davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-07-02

not be taken. but the Senator
said he wanted to make sure.
Some agencies, in fact, report
ed a surprisingly low amount OF
both hardness and absenteeism
There was little doubt, however,
that many workers were spurred
by the strike to take an extra
day off yesterday and extend
the holiday week end.
Downtown parking garages,
meanwhile, reported drastically
low customer volumes today,
with motorists who have to come
into town taking advantage of
street parking. Even yesterday
one parking spokesman said, vol
umes were down "about 20 per
cent" throughout the city.
Parking for Shoppers
The parking operators, joined
by merchants, stressed that the
heavy traffic volumes only oc-
cur during peak hours in the
morning and evening. With the
relaxed parking set-up, they con-
tended, 80 much more parking
space is available that the stu
alton is ideal for midday
shoppers"
Washington, meanwhile. isn't
the only city suffering a transit
strike. Bus and streetcar oper-
ators also are off the Job in
Buffalo-like Washington in the
second day Of its strike. And a
Los Angeles transit strike tuday
went into its 18th day.
Evening star., 1955-07-02
Merchants Blame
Slump on Strike;
See Improvement

Downtown department and
other stores today lamented
yesterdays loss of business;
blaming it on ungrounded fears
of shopping difficulties-but pre-
dicted an upsurge next week.
The Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association, representing
the downtown stores, issued this
statement:
Downtown shopping yester-
day was considerably below
normal.
THE ironic part is that all
salespeople. reported for duty
and 95 per cent of them were
on time. Businessmen attributed
yesterdays loss of business to
the fact that it was the first
day of the strike, and expect
business to go back to normal
after the holiday.
1.-THE fact is that many stores
are now into their sales periods
and the values. excellent service
and large number of parking
spaces which are available to
shoppers should be inducements
to sl1op downtown"
Evening star., 1955-07-02
AAA DISCOVERS STRIKE CAUSED
LITTLE TARDINESS, ABSENTEEISM

The American Automobile Association, which might be
expected to think highly of motorists than of transit
companies made its check yesterday of how the city
was taking the transit strike.
The AAA personnel department surveyed % of the
largest employers in town. including Government agencies
to how people stayed home account of the
SsGike.
1t found "little absenteeism anywhere and not
much tardiness, only S to 80 minutes"
Besides Federal agencies the AAA called such places
the United States Chamber of Commerce the National
Geographic Society," the National Education Association
and the utility companies
The AAA also checked its Office and found that
of $50 employees only three absent because the strike
kept them from getting to work.
1--WE don't want to say it proves transit system is
unnecessary said an AAA spokesman but 1t
something
Evening star., 1955-07-02

after which the strikers will be
Eligible for about $l5-a-week
strike benefits.
Keneipp Tours City
Meanwhile, District Traffic
Director George E. Keneipp
toured Washington in a scout
car today and found mo trouble
anywhere"
II went about as fast as the
speed limit allows, and didn't
have to slow down once" he
said.
In a similar tour during last
nights peak traffic hours, Mr..
Keneipp was able to complain
only of a number of illegally
parked cars-the chief worry of
officials because such violations
block moving traffic.
Deputy Police Chief Howard
v. Covell disclosed today thag
up to midnight last night As
autos had been impounded and
an unknown volume of traffic
tickets handed out for various
violations.
The impounded cars all had
Ito be moved because they were
blocking traffic. They have been
taken to various points in the
city. Owners can learn where
their cars are by calling police.
Intersections Blocked
The worst violations, Chief
Covell said, involved actual
blocking of intersections. which
happened at Fifteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV. and
Eighth and F streets NV. yes
terday.
Another serious bottleneck, he
said, was on Eleventh street
NV. north Of K. where police
cranes were used to shift the
angles of parked cars holding up
moving vehicles.
Chief Covell praised motorists
as generally very cooperative"
during yesterdays big rush and
urged them to be guided by
common sense-and mo Park
ing" slgns-in taking advantage
of relaxed parking regulations
next week. Police have been
instructed to be as lenient as
possible.
OF the 46 impounded cars.
Chief Covell said, the highest
number, 20, were hauled away
in the Sd Precinct. Eight were
impounded in the 1st Precinct,
Evening star., 1955-07-02
THROUGH STREETS
FOR USE
DURING STRIKE JAM

