Evening star., 1917-03-15
District a Financial Loser
Through Reduction in the
Company's Income. ID
CARS ARE KEPT MOVING :.
WITH LITTLE OPPOSITION
Appeal Made to Senate for Congress
sional Investigation of the
Trouble.

Officials of the District govern
ment were active today in efforts
to bring an end to the street rail-
way strike in Washington
Nothing was done in any quar-
ter which seemed to bring officials
of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company any nearer an
agreement with union leaders.
Cars Kept in Operation.
OF tn Washington Railway and
Electric Company. The fourth day
Of the strike was marked by lit
tie disorder beyond the efforts to in
terfere with operation Of cars by
placing distractions in the conduitA
Conrad H. Syme. District corporation
counsel and general counsel for the
public utilities commission. today has
under advisement representations
which may result in more drastic ac-
ton by the District Commissioners in
bringing to an end the strike Of em-
ployes Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company.
Cash Fares Disappearing. 81
The fact which Mr. Syms is considers
ing 10 the tax Of per cent on the
gross revenue Of the company. which.
it is alleged. is being seriously inter-
fered with by the strike.
Union men and citizens riding on the
cars Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. allege that the
strikebreakers employed as conductors
arc ringing up practically no fares. that
tickets are being sold at bargain rates.
ana G--6hfoA statemsnt today charges
that at one barn alone. whore the
daily receipts range between $1,000 and
81, 500. only a little more than Sc was
turned in yesterday.
Edward McMorrow, organizer for the
Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees of Amer
lea, today said, in this connection:
Cuts Into D. C. Revenues.
Perhaps the public of the District
does not realize that it has an interest
in this strike deeper even than the
failure of the company at this time to
give adequate service. In most cities
it is a matter only between the en-
ployes and the company II the con-
ductors employed during a strike fail
to ring UP fares. In Washington the
District loses cents of every dollar
that the strikebreakers pocket in this
way"
A member of the public utilities COM
mission today declined to comment on
this aspect of the strike situation un-
til it has been further considered.
Other efforts TO end the strike today
included the following activities:
Representatives of the Department of
Labor and the District Commissioners
have appealed to several senators to Of
fer a resolution in the Senate providing
for an investigation OF the strike.
1t was learned today that the Depart.
ment of Labor has been trying since
Monday to enlist the aid of senators in
starting a congressional investigation.
Cars Operated on All Lines.
Cars were being operated today on
practically all the Washington Railway
and Electric lines. with no attempts at
personal violence on the part of strikers
or sympathizers. but with occasional
efforts to interfere with the current.
Union leaders asserted that the COM
pany is Operating only one-third of the
normal schedule. "A statement by VIII
liam F. Ham. vice president Of the
washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. follows:
yesterday and again today We have
operated on all lines a full midday
schedule. Yesterday morning in the
rush hour we operated 191 cars. and to-
day 2I3 Yesterday in the afternoon
rush hoar we operated 230 cars. and sx-
pected to do better today. Operating
conditions during the day time now ara
nearly normal.
To Have Usual Night Service.
1--WE shall operate our usual night
service, unless prevented. as we were
last night, by the stoning Of cars. by
attacks upon our crews and by the
nlacing of distractions our track
and in the conduit and switches"
Union men in the employ Of both
attended a mass meeting OF
Division 6Ss of the amalgamated asso-
citation today in Typographical Temple,
G. street between 4th and 5th streets.
This was a regular meeting and an
other session will be held at $3.50
o'clock this evening for men who were
at work today.
Addresses were made by George A.
Wilburt, president Of the Washington
local; ]. H. Goodman, recording secre-
tary; Edward O'Shea, president of the
Buffalo, n. Y. railway employees local,
and by Edward McMorrow, organizer
for the national association.
Commends Men for Loyalty.
O'Shea described the victory he said had
been won by the union in the strike in
volving $500 men in Buffalo and Niagara
Falls four years ago. Mr.. McMorrow COM
nended the men for their loyalty. told
hem the situation was bright for the
strikers, and urged them to continue TO
"a ORDERLY He said the sympathy of the