The Washington times., 1919-08-20
v. R. &E. MEN
, ASK RAISE Of
25PER CENT
Serious Situation Expected. TO
Result When Employees Pre-
sent Additional Demands.
By BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
There today appeared on me G~-
zon of the street railway ol
Washington elements Of serious troU-
bic ahead. resulting from demanus
to be made upon the Washington
Railway and Electric Company by its
employees. In fact. one series OF de-
mands were made today and more
radical ones are TO follow, leading
nobody knows where.
The situation is complicated by in
tense bitterness between two rival
labor organizations and this, togeth-
er with the almost hopeless general
situation as to the street railways
presages a condition that is likely
70 be full Of all sorts Of difficulties
tying still more knots in the most
knotty local problem that the Dis
trict has ever confronted.
The local lodge Of the Brotherhood
OF Street Railway Employees today
laid before Secretary Bowen, of the
railway company, the demands of the
men belonging TO that organization.
The committee. headed by H w
Lynn, A Z. Dennis and Arthur Berry,
all motormen Of the company, did not
make its demands" threatening. but
so far as possible undertook to ap-
peal TO the fairness of the railway
company.
Lynn Ia Spokesman.
The spokesman of the committee,
H. w. Lynn. is president OF the Ioca;
brotherhood and chairman Of its
grievance committee. He told Secre-
tsry Bowen that the high cost Of hv-
ing is such that motormen, conduc-
tors and other employees Of the roa
can no longer live upon their present
pay. They now ask for a 25 per cent
increase in wages over the present
scale, which runs from 45 to As cents
per hour for motormen and conduc-
tors. The proposed increase would
bring the maximum pay te go cents
per hour, and al Employed o. The
company would receive benefits. For
women employees around the com
pany's shops and barns a minimum
pay Of $3.2O per day is asked.
The committee asked that the in
crease take effect as soon as possible
after the award Of the War Labor
Board last March expires. The
brotherhood, Mr.. Lynn stated, recog-
nizes the award of the War Labor
Board as binding upon the brother
hood.
When the Amalgamated men made
demands upon the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company early last
spring, the demands were, by agree
ment, referred to the War Labor
Board. After long sittings the board
made certain findings, which were
accepted by both sides, Among these
findings was a wage scale. The find
% until October /, 1913, at which time
either side had the right and priv
Hege of asking revision.
willing to Grant Raise.
Secretary Bowen told the commit
tee that the company would be only
too glad to increase the pay Of its en-
ployes IL it had the money to do so,
but that its finances are in such
shape that it is really unable to pay
the present wage scale: that IL there
70 any increase Of wages il cannot be
made by the company until the Util-
ities Commission has granted an in
crease Of revenues through increased
fares, that the whole matter Of meet
ing the demands Of employees is really
in the hands Of the Utilities Commits
sion.
has about reached the conclusion that
the Utilities Commission is the body
before which IL will have to submit
its case in the event the company
does nothing, which the company
has already decided it cannot do.
Local No. S75, Of the Amalgamsted
Association, which pTecipitated the
famous strike Of more than two years
ago, which lost the Washington Rail
way and Electric about 100000 Of
money and considerable prestige, is
10 hold q secret meeting tonight at
719 Sixth street northwest. at which !
the demands it will make upon the (
company are to be decided upon.
c. T. Cannon, business agent of the /
amalgamated, and three Of his as 4
sistants were at work today upon the /
demands which will be somewhat ex-
tsnsive not only in declaring existing
wages inadequate, but working con-
ditions intolerable. The demands will /
include increased wages and i'm
portant changes in working hours.
The particular complaint is that there
are too few straight runs and too
many swing" runs. the latter prac-
tically keeping motormen and con-
ductors at the call Of the company for 4
fifteen or sixteen hours. although not
given pay for more than nine or ten
hours.
What attitude the amaIgamated
will take about the findings Of TIC
War Labor Board remains TO be seen.
The board itself, in passing on tie
Washington case, said that the ind
ings should be in effect until Dresi-
Dental proclamation declared the
war to be at an end, although me
findings might be brought up for Ic-
vision after October 1st, and there
after every six months
War Labor Board Dead
Some Of the amalgamated employees
regard the War Labor Board as
dead" and declare that they will
pay no further attention TO its
awards. II this element predomi-
mates in the meeting tonight the
amalgamated will make its demands
at once and insist upon their being
met by the company and the Public
Utilities Commission. II the meeting
determines that the award is good
until October lst the demands will