After studying yesterdays
rush hour traffic jams along
the city's major streets, po-
lice today have come UP
with a list OF suggested
streets to use for quick,
through transportation.
They are:
Georgia avenue and Sew
enth street NV; Eleventh
street NV. from Massachu-
sets avenue to Park road;
Fourteenth street NV. from
Rhode Island avenue north
ward; North Capitol street,
north from Massachusetts,
avenue. to Lincoln road or
Michigan avenue NE;
Eighth street NE. from East
Capitol street to, K street
and West Virginia avenue;
Constitution avenue NE.
from Massachusetts avenue
to Twenty-first street and
into Oklahoma avenue.
Also, independence avenue
Sc, east of Nineteenth
street: Potomac avenue Sc,
westbound to K street, Vir-
ginia avenue. South Capitol,
north on South Capitol to
Canal street; P street from
South Capitol street, west
to Fourth street: Foxhall
road from Macarthur boule-
ward through to Cathedral
avenue; Reservoir road
from Macarthur boulevard
through to Cathedral ave-
nue.; Reservoir road from
wisconsin avenue to Mac
Arthur boulevard.
Evening star., 1955-07-02
Hearing Called
On Bill 10 Seize
Capital Transit

The House District Committee
has called a special meeting for
1880 am. Wednesday to take up
the transit strike and particu-
Ilarly the bill Of Representative
iBroyhill. Republican, of Virginia
to authorize the District Commits
lsioners to seize and operate the
company.
Mr.. Broyhili said District Com
mittee Chairman Mcmillan.
Democrat, of South Carolina, and
the ranking Republican member.
Representative Simpson, Repuh-
Iiican. of Illinois, agree the COM
Imittee should act promptly.
The Virginia Republican said
he also had discussed the issue
with Chairman Smith Of the
House Rules Committee on the
point that a special rule may be
needed if the District Commit
tee reports favorable action on
the measure.
Receptive to Plan
II found Chairman Smith
friendly and receptive to the pro-
Iposal." Mr.. Broyhill said. Mr..
Broyhill added:
ut is necessary for the welfare
of Washington and the Nation
that this crippling transit strike
be resolved quickly. If the Cap
Iital Transit Co. and the union
cannot agree on a formula to
restore public transportation.
then it becomes essential that
Congress take a hand. The bill
I have introduced would put
Istreetcars and buses back on the
street and it is the only means,
Il believe. that can do the job"
In the Senate on Thursday
Senator Morse, Democrat, Of
Oregon, who is sponsoring a bill,
with others. to cancel the fran
Ichise of the Capital Transit Co.,
took some pot shots at the Broy-
hill proposal for seizure. The
Oregonian said this would be
playing into the hands of CTC
management. Mr.. Broyhill, in
his announcement today. replied:
Suggestions that the fran
Ichise of Capital Transit be re-
Ivoked will not solve the prob
lem.
Sees Long Suspension .
What happens while the
Commissioners of the District
are shopping around trying to I
find some other company to take
over the franchise? Even as
Stunning they would find such q
company which I seriously
doubt. the public would be with
out public transportation until
that company could be- located
land given time to assume Wash
Iington operations.
Thus we would have days and
perhaps weeks of delay.
MY bill is a fair bill. No pen-
atty is imposed against the strik-
Iers unless they refuse to work
for the District government. On
the other hand, the Capital
Transit Co. is penalized Is per
cent of its net profits.
7"Thess provisions have a two
fold purpose: (I To restore sery-
ice and co to provide induce
ment for the company and the
union to settle the labor dis
pute."
Evening star., 1955-07-02

