Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-16
Senators Hear
Union 5 Stand
On Transit Bill
Mitchell Endorses
Plea for Rights in
Authority Plan

Authority Plan
Capital Transit's union work
ers were to resume argument
today for bargaining and arbi
tration rights under the propose,
Washington Metropolitan Trans
1t Authority.
Secretary of Labor James F
Mitchell Endorsed their stan,
yesterday before the Senate Dis
trict Committee. The committee
hearing on the transit measur,
continues this afternoon.
Secretary Mitchell's views wer'
presented by Labor Department
Solicitor Stuart Rothman. 1t wa
the first time the Labor Depart
ment's opinion on the bill hai
been disclosed. Labor aides wer'
not included in earlier discus
sions between other Fedora
agencies and the District Com
missioners.
Revisions resulting from tina
conference led to designation o.
the authority as q Distric'
agancy rather than a Fedora
agency as originally planned
and made no provisions for col
lective bargaining or arbitration
Before the Senators heart
Labor Secretary Mitchell's view
yesterday, another Mitchell
John A.. a New York bond at
torney. urged that the authorit!
be a Federal agency instead o.
under District control.
The New Yorker, who helpee
draft the bill the Commissioner
sent to Congress. also recon-.
mended that the President. no.
the District Commissioners. ap.
point the authority's directors
Reads Mitchell Letter
Mr.. Rothman read a February
Z letter from Secretary Mitchell
declaring. Under the circum-
stances created by this bill
where public operation OF q for.
merly private enterprise makes
it necessary for the employe tc
forgo the right to strike. meth
DDS should be provided for the
handling of labor-management
relations and the settlement Of
disputes.
The legislation should make
it clear that the transit author.
ity has the authority to bargain
collectively with representatives
of its employees. to enter into
written collective bargaining
agreements and to submit dis
putes to mediation and arbitra-
ton.
ut should also provide that all
necessary employees shall be
transferred from the old COM
pany to the authority In accord
ance with and preserving exist
ing seniority rights and preserv-
ing any pension, retirement OF
health and welfare plans pres
entity In existence"
Detailed proposals spelling Out
these suggestions were offered te
the Senate committee by Walter
]. Bierwagen. president Of the
union Of Capital Transit EN-.
ployes. The company. under ar
act of Congress passed last sum.
mer during a 52-day strike, viii
die next August IA. The Gov.
ernment-owned authority ha,
been designed to take over the
system.
BEST Possible Device"
The bond attorney, a member
Of the New York law firm oil
Caldwell, Marshall. Trimble q
Mitchell, said authorities were
the best. possible device to keer
politics out Of business Of a pub
lie nature"
He insisted that appointed
directors are usually persons oil
the highest caliber and opposed q
suggestion by Senator Allott. Re.
publican Of Colorado that the
bill be rewritten to let them bt
removed from Office without
cause.
He said the authority would BIZ
subject to the supervision oil
Maryland and Virginia regulatory
commissions only on operation.
Conducted entirely in thost
States. Otherwise. he insisted. i,
would set its own fares and levell
Of service.
{. = Mr.. Mitchell defended q pro.
vision Of the bill under which
the United States of America
pledges to and agrees with the
holders of the bonds issued :
by the authority not to tampel
with future operations Of thu
authority He insisted thu
Tennessee Valley authority ha.
q similar provision In its legisla.
ton.
Misnomer Charged
OF the proposal to make The
authority a District agency, Mr.
Mitchell said, II frankly dom
know what is an instrument
tally Of the District OF Colum.
bia." Because it would have te
be set up by Congress. he said
Continued on Page IA, Col.
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