Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-04
City Heads See
Accord Soon in
Transit Strike
folks Seek to Avoid
Legal Pitfalls in Try
To Get Agreement
BY HERMAN F. SCHADEN
and HECTOR MCLEAN

eNAAA Nav ANASAAh1NAAN
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
said this afternoon he thought
the District soon viii be able
to recommend a reasonable"
contract to end the 35-day tran
sit strike.
The announcement came dur
ing a recess in a meeting be-
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Other Transit Stories. Poee "A
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tween the Commissioners and
Capital Transit Co. officials
with whom they are hopeful of
working out an agreement to
operate streetcars and buses
during the year before the COM
pany's franchise is ended by
Congressional action.
The Commissioners were pick
ing a methodical path through
the labyrinth of problems still
facing them before the strike
can end. All the while they were
hoping to avoid pitfalls which
might throw everything into the
courts.
Plan Some Thinking
Commissioner Thomas A. Lane
said he believed the talks with
the company would be conclud-
ed this afternoon after which
I'VE will do some thinking" be-
fore deciding on the next move.
1t may be another day or
longer. before President Eisen-
hover has an opportunity to
sign bill ending the company's
franchise and corporate charter.
The bill has been delayed in
transit to the White House by
routine technicalities.
But aiming for the quickest
possible resumption Of streetcar
and bus service. the Commits
sioners are holding conferences
with company and union off,
cials. The hope is that under
the terms laid down by Con-
gress. the Commissioners can
enter into an effective one-year
contract with the disputing
parties.
Stumbling Blocks
More than one stumbling
block lay ahead. The Commits
sioners would not guess what
day they might reach their goal.
One Of the major concerns
was just what Congress in
tended when it spelled out revo-
cation of Capital Transit's char
ter as well as its franchise. I'M
til there is agreement between
the Commissioners and COM
pany on that score, the posi-
bility Of an eventual court deci-
sion hangs heavily over the
proceedings.
After evaluating the material
gathered from yesterdays seven
hour meeting with the union,
the Commissioners called in COM
pany officials today. The COM
pany was given a chance to 90
over the union views.
In the company delegation
were James H. Flanagan, vice
president and controller; ].
Beard Ecker, vice president in
charge Of operations, Edmund
L. Jones, general counsel,
and J. Godfrey Butler, director of
personnel and labor relations.
Also in the meeting were Fed
eral Mediators James A. Holden
and Gilbert S. McCutcheon, Cor
poration Counsel Vernon E. West
and District General Administra-
tor Schuyler Lowe.
Union Presents Case
For the first time in the long
negotiations, the union had the
satisfaction of presenting each
Of its demands. point by point.
1t was tedious, somewhat be-
wildering work, for the union
has some As pages Of demands.
But the union has been clamor-
ing for such a presenta-
ton and the Commissioners saw
it as necessary in trying to ar
rive at a firm, bottom dollar
cost of the union demands.
In any agreement reached
the union is insistent upon
writing in safeguards for its
future.
With Capital Transit going out
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