The Washington herald., 1918-03-07
CAR COMPANY WANTS
TICKETPLANDROPPED
Capital Traction to Plead
for Straight Scent Fares
with Commissioners.
WAGE MEETINGS HALT
Employees Reject Advance
Offered Until Arbitration
Matters Are Decided.

AsA~&AN$AS y - - -
Eliminate the ticket system and
give US a straight Scent fare and
we can raise the salaries Of the
employees"
Such was the ultimatum Of the
Capital Traction Company to the
demands of the carmen for higher
pay, which viii be offered to the
District Commissioners as the main
point for arbitration hearings fol-
lowing conferences between the
union committee and the company
officials which ended yesterday.
Men Were InsIstent.
George E Hanna, vice president and
general manager of the Capital Trac-
tion company, and president George E.
Hamilton offered a fiat increase Of
cents an hour as the extreme limit
which the corporation could pay un-
der existing financial conditions The
agreement committee from local 6Ss
of the Amalgamated Association OF
Street Car Employees ffatly rejected
the increase proposal.
President Hamilton met the men
half way, but the employees were in
The rnn-
ferences were devoid of bitterness
and when the conferes finally dead
locked over the amount Of the In
crease to be granted, the plan to
bring the question to the attention OF
the District Commissioners was dis
cussed.
Union officials stated last night that
there would not be any opposition
from that section from granting q
straight scent far. They will. how
ever. interpose a strong objection to
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company enjoying the advantages oil
this increased revenue, IL IL Is grant
ed. unless they are assured that the
company will pay the employees OF
that line the wages which make the
larger funds necessary.
Fare Raise SJustihed-o
That the scent fare without the
strip tickets should be inaugurated
was cited from sources friendly to
the company as justified by the pro-
posed increase to a straight Scent
fare advocated and supported by Gov,
Mccall. Of Massachusetts, to the Bay
State legislature for the Boston Ele-
waited to meet the wage demands OF
the $500 organized employees The
Boston scale is s cents per hour high
er than that paid ip Washington.
One Of the arbihating COMMITTEES
said to The Herald representative
last night, I'VE found the officials OF
the Capital Traction Company ex'
tremeIy fair in the negotiations. The
financial condition of the company
was explained in detail and the ex-
tent which they could enlarge pay
rolls and still return a fair profit tC
the stockholders was made evident.
"On the other hand we presented
facts and figures to show that the
average motorman and conductor or
the lines finds it a practical impos-
sibility to live within his salary
even though he practice $ extreme
prudence.
Fare Increase May Solve.
THE additional revenues provided
by a straight scent fare may furnish
the necessary revenues to have the
employees and the company come tC
an agreement. At any rate, We are
Satisfied to let the company make its
request and reI1 upon the fairness ol
the District Commissioners to prop
erly pass upon Il"
The agreement committee acting foE
the men consisted of ]. H. CookmaIL
VI. W. Poole, and Frank Diggs.
Notice Of failure to agree in con-
ference was forwarded to the District
Commissioners, and notices to botE
parties were dispatched yesterday
evening that the Commissioner
would hold the initial public hearing
as an arbitration board on Monday
March IS. in the board room OF the
District Building
Written Statements Called for.
Orders that both parties present 4
written statement of their argumenti
TO the Commissioners before o'clocl
on Thursday. March II, were also Is
sued last night.
Section 2 OF the agreement between
the company and the local branch oi
the ,Amalgamated Association OF
Street and Electric Railway Employees
of America. to which the large ma.
iority of It's employees belong. provide.
that, II. after a series Of conferences
between the company and q commit.
tee appointed by the employees. no de.
cision Is reached. the Commissioner
of the District be asked to sit as {
board Of arbitration in the matter.
This agreement was ratified on st
Patrick's Day. March II, Of last year
!. Under its provisions, grievances Of tn,
men employed by the company ma,
be aired in conference yearly. II m
decision Is reached at these confer
ences, the agreement states. and ther,
remain any questions or grievanc,
which cannot be amicably adjusted
by said conferences, the same shal
be submitted to the Commissioner o.
the District OF Columbia acting as Z
board Of arbitration, the decision o.
which board shall be submitted II
writing to the company and the as
ISOLATION and shall be binding upoT
both parties hereto
The agreement provides further
that ANY wage increases which may
be granted by said conferences or ar.
bitration shall be effective"