The Washington herald., 1917-03-22
CAR SERVICE IMPROVED,
SAY COMPANY OFFICIALS
Announce Striking Employees May With.
draw Funds from Relief Association.

Service on the cars of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company yesterday
was better than that on any other day
since the strike began. according 10 a
statement issued last night by officials
of the company. The statement follows:
Service yesterday was maintained
much better than on any other day since
the strike began. Striking employees con-
tinue to report for work on all divisions
and new men are applying all the time
for permanent positions
Commenting on the plan of the cam
paign to raise money for the purpose of
assisting striking trainmen and other
families and the solicitation of contribu-
tions from the public by means of hav-
ing stationed at various points through
out the city the wives of striking EN-
ployes with placards bearing the inscrip-
ton Help Feed Strikers Baby. the COM
pany stated that the public should be re-
minded of the Washington Railway Re
lief Association, an organization formed
many years ago, in which most OF its
striking employees are members. although
membership is not compulsory.
Objects of Association.
The objects Of the association are
primarily to pay sick benefits of IS a
week and a death benefit of $50 Other
advantages are the privilege of borrow
ing money at s per cent interest, in order
to keep members out of the hands OF pro-
fessional money lenders; to accept saw
ings accounts upon which 8 per cent in
terest Is paid; to furnish free medical
and surgical attention; and also, through
membership In the Relief Association, to
enjoy the privilege Of the pension sys-
tenn Of the company. under which PEN
sions of from SEQ to $50 per month are
paid by the Washington Railway and
Electric company to employees who have,
through old age or otherwise, become in
capacitated for work.
The company resents the imputation
that its striking employees are starving
through inadequate wages and reminds
the public that under the new wage scale
the men have a considerably increased in
come.
Under the workings Of the Relief As
sociation each member pays dues Of 81
per month and has an accumulation to
his credit which is payable to him either
upon his leaving the service of the COM
pany or upon resigning from the associa-
tion or upon his death. to his beneficiary.
Many Of the employees who are now out
on strike have considerable sums accumu-
lated out of their monthly dues, running
in the case of the older members to an
amount over 800 each.
May withdraw Funds.
Very few trainmen now on strike have
thus far seen ct to draw out the money
which Is on deposit to their credit. We
feel that If they are in real need they
would draw out this money in the pres
ent emergency when they are out OF
work. either through willing allegiance to
the Amalgamated Association. or. as In
some cases we fear, out OF extreme pres
sure exerted upon them to stand firmly
by the association. regardless Of their
own feelings and the deprivations forced
upon their families.
We wish the public to know that these
employees are privileged to withdraw from
the Relief Association promptly upon de-
mand the funds which stand to their
credit
I'VE also think the public should bear
IN mind that the loyal employees and their
families are entitled to even greater con-
sideration than the strikers and their
families. During the past year these 10y
al men have been subjected by the ANAL
Ean1ated Association to coercion. intini.
dation, and other similar practices by
which an association of this kind at
tempts to maintain its position. The
wives and children of these loyal men
have also been made most uncomfortable
and UNHAPPY In many devious ways"