Evening star., 1919-10-07
WAGE CONCESSION
TO v. R. & f. MEN
Company Grants Three Cents
an Hour Advance in Lieu
of Employees Demand.
roFFER is CONDITIONAL

Rejection OF the demands of its en-
ployes for a wage increase of practi-
cally SO per cent and an alternative
proposal Of an increase of cents per
hour. possibly retroactive to October
l. were the results of the conference
today between officials of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany and committee representing
the company's employees.
AS a further alternative to the pro-
posal OF an increase of 3 cents per
hour the committee received the sug
gestton that the entire matter of pay
increase be left to the Public Utili-
ties Commission for decision.
Regarding the question of recogni-
union. President Ham, representing
the company, made it plain that the
company adheres strictly to the dec
laration of principles of the War
Labor Board. These principals. in
brief. are in favor of the open shop
branches Of industry.
Relief for Company a Condition.
1t was further made plain to the
employees committee that even the in
crease of cents per hour proposed
by President Ham was dependent on
the Public Utilities Commission grant
Ing the company adequate relief in
the way OF increase revenues II such
relief should be refused. President
Ham made plain, no increase in wages
could be granted.
The company's Propositions are to
meeting to be held within a week.
at the latest. Upon the action of the
employees in accepting or rejecting
either or both of the propositions. 1T
is anticipated. will depend the pos
sibility Of strike that may. at least
of the w. r. & E. Co., as well as the
Potomac Electric Light Company.
Representatives, at Conference.
Representing the employees at to-
days conference were r. T. Motley.
chairman of the committee: J. w.
Green, J. F. Magruder, Frank Due
werth. J. N. McWelch and James
Largay. international vice president
Of the Amalgamated Association of
Street Railway Employees. The com
pany was represented by President
W. F. Ham, Vice President s. r.
Bowen and J. s. Barbour. counsel for
the company. Charles p. Howard,
labor conciliator of the Department
OF Labor, sat with the cOn1ereeS, IN
the place Of Rowland b. Mahaney. also
Of :. the Department Of Labor, who
af ethA lest mensnt fWaa sdetained. be-
ing made temporary secretary OF the
industrial conference.
+ At tho close of tpday's conference
Mr. lAIEng tcEineH zpokeanan for
The contmlttee, said that NO frrecon-
cllable differences had arisen during
the conference, though. he stated.
labor was never satisfied" at the
outcome of any conference on ques-
tons Of wages, working conditions.
etc. -
Mr. Largay stated that the propo-
sitions or suggestions of the COM
pany.s officials would go before the
employees at mass meeting to be
held as soon as it could be arranged.
No definite date was fixed for the
meeting.
Would Make Increase Retroactive.
President Ham said that il the en-
ployes decided to accept the offer Of
ent on the measure of financial relief
given by the Public Utilities Commits
sion, he would Immediately ask the
board Of directors of the companyy to
make the increase retroactive to Octo-
ber 1, even though such actic1 would
leave the company without relief dur
ing the Intervening period, However,
President Ham stated, he had no doubt
the board would approve the suggestion,
provided the Public Utilities Commits
sion acted favorably on the company's
application for financial relief within
two weeks.