“Street Railways Question To Vote,” Toronto Globe. June 28, 1919. Page 03. --- London Aldermen Send on Matter to People, Despite Warning of Strike --- (Special Despatch to The Globe.) London, Ont., June 27. - The menace of a strike of Street Railway employees on Wednesday next and warnings that such trouble may precipitate a general sympathetic walk out failed to disturb the City Council in special session to-night, the Alderman concluding to await the voice of the people on a proposal to increase street railway fares.
Instructions were given to prepare a by-law for such a special vote, and a date will be fixed as quickly as possible. The people will be asked if they are willing to accept six and eight tickets for twenty-five cents, instead of seven and nine, as at present on condition that the company grant a satisfactory wage increase to its employees, pave streets as required by the City Council, and maintain speed and service schedules specified by the City Engineer.
Men Reasserted Strike Purpose. Vice-President John Ashton of the Street Railway Men’s Union and Delegates R. Hessell and Sgt. Fred. Young of the Trades and Labor Council, in appealing to the Council to grant the increase at once, without risking the delay of a vote, reasserted the purpose of the men to strike on Wednesday next.
Legal Views Contradiction. City Solicitor T. G. Meredith, K. C., advised the Aldermen that they have no power to interfere with the franchise agreement between the city and the company without taking a vote of the people. In just as definite terms, C. H. Ivey, Vice-President of the company, gave it as his legal opinion that the Council has such right. He added that his view had been concurred in by two of Toronto’s most prominent barristers, and he offered on behalf of the company to indemnify the city against loss in the event of action being taken to quash a by-law so carried.
Compel Company’s Compliance. The Council put through a resolution to force the company to comply with speed and service requirements specified by the City Engineer, on a count of ten to two. This was backed by an 18 to 4 vote to instruct the Mayor to launch legal proceedings to cancel the company’s franchise if the company does not comply within ten days.
