The Washington times., 1920-04-13


contract with any psrtisulsy Ero0p q
employees.
The company has never refused TO
meet committees OF It's employees and
has never stated that II would refuse
TO raise wages IL the commission
granted the necessary increase In rate
OF fare. On the contrary II called the
attention OF the commission 10 the de-
STABILITY OF having the same scale OF
wages on the two companies, and ask
ed that the commission give copsid-
Grafton TO this matter In considering
the application for increased fares.
The conference adjourned TO meet
again one week from today. at which
time IL was hoped the commissiop
may have acted on the company's ap-
Furthermore, the committee seemed
to acquiesce In adhering to the prin-
ciples OF the War Labor Board.
More rksa 300 st Meetia6.
More than 500 conductors and mo-
tormen attended the mass meeting OF
conductors and motormen OF the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company held at 40 this morning
In Walters Hall. 71o Sixth street.
The meeting was under the au-
spices of the Amalgamated Associa-
tion OF Street and Electric Railway
Employees. local SIS, affiliated with
the American Federation Of Labor.
and Albert IL. Jones. international Of
hcer OF the association, presided.
Jones told. the committee the re-
suit OF a recent conference with Will
liam +. Ham. president OF the w. r.
and r. Company. He said Ham had
refused to grant the association .
signed contract; refused to increase
1
proposal OF the association that a
board OF arbitration be appointed. to
comprise one representative OF the
association, one OF the company, and
| the third to be selected by the first
/ two named. He said Ham agreed
to discuss working conditions with
view to Improvement.
| Jones' speech was followed by short
talks by Charles Il. Cannon. business
agent OF the association; William III.
! Fodder and Willis II. Cockreil. With
Jones these men comprise the COM
mittee that called upon Ham. Each
member OF the committee outlined
what took place at the conference and
substantisted the statement made by
Jones.
Jones put the situation before the
men for action. For more than an
hour a strike was discussed. Some
proposed an immediate walkout.
others opposed any strike. After the
committee had been questioned at
length and the men acquainted with
the exact situation, II WAS suggested
action be postponed until wednesday
! midnight. 49, ~
1 Decisisa Resched.
| The nnal decision of the men.
summed up. follows:
That the same committee call upon
Ham today and notify him the COM
pany would be given until midnight
wednesday to again accept or reject
the demands.
That II be suggested to Ham that g
board of arbitration be appointed i'm
lmediately. to be composed OF one com
pany representative, one association
Representative, the third to be select
ed by the first two. and that both
parties abide by the decision OF this
board.
! While il was not definitely decided
to strike Wednesday midnight IL the
demands were refused IL was general
lly understood this was the course tc
be followed. Another meeting viii
be held Wednesday midnight.
! After the men had made this de-
!cision several representatives of or
ganizations representing Potomac
Electric Power Company employe,
spoke.
| Charles Frazer. business agent fol
the International Association of Ma
chinists, declared the machinist,
would take the same position as thu
amalagated, that is, give the com
pany until midnight "Wednesday Il
make a contract with them.