ticipate in any further effort
this week end. but will have full
day schedules starting Tuesday
Conference Tuesday
Mr.. Giddings said the Capi
tai Transit Board of Direc
tors win meet with the Distric
Commissioners at II am. Tues
day at transit offices, Thirty
sixth and NJ streets N.W.-but
the implication was that Mr.
Broadwater. not Mr.. Wolfsor
would run the session.
| The city heads, who earlier
appealed to Mr.. Wolfson to come
here, also sought the Beard Of
Directors session, in further
effort to find some way out ol
the Gripping stalemate.
On Wednesday, meanwhile, tn,
House District Committee will
meet on the most drastic of ths
Capitol Hill proposals. move
by Representative Broyhill, Re
publican, of Virginia. to direct
the Commissioners to take ovel
Capital Transit operation.
The city heads have taken M
position on either the Broyhil
or Morse proposals. The unior
has strongly attacked the Broy.
hill move as o strike breaking
effort.
Senator Knowland, Repub.
lican, of California added hi!
voice today to demands for al
end to the strike. He urged thar
the Government "use its gooe
Offices" to prevent "the strangu.
lation of the city" by the transit
tieup.
The California Senator said HI
did not want to prejudge the
case but, he added, mo busines.
or labor organization has the
right to strike the economic life
of a community.
Labor, management and the
Government all have response.
bility to deal with such a situa-
tion and to prevent a long tieup.'
Cites Particular Interest
Senator Knowland said that
in the case Of Washington, the
National Capital, the Federal
Government has a particular in
terest.
1--WE can't permit this thing
to go on indefinitely"
Senator Knowland was asked
III he supported the proposal OF
Senator Morse to withdraw the
franchise of the Capital Transit
Co. He replied that he had not
yet fully gone into that matter.
Move to Extend Run Fails
Strong opposition also was
generated yesterday over an un-
successful effort by the Suburban
Transit Co. to extend a Mont
lgomery County busline route in
to downtown Washington. The
appeal was rejected by the Dis
trict Public Utilities Commission
Normally, the Maryland line
drops passengers at the District
line. where they connect with
Capital Transit. The company
wanted to bring passengers in
itself. as some Virginia lines do
The union membership also
will meet Tuesday at an 1880
am. session at the Armory.
Last night. local president
Walter J. Bierwagen and other
union leaders toured various
headquarters and car barns,
talking to men and strike cap
tains. They stressed the need
to hold down any disorder and,
in response to queries, suggested
the men seek part-time jobs.
Final paychecks will be due soon,
Evening star., 1955-07-02

pany shall receive amount Of his
contributions at 2 per cent in
terest. At present he receives
contributions but no interest.
5. Employees now on pension
rolls should have retirement
benefits increased from $50 to
whatever amount is reeded to
bring him up to the new
standards.
HOLIDAYS Eight holidays
and Inauguration Day instead
Of six days at present.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sub
contracting work normally per-
formed by employees covered
by agreement. Presently no
specific provision.
LAYOFFS-No layoffs during
term Of the agreement. No such
provision now.
SPREAD PREMIUM - One
half time premium to be payable
to men working split shifts after
10 hours instead of 101a hours
as at present.
STRAIGHT RUNS-Sixty per
cent instead of so per cent Of
trips should be straight runs.
Not more than per cent of runs
at each division to be tripper, or
short runs.
REPORT AND TRIPPER
GUARANTEES Operators
should be guaranteed two hours
pay instead of one as at present.
EXTRA MANS GUARANTEE
They should be guaranteed
eight hours a day. Present guar
antee is six hours.
SENIORITY DIS RICTS-
Two districts should be estab-
lished. one for operators, the
lother for non-operators. At pres
ent there are three. one for
operating employees, one for me-
Ichanical department and third
for way and structures depart
lment.
NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENT
|TIAL-They should be 10 cents
for first shift and 20 cents for
second instead Of 3 cents for first
and S for second as at present.
HEALTH AND VEL FARE
PLAN-Provide medical care and
expenses outside of periods of
disqualification, in addition to ALI
existing benefits. Present en-
Iploye contributions would be
continued but new benefits
would be paid for by the COM
'pany.
Evening star., 1955-07-02
Lost Bog of Diamonds
Recovered by Police

A bag containing $500 in
loose diamonds that was lost
June 2 has been recovered,
police reported yesterday.
The diamonds, which belonged
to Burk jewelers.. GA Thirteenth
street NV, were lost by a mes
senger on his way to a bank.
They were found Thursday at
Ninth and d streets NV. by
John g. Evans. GOT Westminster
street NV. lE
Not knowing what TO do with
them, Mr.. Evans turned them
over to a pawnbroker who noti-
fed police.
Evening star., 1955-07-02
. .RANSIT

