Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-31
v. R. ( f. CARMEN
TO ASK MORE PAY
ANDBETTERH HOURS
Motormen and Conductors
Decide on Step at Mid
night Meeting.
DEMAND MAY REACH
COMPANY SEPTEMBER |
Financial Circles Believe Relief
From Public Utilities Commission
Necessary to Meet Mems
Requirements.

requirements.
Motormen and conductors of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company are to make a demand upon
the company for better hours and
increased pay.
This was decided at a midnight
meeting last night of nearly 500 en-
ployes of the company. held in Wait
ers Hall, 71s 9Th street.
Demand will he made at once to
adjust the schedules, SO as to elm
mate large number Of Swing" runs.
The demand for higher wages prob
ably will not reach the company be-
fore September 1. The present rate
agreement expires October l, and the
plan is to have 1t succeeded by a new
agreement carrying substantial in
creaseS.
Strike Might Follow Failure.
terms to be submitted would. it Is be-
lieved, involve the capital in another
street car strike.
In the absence of any communities
ton from the employees, officials of the
company today declined to comment
upon the action that might be taken
upon wage-increase petition.
Need Of Relief for Company Seen.
In banking and financial circles the
impression was general that the com
pany would be powerless to meet the
demands unless 1t is granted financial
relief by the Public Utilities Commits
sion. 1t was predicted that insistence
by the men for higher wages could
have but one effect under present con-
ditions-that of driving the company
into bankruptcy.
Announcement of the action taken
at last nights meeting Of the en-
ployes was received with interest by
members of the public utilities COM
mission today, The commission still
has under amusement the company's
apnlication Tor authority TO increase
the rate OF fare. 81 8 2 u
8 1t is not likely there viii be any
action on this petition until after the
valuation of the company's property
ii completed, which, according to
present Indications, will be some
time between August / and 10.
Met Under Association Auspices.
The meeting last night was held
under the auspices of Local Division.
No. S75, Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway EN-
Capital Traction Company employees
compose separate branch of this
union. known as Division No. $50.
Their rate agreement does not expire
until next March.
Grievances against the present
schedules Of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company. which, it is
claimed, cause q big majority OF the
operatives to consume from twelve to
sixteen hours to put in an eight-hour
working day. was discussed extern
sively last night, and it was decided
to bring the matter to the attention
of the War Labor Board next Mon
day.
Swing Runs Opposed.
It was charged that only about 80
per cent Of the company's runs are
straight runs, with the remainder
"swing" runs. The situation should be
Just the reverse. the employees con-
tend.
swing runs involve the chopping
up of days work. SO that an opera
tive sometimes scatters his time over
works but eight hours and is paid
only for that period.
So many Swing" runs are maintain
ed by the company that 1t has had
the effect of causing many employees
to leave the service, 1t Is claimed.
An adjustment is desired which will
give the men an opportunity to put in
ten-hour days.
Labor Board Ruling Recalled.
The statement further is made that
the War Labor Board, at the time 1t
adjusted the wages now paid by the
company, insisted that the number Of
straight runs should be as nearly 10
per cent of the total as possible.
In view of this, the empjyes believe
the War Labor Board will take up
with the company the question of an
adjustment of the schedules.
Wage Issue Up August 6.
How much of an increase in wages
Is to be requested will be considered
at the next meeting of the union. to
be held on August 6. This meeting
will be given over entirely to the
wage question.
According to one official Of the
union, the increase to be sought will
not be an unreasonable one. IL is
not likely to approach the scale de-
manded in Chicago, he said.
The present pay of the men here is
AZ cents an hour for the first three
months Of service; 46 cents for the
next nine months of service, and 48
cents after one year of service.
Six Months Agreement Planned.
The plan is to have the new agree
ment to be submitted to the company
to adjust both wages and working
hours and to operate for period of
six months. which would require an
other adjustment in March.
officers of the union are J. w.
Rohey, president; H. H. Kent. vice
president; c. F. Cannon, business
agent; w. II. Fadder. recording Sec
rotary; w. H. Ashford, warden; H. r.
Arnold, inside sentinel and Frank
Diggs, treasurer.