The Washington times., 1905-11-16
NAVY YARD STRIKE
MAY Be OUTCOME
Machinists at Gun Factory
Are Dissatisfied.
WILL REVISE WAGE SCALE
Plans Prepared to See How Many Men
Can Be Placed on
Outside.

At the meeting of Local Union. 164
Independent Order Of MachinIsts, to be
held tonight at its rooms. 1904 Penn
sylvania avenue northwest, commit
tee from Local 17S. the navy yard union,
viii report as TO the condition Of af-
fairs at the gun factory.
Al this meeting, which IL is said will
be in the nature of a joint conference.
questions Of great Importance T., the
trade in the city will probably be de-
cided upon. 1t is reported that the
question Of how many OF the l.. zoo ma
chinists now employed at the gun fac
tory can be placed in outside shops on
short notice viii be ascertained. This
move is claimed to be taken in view Of
the increase in the wage scale that the
factory machinists are going to demand
from the Government.
Wage Scale Revision.
A revision of the present wage scale
viii be made by the wage board at the
yard early in December. The machinists
are apprehensive of the result of an
increase demand II they can at short
notice place all the gun factory machin-
lists with outside firms there may be a
chance for a walk-out at the yard.
The present wage scale at the ward
ranges from $3.50 per day for ..specia.
class" to S2.64 per day for fourth class.
The machinists are reported 10 be dis
satisfied with continuance Of this
scale. in view OF the fact that nearly
every labor organization has gotten an
increase in their wages during this year.
1t is further claimed by the machinists
that the methods used by the wage
board in computing the scale at the
yard is partial The machinists claim
that In collecting the statistics from
outside firms the wage board got the
minimum rate only. and that. therefore.
the average o. this rate, upon when
the yards wage scale is based. is nia
terially lower than what the machinists
with outside firms command
Officials Are Reticent.
At the machinists' Headquarters in the
McGee building this morning the Off
GERS OF both locals were reticent in dis
cUssing tonights meeting II was in
timated, however. that the meeting
would have some bearing upon the fu-
ture welfare of the machinists employed
at the yard, but just what the nature
OF this bearing would be could not be
ascertained.
Asked If he know of any such move
ment being on foot. Capt Eugene
I.eutze, commandant at the yard and
superintendent of the naval gun factory.
said: Il am unaware that such a move
is being fostered. The wage scale of
the machnists viii come up for re
vision in a short while and I am trying
TO ascertain what the wages of outside
firms are so that the board may arrive
at a Just compensation to be paid the
machinists here If the .machinists are
inclined 10 walk out here we probably
can get along though we may be handi-
capped 70 some extent"
The movement Is said to be the out
come Of a recommendation reported to
have been made TO the Central Labor
lTnfon some time ago. 1T was then said
bv the central body that a grievance
had been submitted TO them which III
acted upon In accordance with the locals.
recommendation would cause the largest
strike the District OF Columbia ever ex-
peTisnced