contractors were paying single price for this extra work, when the rules of some of the unions required price-and-a-half and of others double price. As to the demand for wage payments every two weeks on the work it was set forth by the workmen that pay-days were irregular; that they were forced to go long distances from the points at which they were engaged in order to get their money, and that frequently it was late in the night before they were paid.

The strike on the tunnel opened on May 22d, and it was stated by the unions that 330 engineers, 285 rock drillers and tool sharpeners, and 94 double drum hoister runners had engaged in it. The labor organizations likewise reported that some of the outside contractors had granted their demands immediately, but that on the works of those who had refused there were, respectively, 300, 128, and 112 involved. Wages paid to engineers on these last-mentioned contracts varied from $2.75 to $3.50 per day and they decided that the latter sum, the regular union rate, should be the minimum. The rock drillers and tool sharpeners did not ask for any change in their wage rate, which was $2.75, their chief demand being in regard to the shorter workday. The hoister runners sought a uniform wage of $2.50, instead of $2 and $2.25, which were being paid at the time.

The dispute on the tunnel affected all sections of the work and a partial tie-up resulted, as the excavating laborers, who constituted the majority of the employees, were unable to continue without the aid of the more skilled workers who were on strike. The Central Federated Union endorsed the strike on May 26th, but rescinded that action on the following Sunday, June 2d, and bestowed upon its committee full power to settle the trouble, the aggrieved trades having consented to waive their demand that "the pending agreement between the contractors on Rapid Transit work and our unions shall include work done by said contractors outside the Rapid Transit, and if they will sign the agreement presented by the committee of the Central Federated Union, calling for union wages and eight hours on Rapid Transit operations, we will instruct our members to return to work." Clothed with full authority to end the difficulty the Central Federated Union committee convened with the committee of the Rapid Transit Sub-Contractors' Association on June 4th and entered into an agreement which brought the strike to a close. It is to remain in force for two years. Besides providing for the employment of union men, it stipulates that eight hours shall constitute a day's work, that overtime work shall be practically abolished, that present rates of wages shall be paid to all tunnel workers whose unions are represented in the Central Federated Union, that double drum hoisters shall receive $2.25 a day up to July 1, when the rate is to be $2.50, and that all differences shall be settled by arbitration. It was verbally agreed that pay-days shall be every two weeks at the various points where the men are engaged. The agreement in full is as follows:

Agreement between unions represented in the Central Federated Union of New York City and the subcontractors on Rapid Transit Railroad.

First. That the unions affiliated with the Central Federated Union having men employed upon the said Rapid Transit construction hereby agree that if any grievance should arise upon the said contract it must be submitted by the organization having said grievance to the unions connected with the Central Federated Union who have members employed upon said Rapid Transit Railroad construction. The representatives of the trades or calling having men employed upon the said work, after carefully considering the said grievance, shall take a vote upon the same, and if a majority of the said representatives vote that the grievance is a just one, the same shall be presented to the committee of subcontractors for consideration, the committees selected by the representatives of labor and by the subcontractors respectively to have power.