The Washington herald., 1917-03-12
Efforts of Commissioners
Herculean, but All In Vain

Although the District Commissioners
exerted herculean efforts to bring about
Q peaceful adjustment Of the differences
between the company and its employees,
II was apparent early last evening that
their efforts would not bring success.
Their letter to President King renew
ing their request for arbitration reads:
Mr.. Charles p. King.
President, Washington Railway ana
Electric Company, Washington. D. c.
Dear Sir: On yesterday you declined
the offer OF the Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia to act as mediators
In an effort to adjust the controversy
between your company and its employee
Notwithstanding this declination, the
public interest in the maintenance OF
efficient street car service and in the
the Commissioners now desire to request
you and the general officers Of your COM
pany to experimentation.
The circumstances of the times make
the possibility OF disorder in the Ma
tionaI Capital a matter of grave concern
to the republic itself. An adjustment OF
the controversy should not be impossible.
and the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia respectfully but most
earnestly request you to take no steps
toward a lockout or the substitution OF
--~
conductors until the whole matter a.
issue has been made the subject of
mediation. The Commissioners again
offer their services of mediation. II there
is any objection to the Commissioners
acting We feel sure that some other dis
interested agency could be found.
A similar request is being sent at this
same time to the employees asking them
not to call a strike nor to take any other
action of that character until after the
whole matter at issue has been made
the subject of mediation.
Tho interests of the public transcend
the interests of either party to this con-
trOver,=y so far as the controverted issues
are con crned Representing the public.
Tr-En this request in the confident be-
Iicf tFnt il will be complied with.
N~urs very truly.
T;oSrd of Commissioners, d. c.
BY Oliver P. Newman. President
What King Wrote Back.
President Kings reply follows:
Hon. Oliver P. Newman. president, ene
r'Clrd of Commissioners of the DE-
trict of Columbia. Washington, d. c
Deer Sir-At a late hour this afternoon
] received your letter OF even date. We
f'u;'v understand the public interest In
the maintenance of efficient street car
-er,ire and recognize our obligation In
:e"ard thereto.
Having in mind the sudden suspension
Of work a year ago by many Of our
traiHmen. melted and ordered by the
AInaIgamated Association, without no
tice to the public or ourselves, We have
taken steps to secure the services Of ex-
pcrienced operators in order to be pre-
pared in case Of similar action this year.
We consider we would be lacking In our
duty TO the public II we failed to take
this precaution. We assure you there Is
no intention to substitute these men for
our present trainmen unless the latter
quit work.
At our conference yesterday we clearly
stated that We could under no circum-
stances recognize or deal directly or indi-
rectly with the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. and fully reviewed the intolerable
conditions that have existed during the
past year.
We stand for the right to contract with
our trainmen, and believe the agreement
which we have submitted to them, and
which many of our trainmen have signed,
is in every way fair and just as to wages
and conditions of employment; and we
believe under this contract the public will
be able to secure continuity Of service