Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-13
Arnold WaIkout
Hinges on Result
OF Pay Appeal
Vote Set Saturday;
Scent Wage Award
Cut Is Protested

A strike Of Washington, Virginia
& Maryland Coach Co. workers
hinges on interim development"
during three-day truce voted by
the men early today and another
meeting Saturday for a formal de-
cision on whether to reject War
Sterilization Board approval of a
0 instead of IL cents an hour wage
increase, a union official said.
William r. Brady, president of
Division 1919, AFL Amalgamated
Association of Street, Electric Rail-
way g. Motor Coach Employees, said
that at a meeting which ended at
3:25 am. in the Ballston Va)' Fire
house, the consensus of the men
was to reject the cents"
BY a 48-to-40 vote, however, the
men decided on a truce until Satur-
day midnight. Although Mr.. Brady
and other union officials did not re-
veal details of the discussion, it was
learned that the temporary no.
strike decision was taken to await
the outcome of a petition which the
unions Executive Board filed yes
terday with the arbitration board
which on May % awarded the IL
cents increase. The petition was, in
effect, an appeal also for reconsid-
Grafton by the WSB and declared
that Oliver Hatch, company mem
Der of the three-man arbitration
board, "lobbied" the WSB to urge
the 9-cent figure.
A public member of the War Sta
Dilization Board, Jack Day, declared
that neither Mr.. Hatch nor any one
else had contacted" any public
member of the WBB concerning the
Arnold line case. He said he did
not know Mr. Hatch.
Withdraws Fare Petition.
The bus company meanwhile went
ahead with plans to pay only the 9
cents increase. At the same time it
Announced two major developments
Withdrawal Of its petition to the
Interstate Commerce Commission
for an increase in fares and re-
organization of its ownership and
operational economies.
Manuel j. Davis, Washington
attorney, has become chairman OF
the board of the Arnold line after
purchasing majority stock interest
from Leon Arnold, who was presi-
dent. Joseph v. Arnold, son of Leon
Arnold. will be acting president.
Howard H. England will continue as
secretary-treasurer.
The company plans to cut expen-
ditures, reduce some administrative
salaries, put company debt and
other obligations on a current basis
and curtail expenditures, Mr.. Davis
announced.
Mr.. England said the ICC has
"unofficially' allowed the company
to Withdraw its petition for fare
increases and that the company will
operate for six months with the
cents wage increase to determine
whether the added costs can be alb
sorbed. He estimated that the in
crease In wages for 168 drivers and
other workers covered by the origi-
nal arbitration award and 100 other
employees who also will obtain the
increase will amount to about
$63, 900.
Await Agents Return.
Some time ago the company Pc
titioned the ICC for fare increases
Of "a cents by token and cents in
cash for interstate trips into Wash
ington.
Union officials today were await
ing the return of j. D. Hodges, bust
ness agent for Division 1919, who is
in Chicago attending a convention
Of the national union. At Mr.
Hodges home it was said he had
not expected to return before next
Wednesday. but might be here by
Saturday in view Of the local union
emergency.
A round of conferences of union
on1cials and members began yes
terday morning following an
ncuncement of the WSB action late
Tuesday. Some Of the workers met
from II am. to 2 pm. and others
from 9 am. to 10 pm. before the
general session which began at
o'clock this morning and ended
with vote to take no action, strike
or otherwise, until Saturday mid
night at the earliest, MIR. Brady
| said.