Continued From First Page
cal. was accompanied by about
a dozen union officials.
There had been no indication
anything new was to be pro-
posed, but the mediators felt it
was worth a try to get the two
sides together. Before the Joint
meeting, the mediators talked
separately with each side.
Holiday Breathing Spell
Although it appeared there
would be no development on a
strike settlement. the long holi-
day gave Washington a breath
ing spell from effects of the
strike.
On downtown streets, there
was little discernible effect
of the shutdown today. Auto
traffic was a little heavier than
usual. and parked cars angled
in clusters on streetear tracks.
Otherwise it appeared to be a
typical Saturday morning in a.
holiday week end,
There was hardly traffic po-
liceman in sight, in sharp con-
trast to the block-by-block for
nation of police who turned out
yesterday to handle the heaviest
traffic the central city has ever
seen.
New Crisis Due Tuesday
Generally, police and traffic
officials were highly satisfied
with the way the food of cars
moved yesterday. There were
major snarls. but most of the
traffic kept moving-much bet
ter in the home-bound rush last
night than in the morning. Of
ficials speculated the main rea-
son was that many employees
knocked off early from work.
Even yesterday mornings rush,
however, is expected to be ex-
ceeded Tuesday. the first full
workday after the holiday.
Then, too, efforts on the Dis
trict and Federal level will gear
up to full power to try to settle
the strike-with various possi-
bilities in the mill.
The strike involves about
5000 Of the firms $500 workers,
vino left their buses and street.
cars 40 minutes after their lead
ers were authorized TO call the
walkout at midnight Thursday.
Main issues involved are higher
pay and pensions.
The District Commissioners
said they had mo plans" to par
Evening star., 1955-07-02

WAGES-Increase Of IS cents
per hour, plus special adjust
ments for some incorporating
employees. including 6 cents extra
for top mechanics. Present top
wages are $1.90 an hour for
operating employees, $2.o3 for
incorporating.
ARBITRATION CLAUSE
Amend the clause by providing
that the Federal Mediation and
Cancellation Service furnish a
list of names from which a neu-
tral arbitrator shall be selected
in case of dispute. At present
the clause stipulates the parties
shall act to- agree on an
arbitrator.
VACATIONS - Provide vaca-
tions for employees as follows:
One year or more of service. /
week vacation; 2 years or more
of service, 2 weeks; 5 years or
more Of service, 3 weeks; Is
years or more of service, 4 weeks.
At present employees receive a
week after one years service, two
weeks after three years and 8
weeks after 10 years.
SICK LEAVE-Provide IL days
Of sick leave pay per year ac-
cumulative to So days and
eliminate the present three day
waiting period. At present there
are seven days sick leave,
accumulative to 56 days.
PENSIONS
/. A plan comparable to that
for employees on comparable
transit companies. 1t would
provide 11a per cent of past
service of the average total
earnings during the best year
in the last five of employment
prior to July /, 1855. and 1A
per cent for each year of serv-
ice after July l, 1855.
2. Pensions would be tailored
to the earnings and length of
service of the employees and not
as at present when pensions of
$40 a month are payable at age
IS to employees of Is or more
years service.
8. Reduced pensions for those
retiring from IS to IS years age.
Normal pension for those of IS
would be reduced by 5 per cent
each year of retirement below
that age. Thus an employe re-
tiring at IS would receive one
half the pension of one retiring
ut s..
4. Employees leaving the COM
Evening star., 1955-07-02

