Evening star., 1936-07-16
ONE-MAN STREET
CAR EXTENSION IS
OPPOSED BY LABOR
Representative Says Plan
Would Mean Application
of "Stretch-out."
HITS SAFETY CLAIMS
OF COMPANY OFFICIALS
Understands Rerouting Now I'm
der Way Has Increased
Extra Lists"

Extension Of the use of one-man
cars in Washington will mean the ap-
plication of the "stretch-out" sys-
TEN and will be unfair to labor. VIII
liam w. Keeler, chairman Of the util-
tiles committee of the Central Labor
Union, told the Public Utilities Com
mission today.
Keeler appeared as witness against
the petition Of the Capital Transit Co.
for the right to place 20 secondhand
and 20 new one-man cars in service
here.
The labor spokesman also express
ed q doubt that the economics OF the
situation will warrant the change in
view Of the company's present hnan-
cial condition.
AT the best" he said, "the saving
in payroll will mean no more than
$72, 900 a year. How can you wipe out
deficit with that?"
Bowen Asks Explanation.
S. r. Bowen. general counsel for the
company, asked what was meant by
the "Stretch-out" system.
1T means making one man do the
work Of two men"
Are you, and is labor opposed to
labor saving machinery"
mo. but the one-man car is not
labor saving device. 1t will require
one man to use the same machinery to
do two mems work"
Keeler argued that although no
man will be laid of by the extended
use Of one-man cars, the opportunities
of employment for trainmen will be
reduced and the payroll distributed
in the District will be smaller.
His testimony was interrupted at
one point to permit E. D. Merrill vice
president and general manager of
the company, to explain that the 20
cars to be purchased from Providence,
r. l., will be used on the base sched-
ules Of the company and that the
two-man cars to be Supplanted will
be used only during the rush-hour
periods. II the traffic demands more
service, Merrill said, then the 20
secondhand cars will be added to
present service.
Answers Safety Claims.
Keeler attempted to answer claims
Of the company that the one-man
cars, equipped with safety devices,
will be safer than two-man cars.
I've been machinist for A years, :"
he said, land 7 have never seen an in
terlocking or automatic device that is
fool proof There should always be
some human protection in addition
to the mechanism"
Returning to the employment ques-
tion involved. Keeler said he under
stood that the rerouting now under
way has already taken away some
jobs and has increased the company:
extra list" of employees.
Keeler said that the Central Labor
Union, with 164 locals and represent
ing $1,000 members, has voted unani-
mously against any further use Of
one-man cars.
He was the first witness Of the day
the fourth day Of the hearing, and
was followed on the stand by Harry
8. Wender, secretary of the Southwest
Citizens Association and q member
Of the Public Utilities and Safety
Committees of the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations.
Meet With Failure.
An unsuccessful attempt to show
that the North American Co., princi-
pal owners Of the common stock of the
Capital Transit Co., and not the local
traction company, is back of the move
to increase the number of one-man
cars was made yesterday by reprenta-
lives of the public.
William NICK. Clayton, chairman
of the Public Utilities Committee OF
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
ttons, attempted to force Merrill to say
whether the petition now before the
Public Utilities Commission was die
tated by North American.
After objections by Counsel Bowen,
Commissioner Richmond B. Keech
ruled that the record of ownership of
the local company would have to stand
without Merrill having to enlarge
upon 1t.
Merrill was succeeded on the stand
by the first two witnesses called by
Peoples Counsel w. A. Roberts.
One-Man Cars Held Slower.
Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Worrell,
president of the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association. read a resolution
of the Executive Committee of that
organization opposing any further use
Of the one-man cars and demanding
an improvement in existing service.
She contended, on cross-examination,
that the Eleventh street line, now op-
Grated by one-man cars, is much
slower than the two-man lines, but
could present no records Of timing.
George A. Corbin, representing the
Manor Park Citizens Association, op-
posed the change on the grounds that
one-man cars hold up traf1c, are un-
safe, handicap elderly and handi-
capped persons who cannot be helped
on and of the cars and that to put
them on some lines and leave two
man service on others will be unfair
discrimination.