The Washington times., 1917-03-12
DC. BOARD TRIED TO
AVERT CAR TIE-UP
Spent Greater Part of Sunday
irving to Effect Terms
To Avert Tie-up.
WORKED FAR INFO NIGHT
Address Letters to President
King, as Well as Heads of
Car Mems Union.

The District Commissioners exerteC
every effort within their power t
avert the strike on the Washington
Railway and Electric Company.
lines, and did not cease their endeav
OrS until a few moments before th'
vote was taken by the unionists at tn,
Lyceum Theater at 2:5O o'clock thi,
morning.
Notwithstanding President King.
rejection of their offers to mediate
Saturday, the Commissioners renewed
their activities in this respect at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and la
bored practically twelve hours with
the same end in view.
Although they succeeded in obtain
ing further written statements from
President King and the union offi
ciaIs, and interested Secretary OF La
Dor Wilson and Conciliator William
p. Blackman, OF the Department OF
Is Labor, in their efforts to prevent q
strike, the Commissioners were un
able to bring the contending forces
together.
Obtained Modification.
The Commissioners obtained from
the union a modification OF the or
ganization's original stand, and a pro
posal to submit the questions at issue
to a board OF arbitration composed OF
President Wilson. Samuel Gompers
and a third man to be named by
President King, but the latter de.
clined to agree to it.
At IL o'clock last night Commits
sioners Newman and Brownlow closed
- their offices at the District building
and announced they were through
for the night"
Instead OF returning to their homes
however, the two Commissioners went
to the office of ConciIliator Blackman
at the Department of Labor, where
they held a conference to which Sec
retary Baker, officials of the Interna
tional Car Mems Union and the loca!
division were invited.
Suggested Abeyaaee of Strike.
Secretary Wilson made a tentative
proposal to the officials of the local
division to hold the strike vote in
allegiance for a week, to which the Of
ficials agreed, provided President
King would withdraw the Individual
contracts and also keep strike break
ers off the company's cars until the
Questions at issue were finally settled.
THE proposition was submitted 70
President King over the telepho1e by
Secretary Wilson, but the traction
mRgnate declined to entertain IT
I'VE are not willing to continue the
present contract" replied President
King to Secretary Wilson at was
forced on US last year. We appreci-
ate your interest in this matter, Mr..
Wilson, but our answer is no."
This conversation occurred about
1.45 O'Clock this morning. At Its con
clusion the Commissioners realized the
last hope OF ayerting a strike had
vanished.
Went to Lyeeum Theater.
The officials of thu international
union and local division went imme-
diateIy to the Lyceum Theater, where
a-fulI report of the days activities
on the part Of the Commissioners and
the union heads was made to the as
sembled workmen. The strike vote
followed.
After President King yesterday af
ternoon refused to accept the unions
offer Of a contract similar to the one
made with the Capital Traction Com
pany, the Commissioners addressed
letters to the traction magnate and Of
ficials of the union.
In both letters the Commissioners
spoke as the representatives Of the
public and stated that "the circum-
stances of the times make the pos
sibiIity of disorder in the National
Capital a matter OF grave concern
to the Republic itself"
Letters to President King.
The letter to President King fol-
lows:
"Mr. Clarence P. King. President,
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, Washington, d. c.
Dear Sir: On yesterday you de-
clined the offer Of the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia to act as
mediators in an effort to adjust the
controversy between your company
and its employees.
Notwithstanding this declination.
the public interest in the maintenance
of efficient street car service and in
the prevention OF disorder is 80 great
that the Commissioners now desire to
request you ans the general officers
OF your company to accept mediation.
1.-The circumstances of the times
make the possibility OF disorder in
the National Capital a matter Of
grave concern to the Republic itself.
An adjustment OF the controversy
should not be impossible, and the
Commissioners of the District OF Col
umbia respectfully but most earnest
ly request you 10 take no steps to-
ward a lockout or the substitution
OF strike-breakers for the motormen
and conductors until the whole mat
ter at issue has been made the sub
ject OF mediation. The Commission
ers again offer their services of media
tion. II there is any objection to the
Commissioners acting we feel sure
that some other dIsinterested agency
could be found.
"a similar request is being Sent at
this time to the employees asking them
not to call q strike nor TO take any
other action Of that character until
after the whole matter at issue has
been made the subject OF mediation.
The interests OF the public trans
cend the interest OF either party TO
this controversy so far as the contro-
verted issues are concerned. Repre-
senting the public. we make this re-
quest in the confident belief that Il
will be complied with.
Board Of Commissioners OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
by OLIVER p. NEWMAN.
PRESIDENT
Letter to Union Head.
Following Is the letter addressed