Evening star., 1955-07-08
Broodwoter Denies Plot
To Unload CTC on City
BY HECTOR MCLEAN

BY HECTOR MCLEAN
Capital Transit President j
A. B. Broadwater yesterday
denied knowing anything about
a company plot to unload" the
firm on the District govern
ment.
The charge, he told a Senate
subcommittee considering leg
islation to lift the company's
franchise, has become rather
threadbare. I don't know any
method of unloading on the
District unless the District
wants to take it."
He refused, however, to make
any comment on the possibility
that the city might be author
lied to seize the company and
restore service during the cur
rent strike.
Leaders of the AFL Transit
Workers Union. though, indi-
Gated they would be agreeable
unless the seizure gave no ad-
justment of wages or working
conditions to employees. That
they said, would be "intoler-
able"
Clearly under discussion was
q bill introduced in the House
by Representative Broyhill. Re-
publican of Virginia, which
would ban striking against the
government and freeze wages
and working conditions until
MANAGEMENT and union had
settled the strike dispute.
Senator Morse, Democrat, OF
Oregon, declared any such con-
dition would be "strikebreaking
and union breaking" Whoever
operated the company, he said
would have to be authorized to
pay adjusted wages and grant
improvements in conditions.
Hints at Development.
Testifying later. District Com
missioner Robert E. Mclaughlin
hinted at development of peace
proposals which have mot yet
reached the ears of the commit
tee" and declared it is mot IN
the interests of the negotiations
for the commissioners to take a
position on the bill Ito end the
company's franchise) at this
time"
Responding to charges that
he, as a recent member of the
District Public Utilities Com
mission. had discouraged Capital
Transit officials from applying
for a rate increase, Mr.. Nc
Laughlin insisted he and his fel-
low commissioners had only
pointed out the possible effect OF
such an application on pending
legislation to help out the firm.
Always, he said, the COM
missioners had made it cleal
tina tit was entirely up to the
company to decide if and when
to seek a rate boost.
Discussing the relationship to
Capital Transit of its chairman
Of the board, Louis E. Wolfson
Mr.. Broadwater disclosed that
Mr.. Wolfson gets $4,000 a month
for expenses. This, he said. was
authorized when the Florida
multi-millionaire gave up his
$40,00O-a-year salary recently.
He declared Mr.. Wolfsor
makes a very valuable con-
tribution" to the company. but
was unable to describe his duties
in detail.
Favor Truce Plan
Speaking for the union, Pres
ident Walter J. Bierwagen anc
his counsel. Bernard Cushman
agreed to accept a proposal by
Chairman Nicely of the Senate
District Committee and Senator
Morse for a 60-day truce and ar
bitration of the strike.
AS a great concession" they
said, they were even willing tc
leave up to the board of arbi.
tration the issue of whether any
wage increases were to be retro
active to the expiration of the
old contract last Friday. This
they pointed out. was because
any delay would work against
the interests of the union mem
bers.
Testifying at the end of the
day-long hearing, Public Util.
tiles Commissioner Robert M
Weston, who had been bitterly
criticized by company officials
said he has no prejudice against
the company and declared he
will stand on his record.
He denied company charge.
of threatening to delay Capita
Transit rate increase applica
tions except by the broadest
Interpretation in their own in
tereSts."
The charge came when Mr.
Broadwater said the strike
should be laid right squared,
in the lap" of Mr.. Weston ane
Mr.. Mclaughlin.
He said the two men, both D
whom were members of the utili
ties commission in January. 1854
had deliberately" attempted II
wreck the transit company.
They did so, he charged, il
setting the current schedule o
bus and streetcar rates a yea
and a half ago.
The utilities commission, h
said, estimated that presen
fares would earn the compan,
$1,480.000 q year. but the ney
rates had produced only $740,
900, adding they were only hal
right"
AS q matter of fact, Mr.. Broad
water contended, the commission
has never been right in estimat
ing what would be produced b
the fares it has ordered durin
his six years in Washington.
Saw Strike Coming
He declared the company ha