The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-07
CITIZENS ASK U.S..
TO RUN CAR LINES
". J. SwantOn Presents
Petition to Senator's.
CARRIES $1,000 SIGNATURES
Pauline GOIdmark, Of Consumers
League, Urges Cancellation Board.

A petition urging public ownership
and operation OF the street railways
Of the District Of Columbia was pre-
sented to the special Senate commit
tee investigating the street railway
strike, when Il resumed hearings to-
day. The petition was presented BY
W. ]. Swanton for the Tax Reform
League. Mr.. Swanton declared that
II contained between II, 900 and $4,000
names Of citizens, taxpayers, and
business men.
Miss Pauline Goldmark, OF New
York, secretary Of the public utilities
committee Of the National Consumers
League, told the committee that wages
of the street railway men In wash
ington, even with the 30 cent maxi
mum now established. were insufnci-
emit and that working conditions were
onerous. She declared that the hours
were too long. even with the eight
hour rest period. She declared that
individual contracts were very bad
and that they would shackle the men
and destroy their powers Of collective
bargaining.
Urges ConeilRation Beard.
Miss Goldmark favored legislation
recently recommended by Secretary Of
Labor Wilson for the creation OF q
Cancellation board. which would lay
all difficulties before the public, and
which would have the power to pre-
vent strikes while negotiations were
on.
Miss GoI<mark was on the witness
stand practically throughout the
morning, as the representative of the
Consumers League. She had made
careful investigation, study and re-
port on the situation she said. She
said II was the purpose Of the league
to betteT the working conditions OF
wage earners.
When she declared that wages here
were not q living wage. Senator Jones
asked how she would raise them. She
said that the question was not sub
ject to categorical answer The
Senator asked IL the league would
favor raising rates to pay higher
wages, thereby putting the burden ON
the public IL IL was shown that the
company was economically run, and
she replied in the Affirmative.
w. r. swantOn 01ers PetItion-
W. r. Swanton presented his petit
ton for Government ownership as
soon as the committee met. The petit
tion urged Government operation to
prevent future strikes. The preamble
was as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives Of the Congress Of the
United States: We, the people living
and doing business in the District OF
Columbia, earnestly petition and urge
your honorable body to speedily enact
legislation providing for the owner
- L. frN Of
Columbia of the street and interur-
ban electric railways now operating
in said District, in order to prevent
future disturbances in the industrial
and commercial life OF the District:
provide regular and continuous street
car service In the nations capital
city, and insure adequate compensa-
ton and better working conditions
for the men who perform the neces-
sary and important service of operat,
ing the street railways in the Dis.
trict
On behalf OF the company ATTORNEYS
presented a report showing accidents
on the road befor organization Of the
men and afterward. The figures
showed LII accidents reported from
March IL. 1915. to March IL. 1915, and
and 1875 from March IL. 1915, TO
March IL, 1911. The number of claims
paid Increased 2os. and the amount OF
damages more than doubled, going
from 32,75421 during the first year
cited to S43.Tss.4s in the second year.
, Miss Goldmark, when she took the
stand. declared that strikes brought a
distinct loss to all parties concerned
in any controversy. and that the
league was seeking methods to avoid
strikes. The league. she said. had
studied the effect upon social condi-