The Washington times., 1917-05-11

the law granting the franchise. AID
was told IL did. Attorney GeorS" J.
Hoover, representing the company.
stated. however, that Congress could
not take away the franchise without
compensation.
There Is nothing in the law . pre-
vent Congress from putting Govern
ment ownership Of street railway
systems into effect here, is there.
asked Attorney Nahey.
81 do not think anybody would dis
pute the right OF Congress to estab-
lish municipal ownership replied the
witness.
Picking up the thread Of his testi-
mony, Mr.. Newman said the Commis-
sioners relied to the communication
of April 4, saying all efforts II 'Foi-
tration had proved futile.
Waived Closed shop.
"Did the employees waive the de
msnd for the closed shop principle?
Attorney Valley asked.
They did" replied the witness.
Did the men. prior to- the strike.
waive recognition OF the union and
agree to arbitrate with the company
merely as Employer" asked the at
torney.
"They did." responded the witness.
Did l understand you to say they
waived recognition before the
striker" asked Senator Jones.
Yes" Commissioner Newman re-
piled. And in that connection J
want to make a frank statement. ]
might as well make 1t here and now.
Commissioner Newman then moved
his chair up closer to the table and
made the following statement:
Given Mems Confidence.
'The committee representing the
men came to see me practically every
day for a week or ten days before the
strike. They told me everything re-
Iating to their side Of the matter, and
reposed confidence in me.
'They said to me, verbally, we
want recognition of our union II we
cen get it, but we will not insist
upon it to the last II the contro-
versy cannot be settled without our
waving recognition Of the union we
will waive it. Don't tel 1.-The company
this until you have to. Don't tip
our hand, because we want to hold
out for recognition of the union as
long as there is any chance Of our
getting recognition
Il was thus made the circuit
breaker on this information. l do
not recall that I used the employees
committees exact words in talking
with Mr.. King and other representa-
tives of the company because ] want
ed to protect the confidence to that
extent. and did not feel at liberty
TO reveal TO the company the entire
concessions the men were willing to
make.
while / did not communicate the
committees exact language direct to
the company. ] did make 1t plain
that the Commissioners had every
reason to believe the men would
waive recognition of the union, and
that we could give practical assur-
ances that the men would not insist
on recognition OF the union II arbi-
tration was once agreed upon.
Notwithstanding these assurances,
in the giving of which the employees
were not quoted directly as making
an offer to waive recognition of the
union, Mr.. King declined our offers
TO mediate"
ssDid You also tell the. representa-
lives of the company that the meH
were willing to submit the contro-
versy to any arbitration board that
might be selected, and that II the
board decided the men should accept
the individual contract they would
accept it without further question?
asked Senator Jones.
I'm sure We did tell the company
that" was the reply.
At this point the committee held brief
conference as to whether IT should hold
a session tomorrow night Senator
johnson said II the committee sat Satur-
day night he would ask that It also sit
all day Sunday.
The committee adjourned until 30
o'clock tomorrow morning, when Com
missioner Newman will resume the stand
for cross-examination by attorneys rep
resenting the company.