Evening star., 1943-05-16

! oPCA 0cOAo oVACAy VA dSSOOAAt OA 1dCc
or color"
The company's representatives will
appear at the public hearing at 1926
am. Tuesday at the auditorium OF
the Smithsonian Institution a,
Tenth street and Constitution ave-
nue. to present the evidence called
for by the committee. Copies OF
the notice to appear also were sent
to the union of Capital Transit en-
ployees, know as the Internationa,
Amalgamated Association of Street
Electric Railway and Motor Coach
Employees of America and to Di-
vision 689, its local here. Local
union leaders will attend the hear
ing.
Washington has been designated
as one of the critical" labor short
age areas in the country, and the
Capital Transit Co. is considered an
essential" or war" activity.
100 Conductors Sought.
The case came to the attention
OF the Government, according to the
records. when the company applied
to the United States Employment
Service July Is, 1912. for 100 street
car conductors, specifying, accord
ing to the employment division
that white persons only would be
considered"
In a report of the employment
service to the FEPC it was stated
that "a meeting was held July 15)
at which time officials of the Cap
ltal Transit Co. informed us that
their union would not allow them
to hire Negro operators or con-
ductors.'
In October the transit company
received an order from the FEPC
presenting complaints as to discrim-
ination against Negroes, particularly
in employment of car and bus op-
orators. 1t contained directions to
cease such discrimination and to
advise the transit company en-
ployes' union of compliance.
There followed conferences be-
tween President E. D. Merrill of the
transit company and Lawrence w.
Cramer, executive secretary of the
FE1C, former Governor of the
Virgin Islands.
At this time it was brought out.
according to Mr.. Merrill, that the
FEPC intended to insist on COM
pliance by the company with that
part of the executive order specify
ing that all contracts between the
Government and private parties
with defense contracts should con-
tain mo discrimination clause"
Contract With ODT Cited.
The Capital Transit Co. has a
contract with the Office of Defense
Transportation in connection with
the ODT purchase of 145 victory
buses" and their release to Capital
Transit. The contract between
ODT and the transit company con-
tains the clause: Lessee agrees
further that in the performance of
this agreement it will not discrimi-
nate against any worker because of
race, creed, color or national origin" :"
Conferences we're held between
Mr.. Merrill and his associates for
the company and J. G.. Bigelow,
president of the transit workers
union. The problem was discussed.
The FEPC then asked the COM
pany to file a brief containing its
position. This brief was filed No
vember Z, 1912.
An informal conference was held
November % between company ON
cials, Mr.. Bigelow and the stan of
the FEPC. Seton Darr appeared
as counsel for the union.
On November %, the FEPC sent
an order to the company directing
the company to take seven specific
steps by December to comply with
the Presidents order. This order
was contained in letter which re-
viewed conferences held on "evi-
dence before the committee indi-
eating that the Capital Transit Co.
is violating Executive Order 1902 In
its employment practices"
Statement Noted.
"The committee has your state
ment," the letter said, that it is
the policy of the Capital Transit
Co. to refuse employment to Negroes
because of their race as bus oper-
ators or street car conductors, and
that you have, in fact, submitted to
the United States Employment serv-
ice an order for employees with a
specification that white persons only
would be considered.
The committee notes that the
statements made by Mr.. Bigelow
and Mr.. Darr, counsel for the
association, in support of the COM
pany's discriminatory employment
policy. were made as individuals
and not in their official capacity
as officers and employees Of the
union. The committee notes also
that the Amalgamated Association
specifically prohibits discrimination
against persons because of their
race and that white and Negro
employees of the company are men,
bers Of Division 689 of the ANAL
gamated Association and work to-
1no nfe RI 6Ineeifv