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

company began 10 bring new men INTO
| the District and was training them in
| the operation of its cars.
] That this action was known TO the
| regular employees and its purpose fully
understood by them.
Asked Recognition Of Union.
That on February 90. 1917, the COM
mittee of the employees proposed nego-
!, tiations with the company looking to
a contract for the ensuing year and
recognition of the union.
That in response to this request the
! company wrote a letter that was plain
| ly deceptive and intended to tide over
the period OF the Inauguration without
! trouble by holding out the hope of
| honest negotiations, when, as matter
of fact. Mr. King had already deter
mined not to negotiate under any cir
cumstances with the Representatives Of
! the union.
That after the Inauguration. Mr..
King absolutely refused to negotiate
with the representatives Of the union.
| That conditions under the 1916 con-
| tract between the employees Of the
| Capital Traction Company and that
| company seemed to have been satiso-
! factory.
THAT. after negotiations, a contract
for 1917 was made by that company
with Its employees under which wages
were slightly increased. the union was
| recognized and SO no strike occurred.
and there seems to be no trouble be-
tween that company and its employees.
The employees seem to be satisfied, the
company appears to be prosperous and
the public served by its lines has made
no complaint.
That representatives of the union
sought further negotiations with Mr..
/ King, but he refused to treat with
them or to see them as ouch repre-
sentstives.
That. when a strike seemed immi-
nent. the Commissioners of the District
intervened and sought to adjust the
difficulties.
Men Welcomed Intervention.
/ That the men welcomed their inter-
i vention. placed their interests wholly
in the ha nds Of the Commissioners and,
a last resort, declared their willing
ness to renew the contract of 1916 and
continue at work.
would not recognize the union and re-
fused to renew the contract of 1916. al
! leging that this would in effect be a
recognition of the union.
That Mr.. King absolutely refused to
act upon any bass other than that of
the individual contract which he had
/ prepared in anticipation of the state
| Of affairs which came to pass.
nat tnefe was only one OF Nv o
/ courses for the men to follow. either
| quit work or take employment under a
contract that left each individual to
deal singly with the corporate power of
. unionZed capital.
That the great majority of the men
quit work and then followed the con-
ditions set out in the early part of this
report.
That the Washington Railway and
Electric Company has been exception
I nj
from to per cent and increased the
salaries of its officials from time to
time until its president now receives
$4,000 per year, in addition to $4,000
| or more in dividends on stock which he
owns. and the other officials in proper
ton.
That the maximum earnings of mo-
torman conductor. based upon the
scale of wages for a ten-hour day OF
twenty-six working days in the month
did not exceed $685.
Views of Senator Pittman.
Senator Pittman's recommendation.
and conclusions are:
TT is proposed to discuss the conclu
! sIons and accommodations in the fol
Il. The cause and responsibility fol
the strike.
"2. Tho question of collective bar
gainins as against the individual con
tract.
> "s. Control OF wages hours and serv
/ ice BY a separate public utilities com
mission,
~, Government ownershfp
The cause Of the strike was the re
= fusa1 Of the company to discuss with IL
= employees collectively the conditions un
der which they we're to continue I,
work. ~ xss procipitsted by the en-
! pbstic denial Of the right Of the EN-
: pIoyes 70 collective bargaining and tn
: unaltsFabIs determination that eacl
Z smploye must execute an indivfdua
, contract with the company The em
{ Dloyes would not surrender the righ
to collective bargaining and be coercA,
. into the execution Of an individual con
tract prepared solely by the company
. fContju,1e6 IN 6irfL fs--1 !