Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
CAR STRIKE INQUIRY
.|SBROUGHT TOCLOSE
Counsel in Final Arguments
Put Blame for Dispute
on Other Side.
MERGER OF LINES URGED

! MERGER OF LINES URGED
With the final arguments Of counsel
| the investigation into the causes of the
strike of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company employees by the Sen
ate strike Investigating committee was
concluded last night. The investigation
had been under way since May 8.
In their arguments counsel for the
strikers insisted that the strike had
been caused solely by the company's
refusal TO arbitrate the controversy,
while counsel for the company insisted
with equal emphasis that the strike had
been caused by the union. which de-
manded recognition by the company.
For the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations. W. Nick. Clayton argued the
needs and rights of the general pub
| lie in the controversy.
The Senate committee this week will
begin consideration of the record in
the case and will draft It's report as
soon as possible for submission to the
Senate, embodying such recommends
lions for new legislation as it may
deem necessary.
Mr.. Clayton Offers Suggestions.
William NICK Clayton. speaking for
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, took the floor at the opening Of
the night session to offer several recon-
mendations to the Investigating com
mittee. The chief of these were: That
the company should take back into Its
service its old employees; that the public
utilities commission should fix the
hours of labor and the rate of pay. and
| that there should be an amalgamation
| of the two street railway companies.
He gave as his opinion that President
King of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company had in his heart
! hatred Of the Annalgamated association
and this attitude had dominated him In
this entire controversy" He predicted
that If the Senate committee would
| make any recommendation the railway
company would follow 1t, but asked
| that II public ownership be recon-
mended 1t should be coupled with a
referendum, SO that the people Of the
District could express themselves.
The men in both companies receive
| inadequate pay" he said, land SO day
| would not be too much. We believe in
| an adequate return on stocks and bonds
| but we also want better service. more
| extensions. better facilities and. more
! than all, we need one combined street
| railway system"
! His plea that the former employees be
| put back on the line was coupled with
the argument that such employees would
give the public better service owing to
! their greater experience. He scored
| the Washington Railway and Electric
| board of directors for giving President
King absolute power as to the manner
| of conducting the negotiations during
\ the strike.
Mr.. Clayton gave figures to back up
| his suggestion that the people of the
| District would accept a straight scent
| fare. II it should appear that the better
| for in any other way. A straight scent
! fare. he said, would mean an additional
revenue to both companies Of about
| SS36.000 year.
f, figure. and estimating a s14 a. month
| raise for S36 men employed by the
! Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany, said that about $4,000 year of
| such suggested wage increase. which
| would give the men 50 a day for a
month of twenty-six working days.
Charges Strike to Amalgamated.
The direct charge that the amalga-
mated was responsible for the strike Of
/ the employees Of the Washington Rail-
| by George P. Hoover. counsel for the
| railway company, in his argument yes
| terday afternoon.
| Mr.. Hoover also argued that the &C
| ton of District Commissioner Newman
| in Withholding from the officials of the
| company Information given him by
union men that they would waive
recognition of the union II they had to
President Mahon and Edward Memoir
row. member of the general executive
board of the amalgamated were direct
| ly responsible for the strike.
| The attorney for the company vigor-
ously attacked Mr.. Newman's position
/ during the controversy between the
| men and the company, and his testi-
mony given before the Senate commit
| tee.
| Mr.. Newman. from his statement be-
| fore the committee. l insist. was dis
! qualified from acting as mediator in
/ this controversy" said Mr.. Hoover He
was aiding and abetting the men in
| their efforts to get the union recog-
| nized."
! Mr.. Hoover said Mr. Newman had tes-
| titled that while the men had told him
! they would waive recognition of the
! union they had asked him mot to tip
their hand" to the company.
Makes Charge of Deceit.
The attorney for the company insist
led that the amalgamated had "reeked
with deceit" throughout the controversy
with the company. starting with the
| trouble in 1916. The Senate he charged.
had been deceived into passing the
| of the strike with a statement that
| LOO men had been locked out by the
company.
| NO evidence has been given here"
1
| way bear out this statement, although
| that statement is contained in the petit
| ton sent to members Of Congress by
| the union.
| ION the contrary. the testimony has
shown that the men were not locke
out that they were notified that they
could continue TO work for the COM
pany. whether they signed the indi-
/ vidual contract or not"
| Mr.. Hoover told the committee that
the local men did not want to go on
strike" but that the strike was called
/ by the big leaders" of the Amalga-
| mated.
| Never at any time before the strike,
Mr.. Hoover said. had any ono told the
company officers that the men would
waive the recognition of their union.
/ He insisted that the men were really
| fighting for recognition of the union.
! He referred to the telegram sent two
days before the men voted to strike. by
President Mahon and Mr.. McMorrow