The Washington times., 1901-08-24
H. FRIEDLANDER & Bro,
Cor. 9th and e SITS. N. w.
STRIKE At THE NAVY YARD
The Bricklayers Stop Work and
Demand Union Wages.
The Views of Mr.. Spohn ON the
workers. Clafms-HOw the Wage
Scale Is Fixed for Government En-
plOyes-Mr. Hackett's Lame Excuse

/ workers. CInims-HOw the Wage
Scale Is Fixed for Government En-
ployes-Mr. Hackett's Lame Excuse
| Thirty bricklayers employed In the con-
| struction of buildings at the Washington
| Navy YARD struck yesterday morning be-
| cause the Government refused to pay
| them the rate of wages liked by their
union. The rate established by Brick
| layers Union, No. /. of this city, is $3.50
per day for eight hours work. The en-
| pioyes at the navy yard receive only 81
per day for the same number of hours of
| labor
The strike yesterday was the result of
the refusal of the Government officials to
| increase the wages of the navy yard en-
/ ployes to equal that received by other
members of the union from employers
throughout the District. From what was
| learned yesterday, however, It is eX-
pected that the differences between the
local union and the Government officials
will be amicabIy adjusted today and the
strikers will probably return to work on
Monday.
Milford Spohn, member OF the brick
layers union and also of the committee
who waited upon the Secretary OF the
Navy some days ago in reference to the
matter, stated last night that the trouble
at the navy yard would lave been averted
had the Government officials acted consist
emily in the premises. The excuse given by
Mr.. Hackett, Acting Secretary of the
Navy, Mr.. Spohn said, was that the rate
of wage for the employees at the navy
yard is regulated by board appointed
for that purpose, which meets semi
annually This board, Mr.. Hackett, it is
Id stated met in Iuue last and decided
that the bricklayers employed there
shrould be paid 81 per day, which was the
rate of pay allowed for several years In
the absence of the board which he said
could not be convened at this time he
could do nothing in the premises.
This, MIR. Spohn said, is only partial
statement OF the true state of affairs
BY act of Congress in 1862, he said, Gov
eminent officials, throughout the country
are required to pay employees of the Gov
eminent the current rate of wages receiv-
ed by workmen of their craft in the VI
cinity where they are employed. Fur
ther than this Mr.. Spohn stated that it
is the duty of the board appointed to
regulate the wages to be paid Govern
ment employees to make investigation in
the vicinity where the work is done
and pay them accordingly. This. he con-
tends, the board did not do in June last
before liking the rate of pay for the brick
layers employed at the navy yard IL
the members Of the board had made any
enquiry along this line, Mr.. Spohn states
May last bricklayers employed in the Dis
trict by Individual contractors are paid
from $3.50 to 50 per day. This is fact,
he contends, which cannot be successfully
disputed. In reference to the statement
of Acting Secretary Hackett that he is
unable to do anything in the premises
in the absence Of the board, Mr.. Spohn
said 1t is very lame excuse In 1891,
when the circumstances were reversed,
Mr.. Spohn states the Navy Department
acted very quickly, when the action called
for reduction of the wages OF the brick
layers employed at the Washington Navy
Yard. Up to the time referred to, the
bricklayers employed at the navy yard,
Mr.. Spohn states, were receiving $3.50 per
day for nine hours work BY action of
the local union eight hours were made to
constitute a days work and the mem
bers employed at the navy yard, in con-
sequence, were only permitted to labor
eight hours day. On that occasion Mr.
Spohn states, IL did not take the Secre-
tary of the Navy long to act in the mat
ter. and in less than forty-eight hours af-
terward an order was issued reducing the
pay of brictlayers at the navy yard to
81 per day.
This circumstance, MIR. Spohn contends.
proves conclusiyely that when the ext
gencies Of the case demand it. action can
be taken without the cCnvening OF the
board appointed to regulate the pay OF
employees in the Government service Be
fore the reduction Of the pay of the brick
layers al the navy yard in 1891, Mr. Spohn
said. they were working only eight hours
Il udy bul were receiving pay Tor nine
hours work at the rate of 81 cents per
hour.
1t is understood that Acting Secretary
Hackett held conference yesterday with
Lieutenant Commander Henry McCrea in
reference TO the matter and the latter
was instructed to enquire what rate of
pay union bricklayers are receiving In this
locality, and report the result of his in
vestgation to the department. In the
event that he finds that bricklayers,
other than those employed at the navy
yard, are receiving 81. so or s. per day,
and reports this fact 10 the department,
there is no doubt that the rate of pay
of the men at the Washington Navy
Yard will be increased TO this amount
Mr.. Spohn also states that the com
mittee which called at the Navy Depart
ment in reference to the pay of the brick
layers at work there, waited upon Cap
tain Newcomer. Acting Engineer Com
missioner of the District, and Informed
him that the union demanded that all OF
its members employed on District work
should receive the union rate of wages.
In this connection IL should be stated
that there were six bricklayers employed
at the Washington Navy Yard who re-
fused to obey the strike order and quit
work. According to the action taken at
q meeting OF the bricklayers' union on
Wednesday night. these members are
liable to a fine of s100 each.