The Washington herald., 1917-03-17
Decided by Circumstance..

!
he was not under ordinary circum-
! stances; but that he was under the ex-
| iSting circumstances and in view OF the
| conditions following the agreement of the
year previous with the trainmen of the
| company: the constant pressure nagging
persecution and petty annoyances TO
which the employees not members of the
association had been subjected; his
promises to the loyal employees and the
impossibility of eradcating the power
| which this irresponsible association had
! over the loyal employees of the company
| who constituted majority of all en-
ployes and who did not wish either to
| join the association OF be subject to
its dominat ton.
with respect to so much of your let
ter as refers to the jeopardy in which
the property of the company has been
| placed. the fact that the safety of its
employees and the public has been in dan
ger and that the police department has
been placed under a terrific strain to pro-
/ tect persons and property and that the
| peace and order of the city of Washing
ton have been disturbed permit US to
suggest that this company has jeopar-
dized no mans property. has endangered
the safety OF no one and has placed no
strain upon the police department to pro-
tect persons and property or disturbed
the peace and order of the City of Wash
ington: that the fact stated in your let
ter that wrongdoers have done things
cannot in the interest of public policy be
made the basis of a claim by them or on
their behalf that they should be collec-
lively or otherwise contracted with, or
that company in the exercise Of its law
full franchise and performance Of its pub
lie duties should not be allowed to con-
tinue therein without let or hindrance,
but on the contrary is entitled to the sup
port and aid of the public authorities.
Dan Invoke Punishment.
with respect to your statement that
the District Of Columbia Is sharing its
loss in per cent of the gross receipts
of the company lost through these un-
lawful acts. permit us TO call your at
tention to the fact that under the Acts
OF Congress chartering the street rail-
way companies it is expressly provided
that they shall at all times have a free
and uninterrupted use of the railways
operate, and II any person or persons
shall wilfully, mischievously, or unneces-
sarily obstruct OF impede the passage
of cars on the right Of way with a We
hicle or vesicles, or otherwise, or in any
manner molest or interfere with pas
sengers or operators while in transit
| or destroy or injure the cars Of said
railway or depot or stations or other
of the property belonging to the said
railway they shall be punished as there
in prescribed.
Doubtless through the suddenness Of
the outbreak and the number Of offences
following the calling of the strike by the
amalgamated association there resulted
a denial to the railways Of the right to
a free and uninterrupted use Of our prop
erty thus given. We beg to remind you
that it is for this protection that we are,
among other things, called upon to con-
tribute to the expense Of crossing police
men and to ray the tax Of per cent on
the gross earnings of the company, and
that the loss of revenue to which you
refer may not be charged to the railway
company. which has been guilty of no
wrong. but to the wrongdoers who are
now seeking your mediatorial services.
| I'VE believe that you realize and are
now prepared to give protection in the
i free and uninterrupted use Of our rail-
ways which we are entitled to receive
unuer express acts of Congress. and as
! soon a. the wrong -dosrs are forced to