The Washington times., 1917-05-14
SAYS KING SPURNED
CIVIC DUTY APPEAL
Promised to Let Police Work,
BrOWnlOW Declares.
SENSATION AT SENATE PROBE
Investigators Hear How W.R. &c.
Head Declined ali Offers.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

nedQ DeCllneu AL UHeIS.
CONTINUED from First Page)
and I do not know that I ought Il
repeat It here unless the committe,
directs me to repeat It," said the wit
ness.
II think the committee should know
what he said and that the witness
should be required to repeat the con
versation," said Senator Jones.
Ordered To Repeat Il.
Other Senators agreed with Senator
Jones, and Chairman Pittman directed
the witness to repeat President Kings
statement.
Commissioner Brownlow testified
that he made the specific statement &c
President King and other representa-
tives OF the company that the Com
missioners stood ready to arbitrate
the strike with the employees, waiv.
ing recognition OF their union"
Commissioner Newman stated on
the witness stand that he indirectly
communicated the fact to the COM
pRny's Representatives that the men
would not insist on recognition of the
union.
Mr.. Brownlow, however, repeated
the three propositions he put up to
the company for arbitrating the con-
troversy and averting the strike. He
said:
First, said to the company's rep
resentatives, the Commissioners offer
their services as mediators between
the company and the employees or
ganized as a union
This was emphatically declined
Most emphatically, I would say.
Next said to the company's rep
The Commissioners offer
their services as mediators between
the company and its employees with
the employees waving recognition OF
their union, with the employees repre-
scented by a committee and continuing
their right to collective bargaining,
as was done last year.
Called It a Farce.
''rhis was declined. Mr.. William F.
Ham said such an arrangement would
be a farce because while the employees
might waive recognition of the union,
they will not waive the existence of
the union, and the union will be In
the background
The next proposition put to the
of the company was
that we leave the District building
and go to the Washington Railway
and Electric Company's lines, pick the
irst six or eight trainmen who came
along on cars, and let these trainmen
the representatives OF the
employees, regardless of whether they
we're union or non-union men
This. was declined with smiles by
he Representatives OF the company"
Commissioner Brownlow, asked the
blanket question, do you agree with
md corroborate all that Commission
T Newman testified to?" replied in the
and said he had a few de-
luctions Of his own, made during the
which he might add
Remembers Distinctly.
He said he distinctly remembered
hat all the offers by the Commission
rs to the company to mediate were
eclined, and that President King said
he company stood on the individual
ontract
In addition to the criticisms made
Y Mr.. Newman regarding the indi-
idual contract, also thought there
Tas another defect" said the witness.
Section of the Individual contract
rovided that employees with griev-
noes should first deal with the super
ltendent, then with the president of
he company. and then with the Pub
C Utilities Commission. 1t provided
lat IL the Public Utilities Commission
ecided a man had been discharged
hA
lould be reinstated.
81 thought this should be changed
ecause there might be cases in which
n employe should be reinstated even
dismissed for cause. In other
.ords, I did not think the employe
Mould be made to show that his dis
Iissal was wholly without cause to
rove that he had q just grievance"
Company Attorney Objects
When Commissioner BrownIow was
sked II he had knowledge OF the en-.
oyes' willingness to arbitrate with
1t recognition of the union, he said
commissioner Newman had told him
lie men would not insist on recogni-
on.
Attorney George P.iHoover, repre-
nting the company, objected TO the l.
itness repeating conversations.
Senator johnson OF California ex-
'essed the opinion that the witness
IouId be allowed to testify TO any
or Circumstance con-
.cted with the negotiations for set
sment Of the controversy.
Commissioner Brownlow then said:
The men did not tell me they would 4
awe recognition, but on March 10,
hen the representatives of the com
ny were at the District building,
Newman said to me:
Te will ask them II they will recoR-
re the union, and II they decline we
II inform them the men will waive
cognition of the union 1 said to 8
:. Newman: Will the men stand [
r that?' and he Informed me TINT Z
ey had told him they would not in
It on recognition" 4
Flat Refusal. Z
Brownlow said the h
OF the company fatty .
fused to have any dealings with the 2
IpIoyes as union men. The witness n
Itified that President King fire. a
emily said: =,