The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-02-18

DlIleTenceS OF opinion between the
union and the Washing
ton Printing & Book Manufacturing
have arisen over a proposed
increase in wages demanded by the
typos. The matter has been pending
for some time, but eliminated last
week in the demand of the typos that
the new scale be met Monday, Febru-
ary Is. AS the scale was not met by
the printing company at that time, an
organizer of the International Typo
union was sent for. The
organizer, F. A. Rust, of the Seattle
union, arrived in the city Tuesday, but
was unable to reach any agreemen<
with the officers of the company. A
special meeting of the local typograph-
ical union was held yesterday after
noon, but so far as known, no action
was taken, and another meeting will,
it is said, be held late this afternoon.
Regarding the controversy which
has arisen, the Washington Printing
& Book Manufacturing company today
issued the following statement:
referring to the misleading state
ments which have been made regard
ing the wage dispute in the compos-
ing department of this institution, the
Washington Printing & Book Manu-
featuring company, invites the atten-
tion of its patrons and the public gen.
orally to the following facts:
"The Washington Printing & Book
Manufacturing company maintains
the largest printing plant in the terri
tory roughly described as being sur
rounded by Spokane, Seattle, Portland,
Salt Lake and Butte. AS compared
with the other printing establishments
in this city it may be stated that it
employs more men, pays out more
money in wages in all branches in the
printing trade than all of the other
printing establishments in Walla Wal
Ia put together. 1t is the only print
ing establishment in southeastern
Washington or northeastern Ore
gon that is equipped to ham
die large work 1t constantly
maintains a force of employees
running never less than 25 and as
high as 35.
1T prints under contract the Morn
ing Union, Evening Statesman, Whit
man College Pioneer, and the Up-tO-
the Times Magazine. In addition to
these regular publications, it's job de-
partment handles much work which
would otherwise be sent to Spokane or
Portland. For instance it is now en-
gagged in issuing the local directory of
the Pacific States Telephone & Tele-
graph company.
"At the present time it employs In
it's composing room 6 machinist oper-
ators and other cOmpositOrs, in aG-
dition to one superintendent, and two
foremen. The lowest wage paid to
any printer is $500 per week Of 6
days, hours per day, this being the
regular wage provided for in the scale
of wages which the Typographical
union has been operating under. The
lowest wage paid the machinstopera-
tors is S27.00 per week Of s days, 8
hours per day. There is, how
ever, only one journeyman printer in
this institution drawing as low as
90 per day, while machinist-oper-
ators draw $27.00 per week exclusive
Of overtime, the remainder of the
printers employed here being paid
higher wage in recognition of their
superior workmanship. This COM
pany'S payroll last week amounted to
s5S7.60
"The proposed scale provides for an
increase in scale Of wages of 80 cents
,ner dav for neutrality-suspicious. fore
men. ad men and all other Journey
men printers.
"In view Of the fact that the pro-
nosed increased scale will increase the
nnerating expenses of this institution
from $4,000 to s2500 per year, and that
business conditions in Walla Walla
are such that this company does not
feel justified in raising the price OF
printing to meet the increased cost OF
production, this corporation has de-
,lined to pay the increased scale.
.Tn this connection attention is in
vited tn the fact that the Walla Walla
Typographical union is partly compos-
ed of employing printers who are 1r
small way competitors Of this cor
noration and who, this corporation be-
lieves were largely instrumental II
nromulgating and agitating the move
n,ent for an increased scale Of wages
in order that they might thereby d.