Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-18
SEEKS TO RESTORE
LOCAL CAR SERVICE
Citizens Federation Will Inter-
cede With w. R. and e.
Co. and Its Employees.

With several plans in contemplation,
including one to have the District Com
mdssioners or public utilities commission
take over the Washington Railway and
Electric Company's lines and operate them
If all other suggestions fail, the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations tomorrow
will become an active factor in endeavor-
ing to settle the street railway strike.
Adopting a comprehensive resolu-
ton. designed to meet the present con-
troversy and prevent development Of
similar situations in the future, the
Federation. at a meeting last night in
the District building. extended full au-
thority to its committee on public util-
tiles to exercise all means at its dis
posal to restore local street car service
to its normal condition.
William NICK. Clayton heads the COM
mittee which will enter actively upon
Its duties tomorrow. 1t was stated that
every effort will be made to bring
that failure to accomplish results
along these lines will be followed by
recommendations for farreaching and
drastic action.
Suggestions Made in Resolutions.
While clothing the committee with
general authority. the federation, by a
unanimous vote, put itself squarely on
| record in the matter when it adopted a
resolution reported out by the commit
tee recommending that the Commits
sion be requested to require the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
| to comply with Its charter and to fur
nish the character of service required
| h. rak, <k,o rff oyNfn ~,
| prescribed by law for failure to so
| comply.
| The resolution, providing a safeguard
| against future strikes. also stipulated
| secure at the earliest possible moment
| an amendment to the. existing public
| utilities act or new legislation requir-
| ing compulsory arbitration of labor
| disputes affecting the public utilities Of
! the District.
| AS a preamble to these specific recon-
mendattons. the resolution adopted in
| cluded in toto a resolution passed re-
| Gently by the North Washington Citi-
zens' Association deploring the present
| chaotic conditions of the Washington
street car service" and protesting
| against the lack of consideration
third party, and not the least. to the
| present controversy.
"In view of the fact stated the pre-
amble, that our citizens are the patrons
|
most vitality affected and inconvenienced
by the strike conditions. we claim that
they should receive more consideration
by the railroad companies and the EN-
ployes before our ,city's traffic facilities
are permitted to be thrown into such
chaotic conditions our citizens SO great
| ly inconvenienced, local business de-
ranged and the opportunity SO easily af-
forded for injury to life and property"
Objects to E. W. Oysters Remarks.
The resolution. signed by members of
the public utilities committee. includ-
| ing William NICK. Clayton. D. A. Ed
! wards, DR.. Emory A. Bryant and ]. l.
Holland. passed with very little dis
cussion, but not until after President
Shreve had halted speech by L. W.
oyster, member of the board of District
assessors. whom he charged with en-
ploying ''unparliamentary language" in
referring to the company's action.
caused as Ii~ely Meeting e Of the federaa
ton two weeks ago. again was inject
ed into last nights proceedings. when
| the delegate from the washington
ton expressing the appreciation Of the
| federation to Congress and President
Wilson for their action in making the
Sheppard bill law. After several
ter finally was disposed of through a
motion laying 1t on the table.
Boundary Lines Considered.
! Instructions were given to the NOM
bership committee to investigate to
| what extent the boundary lines of the
various citizens associations of the
District overlap and report at the next
meeting, so that steps may be taken to
| bring about an adjustment of conflict
ling boundaries. The proposal for a
change in the date Of inauguration was
referred to the committee on public
Icelebrations, while tho committee on
finance and legislation was instructed
to investigate and report AZ to ad-