The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-06
PANAMAWAGESGOOD,
is TAFT'S OPINION.
Makes Elaborate Statement III
Answer to Labor Unions
and Public.
ABOVE AVERAGE IN STATES
Refers to Eight-Hour Law and
Says That 1t Must Be OBJ
served on Isthmus.
ABOVE AVERAGE IN STATES

WASHINGTON. D. c., May "a far
reaching decision by Secretary Taft az
fectng rates Of pay, hours OF labor,
etc. on tho Isthmus Of Panama, fol-
lowing his recent personal inyestiga-
ton OF the various complaints received
here from time to time, was made pub
lie ct the White House to-day. after
President Roosevelt had given his ap-
prevail to the secretary's recommends
ton. The decision applies to three
classes of canal employes-hrst, steam
shovel men, embracing engineers. crane
men and firemen; second, construction
locomotive engineers, and third, con-
struction train conductors.
Ono of the grievances Of the men
was tho putting into operation on April
LIST of new regulations restricting leave
ness. On this question. the secretary
says:
1.-The old regulations were advertised
In the printed announcements sent out
by the commissions agents to induce
persons to go to the Isthmus and enter
the employ Of the commission. so that
every man who has come to the 18TH
mus has come there with the UNDER
standing that the old regulations were
to- apply as part of his contract of SER
vice.
ut seems to me that good faith res
CURES that tho old regulations as 70
leave shall not DO materially changed
and shall remain as part OF the con.
tract of service of those now on III
Isthmus, and that. while there are sors
provisions in the new regulations whids
" ould make for the more stringent en-
90
and more certainly avoid possib.a
fraud. they would not be made april
cable to men who came to the 1sthmG
under the old regulations.
Grievance Committees.
Taking up the subject OF summary
Dismissal without hearing or giving
reasons, which was complained of III
the canal employees. Secretary Taft sa,s
that he has glvan his approval of tie
plan of Colonel Goethals. whsrcby 1t =
proposed to dispose of such cas's
through committee. consisting OF oio
Of the craft of employ
for Dismissal; one represents
Ing the foreman or higher official pro-
posing discharge and one represent
ing the commission. final action to Ia
taken by the commission.
Much attention is then given to t!n
question Of wages to the steam shovd
men. who. on March LIST last, applied
for increases as follows: Engineers
from $40 to $500 per month; cranes
1,en, from s1S5 to $3.50 per month,
fremen, from sS3.33 to $40 per month.
In reaching the conclusion that tho
present rates of pay are liberal ones
Secretary Taft says:
Comparative Wages.
"A careful, examination into :fo
rates Of pay prevailing throughout tie
United States shows that some foLn
years ago the rates Of pay for steam
shovel engineers were SLID month.
end for cranesmen. 500; but that IN
the interval since. the enormous de-
mand for new construction has In
creased the wages OF both, so that tbs
average throughout the country may
be said to vary from 500 to s110 fer
cranesmen and from $3.50 to S16O fol,
engineers.
after giving the matter the consid
Grafton which its Importance deserves
and after Weighing the comparative
advantages which the Isthmian shovel
men enjoy over their brother in tia
States. with the disadvantages which
they have to bear in going to and
living on the Isthmus. have reached
the conclusion that the existing stanG-
ard Of pay for the shovel engineers,
and, fortiori, for the cranesmen, Is
a liberal one. and ought not to be In,
creased. except under some provision
OF reasonable Increase applicable to all
Jeteran skilled employees OF the cons
mission, who are paid by class rates.
The rates paid to the isthmian
shovel engineers are certainly from
twenty-five to thirty-five per cent
higher than the average Of those paid
in the States. and this by no means
states all the difference In favor OF the
isthmian terms OF employment.
Some Advantages.
"a steam-shovel man on tho isthmus
can count on twelve months constant
employment In q year, and steam
shovel men in tho United States cannot
expect to be employed more than nine
months in tho year. This arises from
the interference with contract work
in the United States by winter condi-
lions. and also by tho necessary In
tervals arising between change of con-
tracts. Mr.. Stevens estimated that
every steam shovel man in the States
should count on loss OF four months
instead Of three in each year. How
ever, for the purpose Of argument, we
can leave it at nine months. The rate
Of pay for steam-shovel engineers in
Alaska as before stated, Is said to
be $500 month. but we are not id
vised as to the circumstances surround
ing this employment, except that we
can reasonably presume. who with
working year there would hardly
exceed six or seven months.
Second. every shovel man on the
isthmus Is entitled to six weeks leave
with pay as vacation, so that he re-
ceives twelve months pay for ten and
one-half months work.
Third. steam shovel men on the
isthmus work but eight hours day
whereas, many, though not all. OF the
steam shovel men In the United States
work for ten hours day,
Fourth, evory employs of the
lsthmus Is permitted. II no falls sick,
to enjoy thirty days sick leave with
pay,
"Flfth. in addition to the sick leave
above mentioned. II the employe re-
ceiyes an injury during his work, he
Is entitled to an additional thirty days
sick leave.
sixth, every married man Is entitled
to furnished quarters for his family
and himself free, with modern plumb
ing convenlences, With water, fuel and
,,rIt frac. md ~ COmmiSsury which