Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-19
Top Negotiotor
In Baltimore
Dispute Irked
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
Star STAFF CORRESPONDENT

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 10 The
House Of Delegates grand In
quest into the Baltimore transit
dispute was thrown into turmoil
tonight when the chief negotia-
tor. in a sudden huff. pulled a
temporary walkout of his own.
! Labor leaders asked for short
recess during the inquiry after
Frank p. Baumrner, president Of
the striking union, dropped the
first real surprise Of the day
when he said that the company's
ability to pay would have made
"a lot of difference" to him If
he felt the unions demands were
beyond that ability.
When he returned to the wit
ness chair, Mr.. Baummer said
that the chief negotiator, Ber-
nard Cushman, had offered to
resign during the recess because
Of an apparent conflict on "abil-
/ ty to pay" as a criterion in eff
Ifecting contract settlement.
| He said the resignation offer
was made because Mr.. Cushman
and the local unions attorney.
Bernard Rubenstein, previously
have maintained under oath that
they believe the company's abil-
ity to pay was irrelevant in the
negotiations.
Background in Question
Mr.. Cushman indicated that
he felt the union president lacked
the background to answer ques-
lions concerning the unions de.
mands.
| Returning to the stand. Mr..
Baummer read a statement he
had written during the recess in
which he supported the theory
that, as a general rule, ability
to pay was not a matter to be
considered in negotiations.
! What he had meant in his
earlier testimony, he said, was
that he obviously did not want
ito have the company wiped of
the map"
In his original statement Mr..
Baummer not only had said that
he would haye been concerned
IL he believed the union demands
were~beyond the company's abil-
lily to pay but had added:
Il have no desire to work for
the city"
| Company officials have main
tanned throughout the hearings
that granting of the unions de-
lmand would cost them $3.2 mil
lion in the first year and force
the company into bankruptcy or
public ownership.
Describes washington Story"
Labor officials after the recess
also objected to questioning by
Special Counsel Jerome M. Al
Iper, which they said they be-
llieved tended to point up con-
lfiicts between Mr.. Cushman and
Mr.. Baummer.
Mr.. Cushman, Washington at
torney. was retained by the local
Baltimore union to represent
1t in negotiations and in the
grand inquest. He is a member
OF the staff Of the Labor Bureau
OF Middle West and was a nego-
tiator and chief spokesman for
the Washington transit union
during last summers 52-day
strike.
/ AS a result of the objection.
Mr.. Alper suggested Mr.. Baum
mer leave the witness stand and
let Mr.. Cushman take his place.
Mr.. Cushman at one point de-
scribed what he called the
Washington Story"
He said that in the Baltimore
negotiations he had urged the
Washington contract pattern. He
denied, however, what he termed
Jas innuendoes and differences
that he also was urging the re.
vocation of the company's fran.
chise as was done in Washington,
| States His Position
Il have no brief for public
operation of this transit company
OF revocation of the franchise Of
National City Lines" Mr.. Cush-
man said.
| Il see no advantage for this
union in public operation of the
Baltimore Transit Co.." Mr..
Cushman said.
The grand inquest also heard
Mr.. Baummer say that the ma
jority of the demands made by
the union had been submitted
by its own members but that to
these were added some we got
from our sister local in Wash
ington, D. c."
Mr.. Alper's questioning has
indicated he is seeking to de-
termine what effects, if any,
absentee unionism" has had on
the unions mands and
whether they have been affected
by internal politics in the Balti-
more union.
Mr. Baummer said he felt the
company could afford to grant
the union demands because it
has been paying dividends to
st kholders and recently
granted a $25 to $50 a month pay
increase to supervisory personnel.
The grand inquest recessed at
10 pm. until 2 pm. Monday.