Evening star., 1918-06-10
ANSWER CHARGES :.
MADE BY STRIKERS
D. c. Heads Announce They
Will Ignore WaIkout in Con-
sidering Reinstatements.
STREET FORCE CRIPPLED

The Commissioners today answered
the charge of District strikers that
twenty men had been discharged from
the sewer department as retaliatory
measure against the union, by adopt
ing resolution to the effect that any
employe may be reinstated without
his participation in the strike being
questioned.
The policy adopted not only applies
to those who Joined the walk out Sat-
urday, but to all persons who may ap-
ply for work in the engineer depart
mont hereafter. The order provides:
That applicants to the engineer de-
partment of the District Of Columbia
for employment or unemployment will
not be refused employment or re-em-
ployment because the applicant is or has
been a member of trade union or other
labor organization. or participant IN
any strike; nor will such membership
or participation be the subject Of ofh-
cial inquiry"
Express Attitude Toward Labor.
With this as their general attitude
toward labor. tho Commissioners are
ready. in the present case. to give
the twenty men discharged employ
ment in another branch Of the sewer
department, where there are funds
with which to pay them. They re-
iterate that the pumping station
L. No
are not sufficient to carry the full per-
sonnel to the end Of the fiscal year,
and that the dismissals were neces-
STATED.
Statements made by the strikers
that appropriations for the sewer de-
partment can be used interchangeably
were said to be without foundation. 1t
was stated that while work can be
given the discharged men in the con-
struction division, where there are
funds for the employment OF labor,
this money cannot be Transferred to
the pumping station fund and ex-
pended toward maintenance.
Another Charge Answered.
Another charge made by the labor
organization is that an unnecessary
for the pumping station-more than
enough to carry 1t through the pres
ent fiscal year-and that the money
expended for the fuel would have
been sufficient to maintain the full
force of employees until the next ap-
preparation act becomes available
July l.
The Commissioners say that there is
not more than enough coal on hand
to carry the pumping station through
year. and that good administration
and the public's interests demanded
that at least this amount OF fuel be
stored. Some departments. it is
stated. store three-month, supply Of
Washington today began to get the
first effects Of the strike which was
inaugurated when nearly 1000. en-
ployes began their week end holiday
Saturday afternoon. The street clean
ing department. as had been expected,
felt the walkout most severely. OF
department, only twenty-seven were
at work this morning.
Eight Machines at Work. -
Eight squeeze machines, which nor
mally operate at night, were out this
morning, the drivers having been un-
willing to take them out at night.
There has been no indication that vio-
lence would be attempted by the
tuOu6h ISpOEtS TCdCu6O IA0
street cleaning department that some
Of the white wings" who remained
loyal had been approached today and
asked to join the strike.
At the District building the situa-
ton was viewed with calmness. The
Commissioners take the position that
they have gone as far as they can to
meet reasonable demands, and that
the only alternative left them 10 to
dll the vacancies created by the strike
as well as they can.
Pumping Stations Not Crippled.
Qualification was expressed by Engi-
neer Commissioner knight that the
union had left men at work at the
water and sewerage pumping stations
The health and lives Of residents of
the capital would be seriously men
aced II the strike should cripple tho
pumping station operations.
Secretary Of Labor Wilson, who Ia
out Of the city. has been appealed to
by the Commissioners to lend his Of
fees in adjusting the strike. The at
titude of the strikers is that there is
nothing to adjust.
Officials Of the employer organiza-
ton stated that charges would be
filed against Asa z. Phillips. engineer
of the department Of sewers, and his
suspension requested. pending an In
the Commissioners had not received
the charges.
Number on Strike 500.
Tho strike Of District per diem en-
ployes. begun Saturday, with propect
of taking at least 1000 men from
their work. was found today not to
have been as general as was antici-
pated.
Late reports showed SIG men at
work and 500 on strike. Many of
those at work, however, remained at
their posts as result Of instructions
Issued by the union.
According to the latest figures re-
cetved by the Commissioners ~ per
diem men In tho sewer department are
working today. while 9S are on strike.
The water department has 155 work.