Evening star., 1919-01-22
W.sR.&E. TO MEET
.INHtFROM UNION
Acceptance of War Labor
Board Rules Lessons
Fear of Strike.
TO DISCUSS AGREEMENT

!. Assurance given today by officials
of the Washington Railway and Eiec-
trio Company that it will abide by
the rules and regulations of the War
Labor Board, which provide. among
between employer and employees. tends
to remove fears Of another car strike.
oficers of the company have made
It known that they are willing to
confer with representatives Gof the
calmen's union regarding the de-
mands made in the agreement which
the latter has submitted to the COM
pany to be entered into by the two.
and which is intended to continue in
operation until March 90. 1920.
Statement by President Ham.
W. F. Ham, president of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Company.
issued the following public statement
this afternoon regarding the conference
with the representatives of the en-
ployes:
I'VE have arranged to meet the
committee of our employees Thursday.
the 23d instant. at 5 o'clock pm.
We have reminded them that we
accepted last year the principles and
policies adopted by the National War
between workers and employees and
are bound to act In conformity
thereto.
ANY matters which cannot be ad-
tusted between the company and it's
employees we are willing to leave for
determination to the National War
Labor Board"
Provisions Of Agreement.
The principal points in this agree
ment provide for a contract contin-
formal recognition by the company
of the mons union. There are many
other provisions in the agreement,
but these two are the most important,
and 1t will be upon their final con-
sideration that the, future amicable
relationship between the company
and the men will depend.
The eompany's assurance that it is
willing to confer with the committee
to be appointed by the union came as
q great relief to District officials. the
carmen's uHion,s and, in fact, to the
entire city.
Oficers Of the company and a COM
mittee appointed by the carmen's
union will now meet at a conference
to be held before 6 o'clock tomor-
row night. The outcome of this con-
ference will be reported by the com
meeting to be held by the full men,
bership of the organised carmen at
midnight.
The only possibility of strike. it
was asserted today by District off,
cials, officers of the street railway
l. Il - = - a. plr,x
out OF refusal of one or the other OF
the parties concerned to submit differ
ences to an arbitrating body.
Should such differences arise. IL was
stated, they would at once be referred
to the federal board of arbitration for
adjustment-
Means Of Bargaining.
Collective, bargaining. as provided for
by the rules OF the War Labor Board, 1t
was pointed out by District officials to-
day. can only be carried out through
organisations such as local unions of
epzploHe1. Heretofore no machinery has
been in existence whereby employees of
the washington Railway and Electric
Company .oould bargain collectively. with
tho, ooTpany. or enter into a contract
COVERING q steEm of years and sembodying
conditions surrounding employment.
This maChinary exists In the newly or
kaniSed1 local union. It. Was. pointed out,
and the company now has only to ad-
here to its previously announced pur-
,poee OF teo4pyins with rules OF the War
Labor Board to render strike OF en-
pIoyes impossible.
Employees of the Capital Traction
Company. 1t was pointed out, have a
collective agreement with the COM
pany.,s entered into by the company
and the. union and covering a. period
nj =f6PAAe RaRfR
tSEeeHng ON the part OF many of the
conductors. and HaOtofmen on the lines
Of the Washington Railway and Eiec-
txic Company that all carmen are
being elaseed together In the eyes Of
general public and that honest
employees are being made to suffer
humiliation because OF the fact that
some, have been alleged to be dis
honest, has, no connection with the
action OF tho men In forming union
and presenting demands to officials
Of f.theEWashinstonR Railway and Elec-
trio Company. sit1was stated today.
UNDER Way for Some Time.
The union.l 1t WAS stated. has been
in process Of organisation for some
time. and as long as three weeks ago,
the Public Utilities Commission planned
to, Investigate reports of -le2kages on
tho, VARIOUS street railway lines. plans
for presentation Of the, unions demands
were in i process OF formation. The
union Is anxious for the public to un-
derstandt that Its latest demands have
nothing to do with the arrest of car
men dufing the past.week.
That the Washington Railway and
Electric Company is losing some of its
best conductors because of the atti-
tude Of the public was the assertion
today of officials Of the company.
These men,s among whom are some of
the oldest and most trusted employees
Of the, company, say they, have borne
all manner OF slurs and insults from
passengers on their cars. and have. since
the Allegations of Wholesale leakage. Of
fares been the subject Of lirnitlesss al
legged wit on the subject Of getting rich
quickly at the expense of the public.
The matter hassgone to such. an ex-
tent, ,pfapialsl of the company said to-
day. that q lumber OF these employees,
against whom no hint of suspicion
has ever been heard aor even init
mated, have resigned rather than con-
tinae to, be- subjects Of tll-timed jests
| OF the travelling, public.
Fare Receipts Increase.