Refusal of 50 Per Cent. Increase in Wages: Non-Strikers Compelled to Cease Work Failing to receive satisfactory replies to their demands for increased wages, motor men and conductors of the Chinese Tramway Company, Nantao, declared a strike as from Saturday morning. Force was used by the strikers to intimidate a fow "blacklegs," but beyond this there was no unruly conduct. As soon as it was learned that the men had decided to strike, mediators set to work to try to effect a settlement, but their efforts were without avail.
At a recent meeting of motor men and conductors, it was decided that the company should be requested to grant a genera] 50 per cent. increase to its employees, on the ground that the cost of living is much higher than in previous years. The manager said he could. not assume responsibility in the matter but that he would bring it up at the next meeting of the board of directors. The manager's message Was conveyed to the men, who intimated that they would declare a strike on Saturday.
The management, about noon, sent two cars out with reserves, so that the service might be maintained, but the strikers assembled near the West Gate and used force to hold up the cars. The police were called upon to intervene and, upon their advice, the "blacklegs'' drove the cars back to the sheds. Similar events occurred near the North Gate.
After being away from work for less than 48 hours, the inspectors, motormen and conductors of the Chinese Tramway Ca., Nantao, who went on strike on Saturday morning, resumed work on Sunday night, a compromise having been effected. The men lodged a demand for a 50 per cent. increase in wages, for protection from assaults on the part of Chin-osa policemen, and for an eight hour day. In connexion with the former, they state that, as the roads in the Chinese city are extremely narrow, jaceidemts ocew' _occasionally. Whenever an accident does take place, the motormen and conductors are arrested and beaten before they have a chance of pru tecting themselves.
When the matter was presented to the board of directors, it wae thought that the men would be satisfied with increases ranging from $2 to $4 each a month, with prospects for a half-yearly in crease. As to the eight hour day, the directors thought the men were not unnecessarily overworked at the present time, between eight and nine and a half hours a day being the normal standard. With reference to protection from assaults the company would do its best in the matter.
The directors' views were conveyed to the employees, who im-
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