The Washington times., 1917-06-17

because or the large vote by which
the resolution to probe the strike was
adopted. the prominence and influence
OF the personnel OF the committee. the
thoroughness with which It made the
inquiry and the interest manifested
by other members OF the Senate in
the hearings, it is believed practically
certain the investigators recommen-
dations will be adopted.
Outstanding in the speculation to-
day over the report the committee
will make within the next week or
ten days was the question Of whether
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company would be ordered to restore
the strikers to their old positions.
King To BE CrItIsed.
1t is not going too far to say the
committee will place the response
bility for the strike on Clarence P.
King. president OF the company.
Questions asked by the members of
the committee. their manifest incre-
duilty as to the FEASIBILITY Of the
theory uf the defense made by the
company, their general attitude, the
nature OF their questions to the wit
nesses who testified for the company
and their expressions OF opinion re-
Earding the evidence as II was intro
duced from day to day seemed to
leave no doubt the four Senators are
satisfied the strike was caused by
President Kings efforts to wreck the
local division Of the Amalgamated
Association.
The committee is composed of Sem
ator Pittman OF Nevada, Senator
johnson OF California, and Senator
King OF Utah.
Three Senators Aggressive.
The first three Senators have all
manifested during the bearing the
same aggressiveness that made them
famous in their home States. They
piled the company's witnesses. par
ticularly President King. with in
cisive and pointed questions which
went TO the very essence OF the is
sues involved.
Senator King. who at one time rep
resented the Amalgamated AEsocia-
ton OF Street and Electric Railway
Employees OF America in a legal ca
pacity, asked a great many questions
during the hearing. but the answers
were always favorably to the COM
pany. This was not taken to mean
that the Utah solon was impressed
with the cOmpany's cause. but was
interpreted as his leaning backward
to avoid the appearance or the charge
that because OF his legal Identified
ton some years ago with the Anal
gamated Association he was preju-
diced in its favor.
At the suggestion OF the committee
members. Attorney James II. Nshey.
representing the strikers. and Az
torney William Nick. Clayton. who APP
peared for the Federation Of Citizens
Association, made a number of suE-
gestions as to the recommended lions
to be incorporated in the report to
the Senate.
Recommended BY Clayton.
Attorney Clayton made the follow
ing suggestions as to recommended
tons:
That the men employed by the
company before March IL be restored
to their old places.
That the existing railway compan-
les in the District be merged into
one corporation.
That the public utilities commits
sion be authorized to fix hours OF
work and the srte of wages for en-
ployes OF public utilities.
That the people OF the District
be represented in the directorate OF
all public service corporations.
That the employees Of railway COM
panies be paid weekly, instead OF
daily.
That the employees OF the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany had a right to form a union
and the company should have dealt
with them collectively"
whnt Valley Urges.
Attorney Nahey argued that Con-
Gress, which granted the franchise
to the company. reserved the right to
alter. amend. or repeal the charter
and that the committee should re-
commend such changes in the instru-
ment as to prohibit the company
from defyinE public opinion and pro-
VOking strikes.