The Washington times., 1919-01-27
MAY
GET VOICE At
HEARINGS OF
CARCON|PANY
By BILL PRICE.

The War Labor Board. which will
arbitrats the differences between
the Washington Railway and Elec-
tric Company AID its Union en-
ployes. has before 1t the unusual
request that the Federation Of Citi-
sens Association, through W, Mex.
Clayton. chairman OF the committee
on public utilities OF that body. be
allowed representation at the hear
lnss' which are to begin In q few
days.
In an issues before the board here
tofore cnly the parties directly con-
cerned have had representation. In
the Washington case Mr.. Clayton has
presented to the board the view that
the Washington public is more or
less vitality concerned should the
issues touch upon either Increased
car fares or betterment OF service
on the lines OF the W. r. and z.
Tas bearings VIII probably be
held before Charlton Ogourn, head
OF. the street railway section OF the
War Labor Board and his findings
Will 30 submitted tc xthe joint chair
men Of the board, ". H. TAFT and
Basil Manly.
To Stick 60 Main. I..ue..
The policy OF the board has been to
eliminate as many minor contentious
as possible and confne the issues of
disputes to the main features.
There will be a conference this,
afternoon between President Ham,
Of the W. r. q T., ana the COM
mittee OF the union, headed bS B. c.
smith. TO prepare the questions to
be Jointly submitted to the board for
decisicn. The board is ready to 20
on with . settlement of the issues as
soon as presented. Whatever delay,
there Is nov is over the issues TO be
submitted. So far as the board is
concerned IL VIII try to pass upon
large and small questions IL the par.
ties involved cannot agree upon the
settlement of some of these aues-
tions among themselves, as 1t seems
reasonable they should.
Nay Admit Mr.. CIaytsn.
II scanned likely today that the
board will not object to Mr.. CIayton,s
presence and to cross-examination by
him upon questions which appear to-
directly concern the public, n such
questions should arise. His partieipa.
ton, however, would be materially
limited. 1t Is stated.
The W. r. and Z. will efer no OBJ
lection to Mr.. Clayton's participation
In fact President Ham today declared
that on general principles he heffeyed
the pubic was entitted 70 a part u
all yimportant matters fhvolsins
His statement goes further than
that ever made BY President Of That
company and candidfy admits that
the public Is practically . partner in
the operation OF street railways and
public utilities generally.
what NIT. Ham Says.
aThe public is, Of course. in
terested In the large questions be
caase In the END 10 psys the
btn.., O. the way Mt. Ham put
a, almost adopting I'm totSthe ad-
vice often given By The Times
as 10 the publie's vital eoReern
I'm street railway and ether utiI-
ity questions.
saying that as far as bis company
is conserved it welcomes tha sug-
Eestions OF the public in questions or
wages. fare. improved service and
betternent Of facilities
At union headquarters today there
was no objection to citizens being
represented at the hearing.
Regarding the framing Of the joint
Issues to be placed before the Board.
Secretary Cookman, of the Union.
stated that only the committee would
confer with Mr.. Ham. IL Mr.. Ham
called in attorneys of the road the
Union would also like to have its at
toFneys present. James II. Vahy. of
Boston, one OF the principal attorneys
of the Amalgamated Association OF