the District the quality Of serv-
ice to which the people are en-
titled under the franchise, tina,
there is only one thing We car
do to protect the public interest
and that is to bring to an END
the franchise of the Capita
Transit Co."
Consulted With Experts
He said he and other lawyer
members Of the Senate District
Committee have consulted with
experts in the municipal law field
before the introduction of the
resolution. He said he anc
others are aware that there are
some legal implications but that
they have concluded they are
not serious.
''Precedents are many, in
which municipalities, finding
that a company has failed tc
give service to which the mu.
nicipality is entitled. have can
ceied the franchises" he de-
clared.
What I wish to make very
clear is that the Capital Transit
strike actually is d strike by
management, because manage
ment mas been so adamant in
failing to cooperate with the
District of Columbia and with
the Mediation Service in reach
ing an agreement for peaceful
pl ocedures for the settlement of
this dispute that it is difficult
fol us to reach any other con-
clusion than that the CTC has
no real intention to cooperate
with the authorities. but rather
has stiff -neckedly decided that
it is going to try to bull its way
through and throw the entire
system into such chaos that ii
thinks the Congress will either
have to give it a fat, juicy plum
by way of a Government subsidy
to operate the company or to
take the company over by some
form Of public ownership"
Senator Morse also said the
situation comes about because
the syndicate headed by Mr.,
Wolfson was permitted to pur-
chase the public utility and "to
exploit it to the hilt."
"Not One Thin Dime"
Mr.. Morse protested also that
while the CTC showed a net in
come of more than 100000 fol
the year ending March, 1855
yet it tells its employees and the
community that it cannot offer
the workers anything-not one
thin dime"
''Mr. Wolfson has been gain
ing national publicity as an ex-
panding business leader" he
added. "He should welcome the
opportunity to show what he
considers to be his responsible
ties in operating a public utility
in the Nations Capitol, a place
where the only large industry is
the operation of the Govern
ment's business ITSELF"
He said the Wolfson Syndi-
cate had made a 243 per cent
return on its investment.
/ He told the Senate that, if the
CTC franchise was taken up the
company would have the obliga.
ton of removing its streetcal
tracks and repaving the streets
and that he was told this woulc
involve a cost of about S. mil
lion.
U. s. Ownership Not Aim
Senator Morse pointed out
that his proposal did not mean
Government ownership of the
transit system.
''We will make a franchise
available to some other COM
Evening star., 1955-07-02
Morse Introduces Bill
To Lift Transit Franchise


Charging that the Capital
Transit Co. has completely
failed to live up to its response
Ibility," !" Senator Morse. Democrat
of Oregon yesterday introduced
| q bill to take control of the
Transportation system here away
from that firm.
He told the Senate yesterday
that Capital Transit has taken
Ia "stiff -necked attitude" toward
the current crisis and has INC
real interest in the public
service"
The measure is designed to lift
the franchise within one year
Senator Morse said Congress has
the power to do so under terms
of the franchise granted % years
ago.
Hearings Thursday
Hearings on the bill viii be
held next Thursday by the well
fare subcommittee of the Senate
District Committee. Senator
Morse said that Louis E. Wolfson
chairman of the Capital Transit
Board Of Directors, would be in
Ivited to appear at the hearing
Co-sponsors of the bill were
Chairman Neely of the District
Committee. Chairman McNa-
mara of the Welfare Subcom-
mittee and Republican Senators
Beall of Maryland, Payne OF
Maine and Case of New Jersey
Senators Beall and Case worked
with Senator Morse last yeal
during a special subcommittee
investigation OF transit prob.
lens here.
| District legal experts continued
to prepare such legislation, but
the District Commissioners woulc
not say whether they are pre-.
pared to recommend the action
They indicated, however, thai
they might recommend the move
when the Senators bill come.
up for a hearing.
Text Of Measure
The text of the measure in.
ltroduced by Senator Morse ane
five other members of the Sen.
ate, to cancel the Capital com.
lpany franchise is as follows:
Resolved by the Senate ano
the House of Representatives OF
the United States of America in
Congress assembled: That the
joint resolution entitled Joint
resolution to authorize the mer-
ger of street railway corpora
Itions operating in the District
lof Columbia, and for other pur-
poses, approved January IA
1888, as amended (47 stat. 1872
lis amended by adding at the
end OF the following section:
"Sec. IA. The charter and all
rights of franchise of the Capt..
tai Transit Co. created by this
resolution are hereby repealed ir
accordance with the terms oi
ISection 13 hereof"
In a blistering speech on the
Senate floor late yesterday, Sena-
tor Morse declared:
THE sponsors of this resolu.
ton have given very seriou.
consideration to the seriousness.
! of all its implications
| He said the special subcom.
mittee that investigated mas.
transportation last year hac
lforeWarned the Senate that, il
the CTC did not mend its way.
we would be involved in just
such a crisis that we face today
The sponsors of this resolu.
ton. he said, have come to the
conclusion that the CTC has Sc
completely failed in its RESPONSE
bilities to the public and to the
District of Columbia, in giving
Evening star., 1955-07-02

YOSEMITE, Calf, July 2
(P.--Donald Hugh Generoaux,
IA. Stockton. slipped and fell
TOO feet to death from Lambert
Dome in Yosemite National Park
Yesterday.