Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-06

employees.
Government ownership or government
control is the main remedy suggested Tor
the prevention of further strikes, while a
consolidation of the two street railway
services here is looked upon as possloie
solution.
originally composed Of Senators Hughes,
Pittman, King, Dillingham; and daruing.
The latter two were excused on acSOunt
tors Zones of washington and johnson OF
California were appointed in their places
senator Hughes has been i'll. and the COM
mittee report today is from Senators
Pittman, johnson and Jones.
Agreed on Main Points.
Senator Pittrnan writes his own con-
clusions. and Senators Jones and johnson
wdte theirs Both sets run along the
same general lines, both condemning the
strike. the unyielding attitude OF PRESIDENT
King and the company. and painting a
picture of disorder which all unite in say
ing must never again occur in the Ma
tional Capital
Senator Pittman concludes congress
will be compelled to cause the govern
rnent to take control of the street rail-
ways in the city of Washington. or to
appoint an individual commission with
full and final authority to fix and enforce
hours and wages and conditions Of labor,
or the strikes Of the past will continue to
be repeated in the future"
Senators Johnson and Jones say The
cause of the strike was Mr. Clarence +.
King"
toward the union: While it represented
in itself unioniZed capital. it was unwilling
to deal with unionized labor.
Senator Johnson is personally OF the
opinion that government ownership of the
electric railways in the District is de-
sirable He is unprepared. he states. to
express himself on the subject of con-
solidation of the two lines. Senator Jones
feels that municipal or government owner
ship may be a fine thing. but has made
no deep study of the situation. He be-
lfrves in consolidating the two companies
II an equitable basis for such consolida-
tion can be reached.
Great Mass of Information
The report. in its Introductory pages
carries a mass of information gathered
at the hearings, including the copies oi
correspondence between the Amalga-
mated Association & which was the
onion-and the street railway com
paDy Vivid descriptions cf the vel
remembered disorder are given, includ-
ing references to the imported strike
breakers and their habits of pock etine
cash fares for themselves. After de
scribing the strike the report says
that all such disorders must be elm
mated i'll the future, and that the
uprooted.
The report goes into the economic sit
Uation of the employees. 1t shows the
rising price of foodStufs and the eX-
tremely low wages of the men, and
makes it plain the wage increase ask &c
for was "a few cents an hour" 1t alsc
contrasts this with description OF
the financial resources of the company
and the fact that high salaries are paiC
TO the officials, and that dividends OF
2 per cent are paid on the common
stock and at per cent on the preferred
stock. The profits for 1916, says the re.
bort, were greater than ever.
The report says in several places the
mon merely sought the right of col
1ectiye bargaining and the company
refused to listen to it
A summary of the facts leading III
20 the strike is contained in the report
followed by the views of :. .ator Pitt
man and Senators Jones a4d johnson
Summary of the Facts.
The summary states:
That after the formation of the unio!
early in 1916 the employees struck il
order to secure higher wages. bette
working conditions and a recognition
Of the union.
THAT this strike was settled through
the mediation of the Commissioners o
the District. The union was not recog
aized. but method Of adjusting die
Outes was provided under an agreemen
running until March IL. 1917
THAT the grievance committee ere
eted under such agreement Was com
posed of union men. but no complain
was made by non-union employees ths
their interests were in any way neg
lected.
THAT the union employees during IN
year were preparing to secure recoe
milton upon the expiration Of this con
tract.
.That the Washington Railway an
Electric Company, through IFS presi
dent. Mr.. King. who seemed to have au
tocratic authority over the affairs .
the company, had determined not 1
fecoEnize the union and was Drepsrin
rs force upon it's employees al, indjyid
sal contract upon the expiration Of IN
SS1S contract.
rThat early In February. 1911 Nh