Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-14
Transit Co., Union
Agree on Hiring Of
Negroes as Drivers
D. Meetor MeLean

Capital Transit Co. has an
nounced it Is going to hire Negro
bus and streetcar operators. be-
ginning at once, adopting an
employment policy without ra-
cial considerations.
The statement, issued during
20 meeting In the office Of the
Public Utilities Commission yes
terday, said the union Of COM
pany employees, Division 6S9.a
Amalgamated Association of
Street, Electric Railway ana
Motor Coach Employees Of Amer
lea, states that Il viii cooper
ate Fundamentally In the
lulfillment Of the company's new
policy"
Agree on Policy.
The statement continued. 'theI
Public Utilities Commission, Dr.
vision $50. the Presidents Com
mfttee on Government Contracts,
Capital Transit Co.. and the
United States Employment Serv-
Ice Of the Department OF Labor,
whose representatives have had
numerous conferences on the
subject over the past several
months. agree that the public
interests Of Washington would be
best served by the new policy"
The statement was issued in
conjunction with one of APP
proval from Vice President
Nixon.
Attending the session were
Chairman Robert Z. McIaugh-
LIN Of the utilities COM
mission, Commissioner Robert
Weston. Col. Giles Evans. as
sistant engineer commissioner;
Jacob Saidenberg, executive d.
rector Of the Presidents Com
llaittee on Contracts; Godfrey
Butler, personnel officer Of Cap
ital Transit: E. c. Giddings, etc
vice president; Lisle Carter Of
the Urban League. Victor DAILY,
United States Employment Serv-
ice; Walter J. Bierwagen, presi-
dent Of Division $50, and Ber-
nard Cushman. counsel for the
union.
Started With Senate Probe.
The decision grew out Of
recommendations made during
o Senate investigation Of Capital
Transit Co. and a memorandum
Of understanding" between the /
company and the Utilities Com
mission last fall.
Eugene Davidson, chief Of the
Washington branch Of the Ma
tional Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Colored People,
said when told Of the announce
ment:
.'Weli, that's wonderful. APP
parently the Capital Transit Co.
has fallen In line with the rest
Of the Nation In thinking the
Nations Capital should set an
example Of tolerance"
g Commissioners Mclaughlin and
Weston said an tntegrated train
Ing program would start next
week with two colored and two
white operators In the class. The
tntegrated employment, they
sid, is to be on the basis Of |
seniority. |
on Competitive Basis.
Mr.. Giddings said Capital |
Transit plans to give frst OPP
portunity for jobs as operators |
toscolored persons now employed
in other departments Of the
company.
Applications probably will be
received Immediately, he said.
and training will start after the
candidates have passed physical
examinations and reaction tests.
All applicants, he said. win be
hired on q competitive basis
and viii be required to meet
''the high physical and moral
standards that now exist"
Mr.. Nixon's statement said:
'As chairman Of the Presi-
dents Committee on Govern
ment contracts it is q source Of
great satisfaction to learn that
the Capital Transit Co. has in
stituted q policy Of non-dis-
criminatory employment, and
that this new policy viii have
active cooperation and support
Of the labor union which bar
gains collectively for this COM
pany's workers.
Roosevelt Aided Effort.
sThe Presidents committee
has devoted considerable time
and effort to assist In carrying
out the Presidents promise to
eliminate segregation and dis
elimination In the Nations
Capital. In this connection I
should like to acknowledge with
appreciation the efforts Of John
a. Roosevelt who has repre-
scented the Presidents Commit
tee In the negotiations with the
interested parties.
1.-THE action Of the company
represents q significant advance
In our efforts to redeem this
pledge. The steps which the
company has taken to provide
equal economic opportunity for
qualified persons ID q testament
% the ideal Of human dignity
and liberty cherished by all Of
ns.
ION behalf Of the President
and members Of our COMMITTEES
/ congratulate ell the parties for
seeking to utilize effectively one
81 our country's most important
assets--Ynanpower-and contrib
-.