The Washington times., 1917-06-16
DECLARESC.P.KING
IGNORED employees
Attorney Valley Argues for
Car Men at Inquiry.
Ills ADVENT HELD HARMFUL
Contrasts Attitude Of ". R. & E.
Co. With HamiItOn's Course.
Ills ADVENT HELD HARMFUL

Argument in the Senate strike in
Eestigation was begun today by At
torney James H. Valley, counsel for
:he strikers, who scared Clarence p.
caustic. scathing. satircal denuncia-
Railway and Electric Company, with
csustic, scathing, satrical denuncia-
tion and drew a general indictment
against the corporation.
Attorney Valley will resume his
closing argument at 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon. Attorneys George p.
Hoover and John S. Barbour, repre-
senting the company, and Attorney
William Mex Clayton, appearing for
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, will follow. The committee
has set no time limit.
1t is expected the arguments will close
at a session tonight.
Calls King Promoter.
Attorney Valley declared President
King. while held up BY. his idolitors and
Worshippers as a great benefactor Of
the men," had done nothing to benefit
the employees since he came here. The
attorney asserted King was a promoter.
an sKploiter. and financier and came TO
Washington for the purpose OF making
money and did not have 1t in his heart
or mind to do anything for the men.
Kings advent in Washington, said
Attorney Naney. was the worst thing
that could have happened to the men.
The attorney referred to the testi-
mOny Of George A. WilbuTt. president
OF the strikers union, that conditions,
schedules, and other things had been
worse from the mems viewpoint since
King became president OF the com
pany, and declared that all the well
fare work done by the company was
inaugurated before King came to
Washington.
Want Their Own Money.
Attorney Valley said the men did
not wish to be patronized or given
bonuses, but wanted the money they
earned to be put in their pay en-
velopes so they could spend It to their
own liking.
Counsel for the strikers said King
made up his mind in March. 1916. that
there would be no agreement with the
men collectively this year, and reaped
the fruits OF his own sowing in the
present strike.
He said the story that the indlvId-
ual contract was only casually dis
cussed last fall and forgotten until
February OF this year was improb-
able.
Attorney Vahey contrasted the at
titude OF hostility on the part Of King
with that of friendliness and CO.
operation by George E. Hamilton,
president OF the Capital Traction
Company. He said the Washington
Railway and Electric Company had
started out to make things as dis
agreeable a. possible and had sue
ceeded.
The lawyer argued that Congress
had a right to alter, amend, or repeal
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company's franchise.
w. F. Ham CrOss-ExamIned.
Practically all of yesterday after
Moons session, at which the taking
OF testimony ended, was taken up
by cross-examination OF William F.
Ham. vice president OF the company.
by Senator Johnson, and Attorney
Valley.
Senator johnson asked Ham a great
many pertinent and incisive Ques-
tions, for the evident purpose OF es-
tablishing the fact that President
King handled the strike by himself,
without taking other officers Of the
company, the board OF directors, the
executive committee or the stock
holders into his confidence
Attorney Valley Intercepted Ham
closely about complaints made
against strikebreakers following a
statement by Ham that he consider
ed the strikebreskers "men OF an
exceptionally high type to be engaged
in such a calling" Senator johnson
characterized Hams remarks as
eulogy on the strikebreakers.
Tried To Find Remedies.
After asking Ham several questions
regarding the finances OF the COM
psny, Senator johnson inquired as to
whether there were any records in
the possession OF the company to
show that conditions were intoIerable
during 1915.
Vice President Ham replied in the
negative.
we were trying to improve condi-
lions, and believed that IL we took
the matter up with the commission
we would be accused OF stirring up
trouble said Ham. We tried TO
solve the problem ourselves"
Vice President Ham said he told the
mems grievance committee that the
company would not tolerate the con-
tlnual friction and inharmony be-
N"tNA eAAAoA anu nOnunlOn men He
said the wearing Of union buttons led
10 trouble, passengers addressing IN
complimentary remarks to men WIN
did not wear buttons. While the com
pany was considering prohibiting m.
wearing OF buttons. the witness said.
q strike or lockout occurred in To.
iedo. Ohio. because employees there
mad been ordered not to wear buttons
1hls caused the local company 10 dron
the subject, he Eaid.
All In Kings Hands.
The witness said the first knowI.d1.
ne mad OF preparation for handling
the strike was about the middle Of
February, when the individual con-
tract was discussed. In answer 10 a
question by Senator johnson. Ham
SAID neither the stockholders nor the
board Of directors had been told about
the Impending strike, and that the
policy OF refusing to recognize the
union was shaped by King alone.
King, the witness said, made the
contract with the strikebreakinR
agency. Ham said he witnessed The
signing OF the document.
Attorney Nahey asked the witness
81 he did not know that the strike
breakers had stolen fares, drank
whisky while on the cars, carried wo-
men passengers to lonely spots in
suburban territory and offered them
NndiRnftiea Ham aaId n. IA 49,