The Washington herald., 1910-03-09
CAPITAL POLICE
MIX IN CAR STRIKE
Employment Agency Closed
Pending Decision.
RECRUITS BEsIEGE QUARTERS
Crowd OF Men and Youths Apply for
Positions, but Policeman oriani
orders agent of r. r. T. TO shut
Dovvn--secretRry MorriseF, of =. y.
T., ArraBges for Organizers.

Washington police took hand in the
Philadelphia street car strike situation
! yesterday and closed an agency here for
the purpose OF employing men TO be sent
20 Philadelphia to take the places Of the
strikers. The contest was a bloodless
one. and resulted at nightfall in a truce,
/ pending a decision by the corporation
counsel as TO the application Of the Law
in the case
For some days local employment agen-
I cies have been picking up occasional re-
cruits to the army Of strike breakers that
are beng rushed to Philadelphia. but the
eugenoies Of the situation required more
/ prompt acton than was obtainable
/ through them. and Monday evening
Frank W Niece, an official of the claim
department Of the Philadelphia Rapid
I Transt Company, arrived here and ad-
vertised for men at liberal wages.
Besieged k.- Applicants.
With the assistance OF several men
whom he brought with him. he yesterday
opened quarters at Az Seventh street
southwest, and was besieged by a
crowd of men and youths attracted by
the advertisements. To applicants be Of
fered % cents an hour, to be increased tc
g cents an hour on July l, and from then
a graduated Increase would afford them
. cents an hour at the expiration of two
years service.
At the height of the rush Policeman
Oriani, OF the Fourth precinct, presented
himself at the Office and asked to see
the license under which the place was
operating. He was told that no license
had been obtained. and he straightway
| informed Niece that he would have tC
close up the Office until an employment
agency license had been obtained The
fee Is $50, and a bond OF s1.o0O must bt
given as a safeguard to those who maS
have business dealings with the estab-
] lishment
Policeman Closes Place.
Niece protested that he was not con.
Quoting an employment agency, but was
here in the employ ofsthe car company
engaging men as any individual might
engage men for his own service. but
Oriani was obdurate and the place was
closed. Mr.. Niece hurried to the Dis.
trict Building and consulted officials there
for several hours.
The law in the case would seem to ex
clude the local office of the Philadelphis
Rapid Transit Company from the list OF
employment agencies required to take ou
a license. as the law refers TO those thai
charge fee for their services.
No one was found. however. who was
willing TO take the responsibility Of aa.
thorizing the resumption. OF business, and
at a late hour It was decided that Niece
had best apply to the license clerk thi,
morning for an Interpretation OF the law
and that official Will probably refer
through the usual channels, the mattel
to the corporation counsel for ar
opinion.
In the meantime, the of1ce Is advisins
applicants that an early decision is ex
pected. and Immediately thereafter ths
hrst batch win be sent 20 PHILADELPHIA.
At the offices of the American Fedora
tion Of Labor yesterday. Secretary Nor
rison was busy the greater portion Of th'
day communicating with heads of III.
trades bodies. each Of which has been dl
rected to send as many organizers 70 Phil
adelphla as can be obtained. just how
many viii be sent may not be known foi
several days. or until President Gomperl
returns.