The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-13
JOHNSON REBUKES
CLARENCE P. KING
Senator Speaks Sharply to
Railway Head.
REFERS TO 1914 INQUIRY
Objects to DemeanOr Of Witness
on Stand.

Repetition by Clarence p. King,
president of the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company. OF his
statement that he regarded the
senate strike investigation as mere
ly q continuation OF the effort OF
the employees union to compel the
company to recognize 1t, prompted
Senator Hiram johnson TO promise
a disiIlusionment and to charge The
traction magnRte with uanifesting
contempt fer Congressional commit
tees at today's session.
When President King referred to
the favorable report on the Crosser
Government ownership bill in 1914 as
ancient history" Senator johnson
thought he detected q note OF con-
temptuousness in the witness tone
and objected to It. Senator Johnson
said that he had observed the same
attitude of contempt in Mr.. Kings de-
meanor while on the witness stand
during the present Investigation. He
said that he construed Mr.. Kings
voluntary remarks" as being express
sive of contempt
"You have characterized this inves-
tigation as continuation OF the
unions efforts to compel your COM
pany to recognize it," said Senator
Johnson "Is that still your view!
When Mr.. King replied in the al
firmative. Senator Johnson said, with
considerable emphasis:
- MA give n 0lffeT
emit viewpoint of the matter before
we conclude this investigation
Hoover Explains.
Attorney George P. Hoover, repre-
senting the company at the inquiry.
said that Mr.. King had no intention
! of manifesting contempt Senator
Johnson said he did not know of
any other rational basis upon which
the witness attitude could be ex-
planned. Attorney Hoover replied
that King had frankly expressed his
opinion that the investigation was
merely a "post-mortem" which the
union had induced the Senate to or
der after 1t found itself licked by
the company"
Senator Johnson's attention was ar
rested by reference in the report on
the Crosser bill to the inability OF the
House District Committee two years
ago to get any DEFINITE information
from the officials of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company regard
ing the value of its property. The
report was read by Attorney James H.
Valley, counsel for the strikers, and
foreshadowed argument before the
investigating committee in favor Of
Government ownership.
After the report was read Sena-
tor johnson asked Mr.. King II he re-
called having testified before the
House District Committee in 1914.
Upon receiving an Affirmative reply,
the California Senator inquired as to
whether Mr.. King had acquired any
further information regarding the
value OF the company's property. The
witness replied that he had no per-
sonaI knowledge OF the values. ex-
cept what he had received from en-
gineers and experts employed by the
company.
Some Paid Others Smoked.
Mr.. King said that the Public
Utilities Commission had recently
valued the Potomac Electric Com
pany's property at about $1,000. 900
less than the company's experts had
appraised It
When Attorney vahey referred to
the statement in the 1914 report that
officials OF the company were re
buked for failing to furnishing infor
nation regarding the value OF its
property Mr.. King said:
That's all been gone over. 1t Is
ancient history"
Attorney Vahey replied that ancient
history was sometimes interesting. /,
was at this point that Senator John
son began TO intenFogHte the witness
Mr.. King was recalled TO the stand
to testify as to whether the nom
union men who signed the individual
contract in his office on March
were paid for the time they lost from
their work while attending the meet
ing. He replied that fifty-three men
were there. and fourteen of them
J were paid for the time they spent in
his office. He admitted that some
Of the men got tired while waiting
and cigars were passed around.
Senator ZONES of Washington asked
King TO ascertain why some OF the
men were paid for attending the
meeting while others received nc
compensation. Mr.. King said he
would make inquiry and endeavOr 10
ascertain the reason.
The taking OF testimony was not
concluded at tOday's session. The
committee adjourned at noon. to meet
again at s o'clock tonight.
Government Ownership Issue.
Most OF today's session was taken
up by Attorney Vahey. who read into
the record the report on the Crosser
bill which strongly favored Govern
ment ownership OF the traction sys
TENS in the District: sections Of the
byIaws OF the relief association OF
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company; contracts made by railway
companies in other cities with their
employees: a letter from Theodore p.
Shonts to the public utilities com
mission OF New York regarding a
proposed settlement OF the first strike
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