The Washington herald., 1918-03-22
{. P. king resigns
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Washington and Virginia Railway
running from Twelfth and D streets
northwest to Alexandria. Falls Church
and other Virginia towns. Before
that time he was in the railway busI-
ness in Philadelphia. other Pennsyl-
Vania cities and in the South.
Eleven hundred men are affected
by the increase In pay granted by
the board of directors yesterday, Mr..
King said. The increases go into ef-
feet Monday. The action was en-
tIrely voluntary and was taken be-
cause it was deemed necessary to
enable the men TO meet the greatly
increased cost of living" he added.
There had been no increase In pay
asked for by the men. With no limit
to the cost of bread. meat and other
foods and other living costs advanc-
ing, it was impossible for a man to
live on the old wage"
Opposed UnionIsm.
Mr.. King was not popular with
union men whom he bitterly fought
in a strike by men Of the company
for higher wages and recognition
of their union. At present no union
man is employed by the company
and all are signed under individual
contracts.
Edward McMorrow, international
executive of the AmaIGamated
Street Car Mems Union, who was
in Washington last March. de-
clared upon mis- departure at the
conclusion OF the strike that Mr..
King would be forced to resign
from his position as president
within a year" During the strike
the railway president refused to ar
bitrate the strikers demands and
would accept no conditions but that
the employees should resume their
work as nonunion men.
Appreciation of the board Of di-
rectOrs for the work accomplished
by the retiring president during his
term of office was expressed in
resolution adopted. The meeting
lasted all Afternoon and part of the
evening.
Rumors of the approaching resig-
nation have been current in finan-
cial circles OF Washington for sew
eral weeks. though confirmation
could not be obtained.
Whether the resignation had any
''i'Ai ~ w "lNll pAOpOStu sONtiH-
ment ownership of the electric lines
OF the District could not be ascer-
tanned. Operation Of all the street
car lines in the District as one COM
pany has been advocated by Mr..
King.
Letter of Resignation.
Mr.. Kings letter OF resignation is
addressed to the board of directors
Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and subsidiary
companies. including the Potomac
Electric Power Company. The let
ter reads:
"Gentlemen:
For some time past New York
interests with which l am identi-
iied have required my personal at
tention. but l felt that l could not
consCientiously retire from the &C
tive management of the Washing
ton Railway and Electrict Com
pany system until now, when a
number OF matters vital to the in
terests and future success of the
property have been satisfactorily
concluded. Inasmuch as my i'm
mediate attention is demanded
elsewhere. l hereby tender my res
ignattOn as president and director
Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and subsidiary
companies. including the Potomac
Electric Power Company.
1T is most gratifying to me that
the companies are at this time do
ing the largest business in their
history.
Thanking each member of the
board and the official staff, and all
employees. for the hearty co-opera-
ton extended to me during my en-
lire administration. and wishing
YOU continued success, 1 remain,
Very sincerely yours,
'Signe6 CLARENCE P. KING"
Resolution Adopted.
The resolution passed by the board
accepting the resignation follows:
whereas, Mr.. Clarence P. King
has this day rendered his resig-
nation as president and director
OF the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and its subsidi-
airy companies. and also of the
Potomac Electric Power Company.
The board, in accepting Mr.
Kings resignation, extends to him
its best wishes for success in his
new field OF work, and its appre-
citation of the enthusiasm and en-
crgy he has employed in the midst
of many difficulties for upbuilding
and improving the business of th,
companies under his manage
lnent"