Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-16
Company Agrees to
Give Men S Cents
an Hour Raise.
HAS NOT RECOGNIZED
AMALGAMATED MEN YET
Strike Now Would Play in Hands
Of Country. Enemies, Say.
MIR. Mahaney.

Mr.. Mahaney.
The Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company today granted the oe-
mand of it's carmen for an increase
of 8 cents an hour. the scale paid oy
the Capital Traction Company. effect
i've May 1.
Announcement also was made that
a 10 per cent increase in wages would
be given certain other employees OF
the railway and lighting companies"
effective tho Same date. This would
cover the union workmen Of the power
company, who likewise demanded higher
wages.
william F.. Ham. president Of both
the Washington Railway and Elec-
tric and the Potomac Electric rover
companies, announced tho wage IN.
creases at noon. following confer
ence with Milton e. Allies. chairman
Of the board of directors.
Union IL Not Recognized.
Recognition OF the Amalgamated
Association of Street and EIecefic
Railway Employees. upon which hinges
q possible strike. has not yet been
granted by the company.
Either an offer for arbitration on
tho part OF the company or an al
ternative proposition will be pre-
eented to the association at meeting
at midnight, two hours before the
strike ultimatum expires.
Organizations' Demands.
Tho demands OF the several organiza-
tions as presented to the companies fol-
low:
/. siensd contract.
.. Appointment Of board OF arbitra.
tion, one person on the board to repre-
sent the company. another to represent
the employees organization. the third to
be selected by tho first two. 1t is also
provided that both parties shall abide
by tho decisions OF this board.
8. Increased wages.
{a) Street car men want 5 cents an
eb) Machinists want 1sk cents an
hour raise.
fc, Firemen. offers ana helpersrxant
an increase from 5s cents an hour. now
paid to all Of these classes. to 70 cents
an hour for flremen. 10 cents an hour
for oilers and IS cents an hour for help
ers.
(d) Steam and operating engineers
want increase from IS cents to 80 cents
IN hour.
l. Adjustment of working conditions.
May Arbitrate.
The statement that possibly arbitra-
tion or an alternative proposition Tor
# would be offered. was made follow
ing q conference between business
agents and committees from, the car
men. engineers. fremen and oilers and
machinists unions with Conciliatcr r.
B. Mahaney at IL o'c ock today. At 2
o'clock today Mr.. Nshaney NEeft into
enother conference VIA iFSsident
Ham.
Mr. NIahaney tod the represensati
of the unions OF the Washing ION Rail-
way ard Electric Company and Of the
Potomac Electric Power Company that
a strike should not be considered on
account of the condition of unrest at
present and the activities of radicals
on all sides.
'.oficially the country is still at
war" declared Mr.. Mahaney. ITO
strike will be playing into the hands
OF the enemies of the government. II
& band Of Indians were attacking your
house in the pioneer days would you
walk out reading the morning news
paper with a look of complacency- on
your face. taking no precaution TO-
No. You'd get gun and go after
them. Take the same course with
radicals in your industrial operations
today"
President Hams Statement.
Mr. Ham stated today that after
granting the pay increases the com
many will he able 20 earn only per
physical valuation. with the new rate
of fare. Mr.. Hams statement follows:
Under the new rates of fare now
ordered by the commission. effective
May /, 1920. 1t is estimated that the
company will receive an increased an
nual revenue OF s617.500, or appro1i-
mately 100000 short of the minimum
return to which the commission says
We are entitled after allowing for In
creased wages OF approximately SS0o.-
900 per annum. In other ~oros, aIter
making this increase we would earn
only about 4 per cent on the value Of
our property within the District OF
Columbia as fixed by the commission
The commission assumes that the
difference between this amount and
Eress through modified form OF
Il am naturally disappointed that
the commission should not have
reouirements at the least rate Of re-
turn to which they say We are en-
titled.
CITES Other Consideratlons.
"The commission has given no con.
creased rate for electric light and
power. Under the new rates OF fare
fhero Will nave OeeH al increase IT
the rate Of car fare since the war oi
6u per cent. and in the same period 8
reduction in the cost Of electric lighI
and power OF 20 per cent.
Electricity seems to be the one
thing that can be purchased for Less
now than before the war. II the elec.
trio light rates were increased q
per cent, as recommended by the Fed
eration Of Citizens Associations, in
stead Of reduced 20 per cent, as the!
were by the commission in 1917, 4
would make a big difference to tn,
car rider and also In the profits o.
the Capital Traction Company. which
the commission recognizes as exces
sive, due to our necessities.
The company today determined Il
9ncrease the wages of trainmen
cents per hour and to make an in
crease of approximately 10 per cen
30 certain other employees Of the rail
way and lighting companies effec
| tive May !. 1920. which is the dat,
the new raIes of fare will go into eff
feet unde- the commissions order
and the .pany hopes that Congress
will pass the necessary remedia
1egi0lation as suggested by the com
mission to cover resultant deficiencies
from operation
Await Aahaney Report.
Upon the report from the oonferenc