Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-01
v. R. T. WILL HEAR
WAGES ARGUMENT
viii Leave Unsettled Issues
to Commission, Mr.. Ham
Tells Conference.
STATEMENT IS ISSUED

~ ~ IULN ~ IooOIO
President W. F. Ham of the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany, in conference today with rep
resentatives of division s75 of the
Amalgamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway Employees. ex-
pressed willingness of the COM
pany "tc consider any evidence that
can he presented along the line OF
necessary increases in wages and. iii
then unable to come to an agreement
ties Commission.
The company refused to deviate
from the award Of the War Labor
Board. On this account recognition Of
the union will be withheld. 1t was
stated, President Ham claiming that to
recognize any Individual group of en-
ployes would not be in accordance with
the award.
The conference was held to discuss
demands of the men for recognition of
the union, an eight-hour day, increases
in pay for employees and improved con-
ditions.
President Hams Statement.
ference Mr.. Ham issued the following
statement Of policy:
This company conducts an .open
shop. It does not object to it's en-
ployes belonging to any labor union
they choose. 1t recognizes the right
OF collective bargaining and has con-
ferred and will continue to confer
with any committee or committees of
its employees. We have and have had
in our employ members Of more than
one labor union and. also many 9TH
ers who are not members of any
union.
1.-The National War Labor Board, an
agency Of the government, laid down
certain principles, which we have
adopted, for the maintenance Of open
shop conditions, and we know of no
other rules better calculated to in
sure proper relations between en-
ployer and employees
Submitted to War Board,
I'm January last the company was
presented with demands by certain
of its employees, members Of the
Amalgamated Association. These de-
mands were, by mutual consent. sub
Board and both the men and the
company agreed to be bound by its
award =;
THE National War Labor Board
passed on all Of these demands on
March MAJ a Is s. last: St., This - awasd accord.
ssas ceatias sn,l R1ens'ss ss a 'ef' of the
TSr, as announced By execu{iye broc-
except that either party
may reopen the case ct peri DDS of six'
months interval beginning October /,
19lS, for such adjustments as changed
may render necessary.
''This company has lived up to this
award in every particular and natu-
rally expects its employees, who were
parties thereto, to do the same and
not to repudiate 1t.
Reason for Reopening. Award.
.1The only reason for reopening this
award 10 for such adjustments as
changed conditions since March Is
last may render necessary. While 1t
is inconceivable that there has been
any change in conditions which would
justify the demands now presented,
we are. as we have already stated to
our employees, willing to consider any
evidence that can be presented along
that line and II then unable to come
to an agreement in regard thereto to
submit the matter to the Public UtiI-
ties Commission, which is familiar
with our financial condition and is
the only body which has the power to
increase our revenues to enable US to
meet any increase in wages awarded
TT is apparent that there can be
no increase in wages which must not
be borne ultimately by the public.
into consideration that there
a a M 1AVA Ia t.
fare to pay the expenses Of the com
pany upon the existing scale Of
wages, and that any additional
wages must in the end be paid by the
public. and further. that the federal
is engaged in an effort
to reduce the cost Of living which has
already borne fruit, we believe our
employees should be satisfied with
their present scale of wages until il
can be determined whether the cost of
living Is to increase or not"
Capacity Merely Advisory.
James Largay, International vice
president Of the Amalgamated, went
into the conference in an advisory
capacity. President Ham made it
clear that Mr.. Largay would not be
admitted in his official capacity. since
the union was not recognized, but
of the committee.
The agreement has been hanging
IRE since the latter part of August.
Omcials of the company refused to
open negotiations with the men until
today, which was the date set by the
War Labor Board for such a confer
-ence.
Union Meets Tonight.
A meeting of the union will be held
tonight, at which a. report on the
conference is expected to be filed and
instructions as to further action is-
sued to the committee. The carmen
claim that their membership is well
beyond 700. The entire number Of
such employees of the company is es-
timated at not less than LOO.
The Brotherhood of Street and
Electric Workers, a rival union, sub
mitted request for improved condi-
tions and increased wages last Au-
gust, at the same time the Amalga-
mated presented its demands The
brotherhood officers declare that the
matter is being held in allegiance until
the outcome Of the findings of the
Public Utilities Commission with re-
gard to the valuation Of the proper