Evening star., 1955-07-19
Summer Madness

The Commissioners argument in
support Of it and their bill for seizure Of
the transit company and cancellation of
It's franchise are now available for study.
We hope that they will receive the care
full consideration in Congress that so
drastic an undertaking requires. 1t is
almost beyond belief that after such
study Congress will approve this hot
weather madness.
The argument in support of the bill
is document singularly lacking in fac
tual analysis of the problem repre-
sented in this strike. It is an argument,
pure and simple, that relies on opinion
and some highly questionable manipula-
ton of financial statistics. It's tone is
wholly in keeping with the noisy hue
and cry to hang Mr. Wolfson from the
limb of sour apple tree. We have a
right to expect from our Commissioners,
In reporting to Congress and to this COM
munity, a full statement of the actual
facts. It is too bad that they have missed
the boat.
The seizure part of the bill, the
Commissioners explain, is "purely corol-
larry" to their proposed cancellation of
the franchise. We gather that they do
not know how to cancel the franchise, in
the circumstances of this strike, without
seizing the company. Neither does any,
body else. The seizure itself, however, is
fascinating. The Government, through
the Commissioners, will simply take the
company over. The Commissioners will
spend the conlpany's money to meet the
unions demands. The process by which
the Commissioners will determine which
of the demands are valid, and which Of
them are unrealistic window dressing, Is
not revealed. In the Alice-in- Wonder
land atmosphere of this weird adventure,
the Commissioners would logically leave
the question Of how much they should
pay the union-at the eventual expense
Of the taxpayers-to the decision of its
able president, Mr.. Bierwagen.
When and If the men go back to
work (for they cannot be forced to 60
back) the Commissioners will run the
company, perhaps drawing upon their
rich experience in dealing with deficits
in the District government. They will
then entertain suggestions from the COM
pany that the company resume manage
ment Of its property, or what is left of it.
Presumably, this return of the companys
property would take place before the end
of the years grace permitted before re-
voking the franchise. For upon ending the
franchise, the company will then be en-
gagged in liquidating its property, distrib-
uting the proceeds and getting out OF
Westinghouse selling it to the Govern
ment at price that makes Mr.. Wolfson's
mouth water.
Having provided this edifying spec
tacle of what can happen to a privately
owned public utility which gets into
trouble with labor union in the Cap
ital of the United States, our Commits
sioners, If they do not buy the property
themselves, will then invite new group
Of investors to come to Washington and
start another transit line. They seem
to feel that thousands of them will beat
their way to the doors of the District
Building and inspect this new mousetrap
they have invented. There is room for
disagreement on that point
AS long as this bugaboo of seizure
etc, remains before Congress, there is
little hope of settling the strike. The
union itself, however, should give serious
thought to the effect upon its own men,
bers of a cancellation of franchise.
Among the things to be liquidated, in
that event, will be the pension fund and
contract advantages built up over the
years of bargaining with one company.
It is too bad that the union was so
quick to brush off the company's accept
ance of the settlement package proposed
by Representatives Mcmillan and Broy-
hill. There was an opportunity for some
progress. Progress will not be resumed
until there is real determination by
the Commissioners and our head-in-the-
sand Public Utilities Commission to for
get Mr.. Wolfson and get down to the
facts-not fanciful opinions-that must
underlie strike settlement.