The Washington times., 1917-04-13
TO CONGRESS
TO END CAR STRIKE
Unionists at War With Company
for. 80 Days Expect Decisive
Action Next Week.

Strikers on the Washington Rail-
way. and Electric Company's lines.
who have been out thirty-three days,
were optimistic today over q probable
early settlement Of the<strike. as a re-
suit of a Congressional investigation-
Officials of the union expressed
confidence that the senate's refusal
yesterday to delay the investigation
, by referring the Hughes resolution to
the District Committee presaged q
probe order early next week,
At strikers headquarters officials
were compiling data on the strike and
its consequences. including the num-
ber of serious accidents alleged to be
due to operation OF cars by strike
breakers.
Officials of the union said they ex-
pected to be called as witnesses at
the Investigation to corroborate state
ments made in their twenty-two-page
history of the striker placed in the
hands of every Congressman and Sen
ator.
They expressed the belief that an
investigation would place the blame
for the strike "and its consequent
dangers and inconveniences on the
company. since President King has
refused from the first to submit the
controversy to arbitration"
The Hughes resolution IL expected
to be voted upon Monday. 1t IL ex-
pected by the strikers that before the
end OF next week q committee of five
Senators to investigate the strike will
have been appointed.
Text of Resolution.
The Hughes resolution follows:
whereas differences have arisen
between the Washington Railway and
Electric Company "a street railway
tcorporation in the District of Col
umhia, created and existing by virtue
of the Act of Congress approved June
5, 19O0) ahd certain OF its employees,
by reason of which said, employees de-
clared a strike or "walkout" on Mon
day, March IL. 1917. and withdrew
from the service of the company, and
whereas the failure Of the said
street railway company and Its em-
ployes to settle and adjust their diff
ferences has caused and is causing
great public Inconvenience and loss;
and
"whereas Il is in the interest Of
public safety and welfare that the
causes OF the existing differences be
tween the Washington Railway end
Electric Company and its employees
should be ascertained and a means
devised, IL possible, whereby the same
may be justly accommodated: Now,
therefore be 1t
"ResoIved, That a committee OF five
Senators be appointed by the Presid-
ing Officer of the Senate, who are
hereby given full authority to inves-
tigate the cause or causes which have
occasioned the present strike by the
said employees of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company, and
to report the result OF its investiga-
tion with such recommendations as 1t
may deem proper to make, to the Sen
ate at the earliest possible day, and
the said committee or subcommittee
thereof il hereby given power and
authority to summon witnesses, ad-
minister oaths, and take testimony
under oath as to all matters and
things covered by this resolution and
to employ such clerical and steho-
graphic assistance as may be neces-
sary in the premises, the expenses of
said committee to be paid out OF the
contingent fund OF the Senate"
Appeals To Strikers. .
George A. wilburt and Garth CAL
derhead, president and financial sec
retary, respectively of the union,
visit pickets at the barns today and
exhorted the men to "stick together"
working cards" were issued to the
strikers today upon the payment of
monthly dues OF 81. None OF the
strikers is at work.
A dance for the benefit Of the
strikers will be given in Odd Fell
lows Hall tomorrow night by the
Ladies' Auxiliary OF the international
Association % Machinists.