Evening star., 1955-07-15

Begin Next Wednesday. Pose A-23
|
officials met with two House
District Committee members
who spoke optimistically Of SET
tlement chances.
After that meeting, Committee
fChairman Mcmillan. Democrat
of South Carolina, said: 81 am
optimistic. I think the strike
can be settled"
Representative Broyhill. Re-
publican of Virginia, who has
coSponsored a 120-day truce
plan with Mr.. Mcmillan, said:
There is a strong possibility
that the buses will be rolling
again in the matter Of a few
days"
"Things to Think About"
E. Cleveland Giddings, COM
pany vice president who attend
ed the meeting with j. A. B.
Broadwater. company president,
and Edmund L. Jones, general
counsel, said:
1--WE have had some interest
ing and stimulating discussions
The congressman gave US some
interesting and thought-provok-
ing things to think about. We
are going to think about them" I"
Hope was based entirely on
the conference with company Of
ficials, who promised to report
back to the legislators this after
noon.
The AFL Transit Union has
not been consulted on this latest
Ichapter of Capitol Hill negotia-
tions. but the legislators said this
WAS not meant as a slight. They
wished to get commitments from
the company first before pre-
senting them to the union, they
said.
Walter J. Bierwagen, union
president, said the union "has
great respect for the Congress
of the United States" and would
|go to the legislators offices II
called.
Arbitration Discussed Again
/ The talks were known to center
around proposals for arbitration
which the 5000 striking unionists
have demanded as a condition tc
returning to work short of q
settlement. So far the company
has refused to go for arbitration
The strikers have agreed to re-
turn to work for 100 days pro-
lvided they would receive an un-
conditional 10-cent hourly wage
the company would bargain in
Itensively toward a final settle.
lment. and any issues left ir
dispute at the end of the period
would be arbitrated.
District Building reporters hac
been called in this morning fol
a promised briefing on what leg.
islation the Commissioners in.
tend to ask for settling the
strike.
They had pencils poised wher
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
called the other two member.
into a whispered huddle, 'ane
then all left the room.
"s6me Movement"
Apparently they made somt
phone calls and returned l!
: minutes later.
1--WE have checked on tn,
status of negotiations. There il
some possibility Of progress owe,
/. the week end. For that reasol
we are going to defer making
our recommendations until Mon
day." Mr.. Spencer said.
1T looks as though there ma.
{. be some movement in negotia
: tions going on now"
Asked If he was referring t,
: the McMillan-Broy meetings
Mr.. Spencer replied: II dom
5 want to make any further state
ment."
The Commissioners drew Vi
! legislation after conference
yesterday with Senate an,
House District leaders.
Cancellation Proposed
Those close to the Commits
i sioners said the proposal wa
/ for cancellation Of the Capita
1 Transit franchise in a year
time, with authorization for tn
District government to operat
it for the years interim. and tn
right to grant wage increase
and other benefits to the work
D ers.
| There were indications tn
$ bill would meet with opposition
E from those opposed to the prin
: ciple Of seizure, while other
, were not certain such contro
S versial. legislation could b
pushed through during the tw'
N eks before Congress adjourns