Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-19
WAGES OF MAOHINISTS
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD SCALE
UNDER CONFEDERATION.
Meeting Of Columbia Lodge, Interna-
tional Association, Yesterday
Views Of the Members.


was held yesterday in the Naval Lodge
Hall, 4th street and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast, for the purpose Of giving con-
sideration to the present and prospective
wage scale for machinists at the Washing
ton navy yard. The meeting was largely at
tended. President Thomas F. Dornin in
calling the assemblage to order stated the
object Of the call.
The unanimous sentiment Of the meet
ing was for a marked increase in the wages
paid at the Washington navy yard. It was
pointed out that the commissioner Of
labor, in his reports and bulletins, has
shown that there has been, for several
years, a constant increase in the cost Of
living and an increase In wages generally
elsewhere. The fact was emphasized that
the output Of each shop in the Washington
navy yard has been greatly increased dur
Ing the last few years by reason Of I'm
proved methods and the ingenuity Of the
mechanics there employed in devising new
A partial report was made by the COM
mittee which was appointed some time ago
to prepare statistics. to present to the wage
beard This committee consists Of Presi-
dent Dornin, Thomas E. Carroll, ]. B. Ker-
shaw. A. G. Brandt and e. L. Adams The
latter left Washington last night to gather
statistics at the Industrial plants Of Phila-
delphia, Altoona and Harrisburg.
Wage Board to Meet.
The statement was made that the wage
board of the navy yard will meet within the
next ten days for the purpose Of fixing the
scale for the next year. This board II COM
posed Of three naval officers to be selected
by the commandant OF the yard, Capt E
H. G. Leut1es Il waa explained that In or
der to determine the wage scale the board
Is governed by wages and cost Of living pre-
vaifing In what Is defined as the sphere of
influence" and which includes the cities of
baltimore, Philadelphia, Altoona, Harris
burg, Bethlehem, Alexandria and Rich
mond.
The members Of Columbia Lodge declare
that the comparison should be confined to
local conditions 1t is the expectation Of
some Of the members that the wage board
will decide to make an increase In the nav
OF the local machinists at the forthcoming
meeting. Attention was called to the fact
that many machinists have forsaken their
places at the Washington navy yard and
sought employment elsewhere because Of
the comparative smallness Of the wages
paid there.
1t was also stated that. former wage
boards have issued circular letters, and dur
ing the summer sent them to establish
ments In the sphere Of influence" calling
Tor the scale Of wages paid by those estab-
lishments to their machinists the preceding
year; On these figures. it is said, the board
nxed the wages of the machinists at the
washington navy yard for the coming
year. always placing them one year behind
the ruling rate elsewhere.
Government Employees to Set Pace.
1--WE take the ground" said a member of
the investigating committee to a Star re-
porter today. that the machinists In gov
eminent employ should set the pace in the
matter of wages. hours. etc, for the out
side workmen. and not follow their lead.
Inc wage board always. places great stress
on the clause Of the law under which they
act that gives them authority to set the
wages at any reasonable rate Conse-
quently maintain they frequently are led
into action that Is inconsistent with the
public good"
1t was added that the minimum rate of
pay per diem for machinists at the yard is
$24S, while that of the Central Labor
Union of this city is s.. From S2.4s.
the navy yard scale extends to $3.50.
$24S. the navy yard scale extends to S3.38.
Hod carriers here are said to receive from
$40 to 1925 per day. It was pointed out
that the machinists at the Washington
navy yard have received but one slight in
crease In pay In the past ten years Of from
51z to per cent That Is, the maximum
wage was raised from 1920 to 1896 per day.
In the meantime there has been a marked
increase In the cost Of living in the Dis
trlct, the machiniStS saw.