New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-06
PAY ON THE ISTHMUS
DECISION BY MR. TAFT.
Increases Demanded Granted OnIu
an Part.

labor, etc. the Isthmus of Panama fonou,n
his recent personal investigation of the various
complaints received here from time 70 time yyas
Ihade pubic at the White House to-day after
President Roosevelt had given his approval To tho
secretary recommendations The decision ap-
pies 10 three classes of canal employes-frst
steam shovel men. embracing engineers craneuen
hhc hreIen; second, construction locomotive engt-
neers, and third construction train conductors
one OF the grievances of the men was the put
uns INTO operation on April l OF new regulations
Itsulcuhg leave or absence leave on account
OF sickness On this question the Secretary says:
The old regulations We're advertised in the print
ed 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 VINO has come to the isthmus has come there
we're to apply as part of his contract Of service
~ seems 70 me that good faith requires that the
oiI Ms as 10 leat shall not be materially
- i a no EhaII remain as part of the contract
- lille there are provisions in the new regiI-
l3uons which would make for more stringent en-
made applicable to men WIZ come to the isthmus
under the old regulations.
Taking up the subject of summary dismissal with
out bearing or giving reasons which was COM
plained Of By the canal employees Secretary Taft
says taat ne mas given his approval TO the plan of
lieutenant Colonel Cocktails whereby IT is pro-
posed 10 dispose Of such cases through a committee
consisting Of representative OF the craft of the
employe proposed for dismissal one representing
e foreman or the higher official proposing dis
Acuoh 10 be taken by the commission.
WAGES OF SHOVEL MEN
Much attention is then given TO the ouesttor NJ
wages 10 the steam shovel men who on March
last applied for increases as follows: Engineers
rom SzIo 10 $500 month; cranesmen. from SlS5 to
S1oo month"; hremen. from $50 So to Sl1O a month
III reaching the decision that the present rates OF
pay are liberal Ones Secretary Taft says:
i careful examination into the rates of pay pre-
sorhs r Tnroughout the United States shows that
lie al
steam shovel engineers sips q month and Tor
enormous demand for new construction has in
creased the wages Of both 50 that the average
fe9 10 $40 for cEanesmen from $50 to $65 sos
pared tables OF wages paid by various arms in
IIte4 states and Jhese/fates do not differ
chairman Of the brotherhood OF Steam Shovel Men
firms Of the United States including O'Ronrke &
Co aa f s,sfad Co Ma@ATthgr Co and Oliver
50r engineers, SIS for and So for fremen
states submitted BY Mr. D6a fTom San if Franchises 15d
70 New York and from New Orleans Chicago
neeEs 81 for fiTemen Si'' lot ei'
Taking the figures submitted by Mr.. Dolan, an
OUT the United States would be s1O2 for cranesmen
rate of living is higher. there are engineers who
In work on on s SI9 men ProPoae9asteiy less
Is PAD snoEe! engineers and the employment agent
Of engineers were tending toward 5000 a month
SEC and for cranesmen $3.50.
cause in many cases the contractor is able TO com
By the daI TaT mrs b s9oe each 6d
able therefore in his interest to increase the
rates hI4 rste foT4 I H i6 fdass OF aH1rdse
is, '' lis L9I spscal CReIa Ine
men work in respect to the character OF the ma
that 1t has been impossible to graduate the pay
offer bonuses for high garbage. The only method
Is 70 tix fat rate for the whole class
After giving the matter the consideration which
comparative advantages which the isthmian shovel
the disadvantages which they have bear in go
ing to and living on the isthmus. have reached
the conclusion that the existing standard of for
me shovel englneers and fotlori for the cranes,
men IS hoet one ana oagnt not 10 Ge increased
applicable 10 all veteran skilled employees of the
efneers are certainly from q to IS per cent higher
Than the average Of those paid in The States and
THIS by no means states all the difference in favor
ADVANTAGES ON IsTHMUs.
a steam shovelman the isthmus count on
twelve months constant employment in a year,
and Ehovelmen in the United States cannot
TIE year This arses from the interference Of
cs ~0rk n me InTa etseS pg gtrYa sisng
between change of contracts Mr. stevens's esti-
sHao Sol-S On s a. io I " o' for tSe rlTpase Of
m, - ,.,e or: ias,-l n At nine Tqonths The rate
OF pay for shovel engineers In Alaska, as be
fore stated: is said to be 500 month bat we ere
not advised to the circumstances surrounding
except
presume that The working year there would hardly
exceed six or seven months.
titled six weeks leave. with pay. as vacation;
that he receives twelve months pay Tor ten
ThiTd-stean1 shovel men the isthmus work
but eight hours day. whereas many, though not
al. Of the steam shovel men in the United States
Fourth-Every ernpove Of thu isthmus is permit
ted. II he falls sick to enjoy twenty days sick
Fifth-In addition to the sick leave above men
toned, IL the euploye receives an injury during
his work he is entitled to additional thirty days
sick leave. ..,
quarters for himself and family free with modern
plumbing convenences. with water. fuel and light
necessares commission employees. The
married quarters are generally In separate houses
free. together with light. ard board at reasona,
bic rate at a messhouse or hotel The cost OF food
and necessaries is about what ii is in Eastern
Seventh: every employee is entitled 10 free medi-
cal attendance and hospital service. The medical
Llsits OF the commission physician. after the first.
nave involved a charge of 81 each. bat Colonel
1I92ethals advises me that this is 10 be dispensed
Mr. Dolan Gays that if quarters are desired many
h!sh them but II goes without saying that these
quarters are n a most temporary and unsUbstan-
comfortable homes which are furnished to shovel
men and their families on the isthmus. and none
tractors, 50 far as the testimony Of the contractor
Il may be that service on the is;hnus is attend
90 with greater discomfort and greater risk HI
ness than that in the States due TO the climatic
Gltacuty of securing usual and rational amuse-
tcnos ana the naturally depressing effect OF
issthmus less desirable than that I'm the United
Soeles But II Is to be remarked that the original
concltions Of unhcalthfulness which existed when
the original rate for shovelmen was fixed in 1904
TEm------------.--- AbTr