Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-31
LAW TO PREVENT DC. i,
CAR STRIKES PROPOSED
Senator Pittman and President King
Agree on DesirabiHty Of
Legislation. "a

Congress 10 likely to be interested in
legislation calculated to prevent street
railway strikes in the future In the Dis
trict," suggested Senator Pittman ut the
hearing this morning before tho Senate
special committee investigating the
street railway strike.
We are in hearty accord with that
idea, said President King of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Company.
the witness on the stand.
This comforting assurance and agree
ment were about the only kernels of
public interest resultant from two and
half hours thrashing this morning OF
much Of what was old straw. winnowed
at former hearings or stacked up in
the public utilities records.
Mr.. Vahey, counsel for, the employees,
had President King under cross-exAmi-
nation. and first brought out that after
the strike of 1916 twenty-three men
who had been discharged for ''inefh-
cheney" were subsequently restored to
duty. Senator Johnson Of the commit
tee ELECTED the admission that the ''in-
efficiency" consisted mainly in the en-
ployes activities in joining the union
ment they were reinstated. notwith.
standing their inefficiency.
Tells Of Stock Holdings.
Mr.. King was questioned at length
about his holdings of stock in the COM
said he had bought stock as low az $50
a share. and had sold 1t at about $50.
but that the most OF his holdings now
had been purchased at $50 to 394, and
was now quoted much lower.
He denied that the Washington Utili.
ties Company. which. it was claimed.
holds about AZ per cent of the stock Of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. exerts dominating influence
In the election Of officers. as Il repre-.
sents but $4,000 votes out Of 10000. At
the last meeting that stock was voted
by proxy sent in by the Federal Trust
Company of Baltimore.
He said the Warrington Utilities
Company was formed with o prospect.
i've view of consolidation OF all the
street railways of the District. which.
In his opinion, would have been IN the
interest Of economical management and
Senator Pittman suggested that such
a consolidation would have carried with
1T government supervision to check
selfshness on the part Of the company,
accomplished by the public utilities
commission now. That commission yir-
tually regulates hours OF service.
through the schedules 1t requires OF the
company.
Considerable time was expended in
reading into the record financial state'
ments Of the capitalization, indebted
ness. etc, Of the Washington Rail.
way and Electric Company. all OF
record in reports to Congress and the
public utilities commission.
Earnings Of the Company.
Mr.. King testified that since he came
to the road the percentage set aside
from the earnings of the road for
maintenance and depreciation has
nd
plus Of the coaBany. he testified. was
about $1,000. 000/
To a question as to whether the
washington RAaxay and Electric sa.i
closure nSns sale so in 100 for 100000 M.
King said the transaction was merely
a nominal proceeding and had nothing
to do with the actual value OF -
The witness said the dividends paid on
the stock Of the Potomac Electric Power
Company had been IL per cent In 1915
snd that ssnnfi IN Of the nat last tenn ye
Didn't you believe that It was IN the
interest OF the public to avoid . strike?
asked Mr.. Vahey. changing his Limo OF
Yes" said Mr.. King. -
What did you do to avoid striksF
Mr. Vahey said.
I'VE didn't bring on a STRIKE: We main
brought on no trouble" replied Mr.. King.
I'VE knew q strike was impending. but
through no fault Of ours
Mr. xahey interrogated Mr. =. King q about out
men. asking them not to strike before or
during Inauguration.
Mr.. King insisted that he had no in.
tention of deceiving the men In this
letter and that the men were not de.
ceived.
IF the strike had occurred before
March 4 you know you wouldn't have
had ghost OF chance. said MI.
4 don't know anything OF the kind.'
answered Mr.. King. 80.
Haven't you any regard for public
opinion?" said Mr.. Valley.
"A very high regard" was the An.
swer.
you will have a regard for public
opinion as expressed by the report OF
this committee" suggested Mr.. Vahey.
''Of course" said Mr.. King.
Mr.. Vahey asked about the introduce
ton of strikebreakers. Mr.. King testi.
fed that there had been brought in NJ
teen or twenty strikebreakers about
February 20. when there were rumors
of strike before March 4. When as
surance was given, he said. there was
more men until about March / and later.
Individual Contracts Drafted.
The witness denied any knOWl0d80
of the Thiel Detective Agency having
been consulted by any officer OF the
company with regard to possible trou.
Bile" as early as January.
Mr.. Valley read into the record An In
dividual contract of the Indianapolis
Terminal and Traction Company with
its men. Mr.. King admitted that 1t was
substantially the same as that OF the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. He said he knew Of the Indian
apolis situation in the summer Of last
year and told Mr. Bowen. secretary Of
the company, to look the matter up"
and to draft something.
When did you first see any such con-
tract?" asked Mr.. Valley.
II can't recall" said Mr.. King. 1T
was some time afterward."
''Of course 1t was before February
81" suggested Mr.. Vahey.
IT can't recall the dates" said Mr..
King. 1T was a very long time before
the final draft was prepared-about
March or s.
You sent word to the non-union men
to come TO your office March g." said Mr..
Vahey.
I'VE issued an invitation to all the
men," replied Mr.. King. He denied
there had been any effort to keep away
union men outside of the amalgamated
committee.
Il wanted as many men of all kinds
at that meeting as we could get" said
Mr.. King.
Mr. King had not completed his cross
examination when the committee I'D.
journed until tomorrow morning at $3.50
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