The Washington times., 1906-11-18


Lodge hall. Pennsylvania avenue and
Fourth street southeast this morning
at ~ o'clock. The purpose of this un-
usual meeting is 20 take up certain
phases Of the wage question that have
Tor a long time been under discussion
among the members OF the organization.
columbia Lodge. with more than 1900
members, IS made up of the expert ma
chinisis OF the Navy Yard 1t is expected
that large percentage OF this member
ship will be In attendance at the meet
ing today.
Business Agent Emmett J.. Adams. of
Columbia Lodge. left the city Thursday
night for Baltimore and New York on
business connected with the advance
ment OF the wages OF the Navy Yard
machinists, and Will be I'm the city early
this morClng to attend the special meet
ing.
There has been for long time notice
able activity among the machinists. and
II was no difficult task 10 learn that
these skilled mechanics have high hopes
or receiving a substantial increase IN
their wages FOR 1901.
II has been quietly announced that the
wage board of the Washington Navy
Yard will meet some time in December,
a
or wages for the coming year but the
date OF the meeting has not been an
nounced II is no secret that Thomas
+. Dornin and Thomas r. Carroll, the
FORMER the president of Columbia Lodge,
ana the latter from the ranks will rep
resent the lodge at that meeting
The machinists OF the navy yard have
not. received an increase of wages for
several years. For the past two years
the wage board has on the contrary
recommended a reduction in the wages.
But Columbia Lodge has. in both in
stances been enabled 10 have those
recommendations disapproved by the
Navy Department
The machinists claim that conditions
of supply and demand OF the necessities
of life that enter into the home have
so advanced the cost OF living that the
scale of wages made two years ago does
not meet the present requirements. The
increase In wages recently Voluntarily
made by many of the larger industrial
concerns and some OF the largest trunk
line railroads, by reason Of the adj
vanced cost Of living. applies with equal |
force 10 local conditions here in Wash /
mgton- They point 10 the fact that dur |
Ing the past three years over 800 Of the I
best machinists of the navy yard have Z
resigned their positions 70 accept situa-
Tons elsewhere. particularly in the East .
and middle West where they secured !
increased compensation over that paid F.,
by the Government, They say the /
wages paid in the navy yard are not
equal 10 those paid for like service by ,
private concerns and corporations else
where and not sufficient TO meet actual /
needs of the men and their families.
Recently quiet investigation was
made by a representative or the Navy
Department, upon request Of the en-
p.Oyes of the navy yard. for better
sanitary conditions. lavatory, and other
conYeniences for the men. and il is
rumOred that there may be other IN
vestigations of conditions surrounding
the navy yard employees. owing to the
annual controversy between the men
and the wage board. and that a rep
resentative of the President may be del
esated TO look into this question OF
wages.
IL is known that Emmett L. Adams
Tas IN New York some three weeks
aso. and while there had conference
With James b. Reynolds, who iuVesti-
gated the packing house industry for
President Roosevelt. A further confer
tntt ntlhtEN AlesSIHs IAtAuDlAk anu
Adams was held in this city during the
recent session of the Peoples Lobby.
This, il is believed, is indicative of an
enort On the part OF the men to have
a more thorough inquiry of conditions
tEan has been usual for the wage board
TO make.
Emmett L. Adams was seen by a rep
resontative of The Times and when /
asked what was being done by the I
machinists looking TO the adjustment I
OF the wage rate for the coming year. /
said: {
1T is the custom of Columbia Lodge }
10 be represented at the session of tho
wage board each year for the purpose ,
Of presenting such data as they are able !
10 secure bearing upon wages In the {
sphere of influence, and this year will u
be no exception to the general rule. Al (
ready preparations are being made for O
the presentation of the employees side
Of the question. and we feel reasonably
confident of success. or at least the in \
dications are that the board will exper- ?
i,nce no trouble in learning that the p
trend of wages is upward and has
been for the past eleven years. Figures q"
by the Bureau of statistics of
the Government snow IlaN tleFe mas 1
been constant increase in wages since
1855 and the cost OF living 1t seems will .
never reach its limit Of increase.
In addition to this we see by the d
daily press almost each day Of some adj y
vance by a corporation 10 its employees, ?
and We are of the opinion that such sig .
lihcant facts will have their influence e
With the board"
When asked what would be the ac- I
ion of the men in the eveut the board y
It'd not see its way clear TO recommend n
IN increase in the wage scale, he said: a
No man can predict what will be our VI
inc OF action as that would be deter n
mined by circumstances But We will.
n all probability find some way OF haV-
nE such a decision reviewed" hr
Asked If there was any probability OF sl
lanes r. Reynolds making an investi- n
cation for President Roosevelt OF tho -
question Of wages ia addition TO the in Pi
luiry of the board. Mr.. Adams said. SO
You VIII have 10 see the President "a
bout that. as it is a mattenr of which In
cannot speak with authority.
a.HnHrr Ina ton NaEn N1A a