The Washington times., 1917-05-29
PROBER CHIDES KING
AT STRIKE HEARING
Senator Denies Union Is Be-
hind Inquiry.
COMPANY IN DUAL POSITION
Pittman Points Out Vagary in
Parlsys With Employees.
COMPANY IN DUAL POSITION
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CONTINUED from First Page)
preted the 1916 agreement as giving the
enployes a right to air their grietances
before the Public Utilities Commission
he did not consider Il gave the company
the privilege Of calling to the Commits
sion's attention violations Of the spirit
Of the contract
Questioned by Senator Johnson a.
TO what he personally did to remedy
the alleged unsatisfactory conditions
arising under the 1916 contract. ne
said he did not recall any personal
activity, but did direct the suoord4
nate officers OF the company to insist
on harmony among the men.
After making the assertion that hi
did not think a more prosperous Sc
of motormen and conductors could
be found anywhere in the country
than IN Washington. President klnG
read figures from a relief association
hook showing that some OF the mer
now out on a strike have amounts
ranging from $500 to $1,000 deposited
with the companies welfare organi
Eation.
After being questioned about the
e gross earnings Of the company since
1912, President King said the average
dividend paid on the common stock
since the company was formed was
leS than ~ per cent.
When the hearing ADJOURNED today
IL was announced II would be resumed
Thursday morning.
situation Unchanged.
President King, upon resuminG the
stand. said he did not believe the union
lists proposal that President Wilson
serve as an umpire in the controversy
was submitted seriously. He said this
proposal did not change the situation
as RECOGNITION Of the union was still
called for by the men
Replying TO a question by Attorney
Hoover, the witness said he did not defy
President Wilson or anybody else, but
simply adhered Steadfastly to the COM
psny's policy of not recognizing the
union.
After relating his conversation with
Secretary of Labor Wilson on the
night OF March IL, Mr.. King said he
declined 10 comply with the request
TO withdraw the individual contract
because personal contracts had al
ready been made with a number of
gated. He said the suggestion TO
postpone the controversy for thirty
days by continuing the 1916 agree
ment in effect would have been futile
because the same issue of recognize
ing the union, would have had to be
met At the later day.
QueatIon By PittmaR.
At this point Senator Pittman
asked:
.You considered the 1915 contract
virtually an agreement with the
Amalgamated Association in view OF
its domination OF the men, didn't
you?"
The witness replied in the negative,
but added the AmalEamated had come
into the dealings and dominated the
men.
Couldn't you have continued the
1915 contract in effect for thirty days
after Il expired without recognizing
the union?' asked Senator Pittman-
Il think not" answered the wit
ness From the outset the Amalga-
mated was trying TO force us to recog-
nizs it, and this hearing is just con
tinuation Of the Amalgamated's ef-
forts to compel us to recognize il
you didn't want any perpetuation
Of the 1915 contract, did your" asked
Senator Pittman.
NO, not IL the AmalgamAted was
to dominate the men," was the an,
swer.
Saw Il Was UasatisfaetOry.
you realized last summer, many
months ago. that the 1915 agreement
was unsGtisfactory?" asked the acting
chairman.
YES, we realized long ago it was
unsatisfactory" President King re-
piled
NOW. Mr.. King" said Senator
Pittman. II want to say as one mem
Der Of the committee that II has been
made absolutely plain 10 me that you
had made up your mind long before
March, 1917, that the Amalgamated
dominated the men. and that the only
way you could deal with the men
free Of the AmalEamated was through
an individual contract, isn't that .
fact?"
There was no fixed purpose not to
deal with the men collectively" said
the witness I'VE hadn't decided that
the individual contract was the only
way to deal with the men"
What ] am getting at is this"
said Senator PittmGn. AT one time
you say you were willing TO deal
with the men collectively and at an
other you say you realized the 1916
contract had proved unsatisfactory.
You're inconsistent"
Denies IaeonsIstsney.
The witness said he did not think
the company was inconsistent. That
81 did not deceive the men. but the
officers Of the union did deceive them
into believing ''.e company would
deal WITH ~ union.
";.c'S:S you conceive in your inHEi-
nation any manner in which the men
might have been dealt with collsc-
lively except through D committee
which represented the union at the
same time Il representa- the men?"
asked Senator Pittman.
Yes" responded the witness. Il
thought there might be some way by
which the grievance committee could
separate itself from the union ana
talk merely a. the representatives. Of
our employees"
Yet" said Senator PittmGn. you
refused TO allow the Commissioners to
mediate between the company and tbs
men. irrespective Of any union sf-
hiiationS."
mot TO my knowledge" said Mr..
King. There was no such PROPOSE
tion put TO me and refused by me"
Senator Pittman then stated his be
lief that the company occupied . dual
position In protesting willingness 20