Evening star., 1917-05-23

held. He also said that either Commis-
sioner Brownlow or Commissioner
the conference March 10 that he didn't
know IL the men would accept an
agreement like that Of 1915"
1.-THE only thing the Commissioners
cept was a contract similar to that en-
tered into with the Capital Traction
Company" said Mr.. Ham.
The committee will resume Its hear
ings at o'clock tonight.
Vice President Ham Witness.
At the meeting last night Of the Senate
committee investigating the strike on the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
panys lines, William F. Ham, wee presi-
dent OF that company. told the committee
Of the operations of the relief association
maintained by the employees. which fur-
| nishes sick benefits and burial expenses
! to the men and their families. He added
that since the strike of 1915 and the
entrance of the union into the affairs OF
the men and the company EFFORTS mao
been made to break down the association
by dissemination of false reports as to
finances. At one time last fall 24O mem
bers of the union left the association,
under circumstances seeming to warrant
concerted action.
Mr. Ham also told Of the friendly re-
lations which had existed between the
officials and the men prior to the strike
King, former Vice President Harries and
others in welfare work. Of the amusement
and get together" features, declaring
that the relations between the employ
ers and employees in this company were
unusually close and friendly.
Pensions and Profit Sharing.
He told of the pension system and of
President Kings installation of profit
sharing plan, by which the employees, by
increasing the fares and decreasing acci-
dents, these being propositions largely
the profits. In 1912 the men got $3.50
each under this plan, in 1914, SPLIT, and
in 1915, s2317 each. 1t was abandoned
after the 1916 strike.
Attorney Hoover, for the company.
brought out the statement that in the
settlement of that strike there was no
hint of an understanding that if the
men yielded at that time they might
secure recognition of the union a year
later. Mr. Ham said that from the out
set the company was against dealing
with the Amalgamated Association. al
though willing at all times to treat
with the employees. He declared that
had been the unvarying policy of the
the policy of the Amalgamated. from
his observation of its workings in other
cities. was to insist upon the closed
shop wherever it could enforce it. Mr..
strike of 1916, which has been pub
lished heretofore
Union President Resumes.
Prior to his testimony, George A.
Wilburt, president of the local union.
resumed the stand. Under questioning
by Attorney Hoover. he denied any
knowledge of acts of violence perpe-
trated by the union men. Mr.. Wilburt
told of his own efforts to placate the
men and keep the peace, declaring that
Maj. Pullman, superintendent> of police.
had praised his efforts to prevent dis
order,
He was questioned closely by Mr..
Hoover about the destruction of the car
by armed men at Canal and E streets,
for which several indictments have
been brought. Mr.. Wilburt said he did
not believe the railway employees were
responsible for that wreck, but that it
was possible it had been pulled off as
a stage play" by gunmen. presumably
to discredit the employees.
Mr.. Hoover sought to put in the rec
ord the indictments returned, against
men in connection with this incident
but the committee ruled them out, in
dictments not being presumption of
guilt Chairman Pittman stated that
the committee would also rule out ef-
forts to bring in discussion of the
financial affairs Of the company.