Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-04


condition from them direct or brought
to US by committee or representative,
when such committee or representative
comes with warrant of authority to
speak for our employees or any con-
w. R. & E. Company's Statement.
A communication from J. T AIoffett,
superintendent of transportation of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. written this afternoon and
addressed to George A. Wilburt. one Of
the committee who presented the agree
ment to that company, is to the effect
that the railway, while willing to dis
cuss employees grievances with en-
ployes, cannot discuss SUCH with men
not in it's employ. The other three men
on the committee are not now in the
employ of the company. but Mr.. Mof-
felt states the officials will be glad to
meet the one who is.
The letter is as follows:
I'VE duly received letter dated March
/, signed by yourself and three dis
charged employees, viz, William b.
Meade. Charles L. Lewis and Frank
Diggs. Enclosed therein was the draft
of proposed memorandum of agree
meat with a so-called Division No. 6S9,
Amalgamated Association.
I'VE also are in receipt of another
letter dated March l, signed by your
self and the three men above named.
The company is always willing to
discuss with it's employees grievances
that they may have, but we cannot. of
course, discuss any such matters with
men who are not in our employ. We
will therefore, be glad to meet you if
you will make all appointment.
I'VE are sending this letter to your
home, as no address was given in
either of the communications received
Not Classed as Ultimatum.
officials of the American Federation
of Labor and men connected with the
new union do not describe as an 'ulti-
maturn" the communication addressed
by the branch to the two companies
last evening asking an answer to the
afternoon.
'Tt cannot be considered an ultima
tum," was the statement made this
morning at labor federation headquar-
tiers, "for, although it states we feel
that we have waited a reasonable time
for your reply it does nothing but re-
specially ask for reply on or before
10 pm. March 4.
The communication states that it is
the desire of the employees to have the
questions peaceably adjusted on the fol-
lowing basis: The company to select one
arbitrator the employees to select one and
the two to select a third. If this plan is
agreeable the grievances can be sub
mitted for their consideration and final
adjustment made, which shall be binding
on both parties.
The committees which waited on the
two companies Wednesday have issued
a call for special meeting to be held
at Typographical Temple. 423 u street
northwest, at midnight tonight. At this
meeting the committees will report on
their work to secure better working
conditions, better pay and shorter hours
on both lines. Receipts for initiation
fees in the new branch will serve as
cards of admission.
MI. King Meets Employees.
Clarence T. King, president of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, met about 200 employees of
his company last night in the east car
barn, at 14th and East Capitol streets.
He discussed with the men in, an in
formal way come of the. benefits they
already had received, emphasizing the
work of the relief association of the
corporation, the profit sharing system
and the welfare work of the medical
department. anticipating an increase in
the pension allotment on the death Of
an employee and calling attention to
the lowering of the retirement limit
from sixty to ffty-fve years for men
fifteen years in the service.