Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-04
Believed That Norfolk Mechanics
Will Now Return to Work.
DANGER OF A STRIKE HERE
Question In Washington, However
Is One Of Wages More Than
Introduction of
System"


Norfolk district today called on Assist
ant Secretary Of the Navy winthrop
in regard to the strike at the Nor
folk navy yard. They were informed
that the introduction Of the card sys-
tenn. which the employees Of the Norfolk
yard suspected was the beginning Of
the Taylor system. was unauthorized
by the Navy Department. and the Sec
retary also stated that the officials Of
the Norfolk navy yard had been in
structed to withdraw the offensive
card system at once. The statement
was made that the system. which
brought about the strike yesterday,
was introduced wholly on the initiative
of an official of the Norfolk yard and
without the sanction or authorization
of the Navy Department
The withdrawal of the card system
removes the grounds upon which the
strike at the Norfolk yard was called,
and 1t Is believed the strikers will at
once return to work.
At the Warrington Yard.
That a strike Of the 1900 or moro
machinists at the Washington navy yard
may occur at any moment is the state
ment made today by oficials Of the ma
chinists' organization. The further state
ment is made that every effort Is being
made to avoid strike or walkout, and
that every possible means will be used to
secure an amicable settlement Of the
trouble. e.; At, II
The Taylor system. or any other ef-
hciency system. il not now and has nO<
been factor In the Dissatisfaction Of tho
Weshington navy yard machinists. Tho
feeling exists. 1t 10 said. among the men
chat Efforts may be made to slip ono
over on them" by putting the Taylor
system or some similar plan into effect at
the navy yard. probably by piecemeal.
Capt. Willard. commaNdant Of the navy
yard, today made the positive statement
that no effort has ever been made to
introduce the Taylor system or any modi-
ncation of II In the yard here. and that
ne. as commandant, had never even con-
sidered the Introduction Of any efficiency
system in the local yard or shops.
Question Of Wage Scale.
Thomas 4. Carroll president Of Co
lumbia Lodge of the machinists' organi-
zation stated today that the whole source
of trouble and dissatisfaction among the
navy yard machinists here is on the wage
question. President Carroll said that an
order which went into effect yesterday,
raising the pay Of machinists at the gov
ernnlent printing ONCE 40 cents per day,
has had the effect of asgravating the
dissatisfaction of the navy yard machin-
lists. until at the present time but very
little would be required to precipitate q
wa kout in which every machinist en-
ployed in the navy yard shops. would
participate
THE navy yard machinists" said
President Carroll today. receive the low
est rate of pay of any machinists en-
ployed by the government in Washing
nj he ~.v,H
printing office work under a minimum
scale of $40 per day. Last November
the bureau of printing and engraving
raised the minimum at that establish
ment to $4.16 per day. The minimum at
the navy yard shops is $3.A. while the
maximum is only $3.16-which is below
the minimum of other government shops
in the District. and 20 per cent below the
scale established in private shops OF
Washington by the Central Labor Union.
The average minimum wage in private
concerns in Washington IL above - per
day. The law provides tpage 5s7 of the
Statutes at Large) as follows: That the
hours of labor and the rate OF wages Of
the employees Of the navy yards shall
conform, as nearly as is consistent with
the public interest with those of private
establishments in the immediate vicinity
Of the respective yards. to be determined
by the commandments Of the navy yards,
subject to the approval and revision OF
the Secretary OF the Navy. Wages at
form with the rate Of wages or private
establishments In this immediate vicin-
ity."
Committee to See President.
vt a meeting Of Columbia Lodge Inter-
national Association OF Machinists. held
last night I'm Naval Lodge building. at
which about 800 navy yard machinists
we're present. the matter of wage in
creases was discussed, the Taylor system
being touched on merely as side issue.
\ dozen motions to order a strike were
declared out of order. as the officers OF
The organization are determined to take
no snap action. or, as President Carroll
expressed II today. not to "go OF at half
cock" A committee was appointed to call
on President Taft and on the Secretary of
the Navy tomorrow. the committee to
take up the question or increases In the
wage scale II nothing is accomplished
this committee President Carroll be-
i:evcs that strike cannot be averted.
william II. johnson. president OF tho
International Association OF Machinists
tocay said that the action and attitude
o. Assistant Secretary OF the Navy Win
ihrop on the occasion OF former con-
ference was such as to aggravate the
slirit Of discomfort In the navy yard
shops. Nr. johnson said that the assist
ant secretary's attitude was ''dtscourteous
III uhe extreme and had a decidedly ag
rravating effect: further. that the as
s.stant secretary refused to permit tho
committee or the machinists to appea
IL tho Secretary OF the Navy in the ef
fort to secure action on their alleged
grievances.
Sitting on the Lid"
President Carroll of the local organiza
ticn said that the local officers are to
cay sitting on the lid" in the effort Il
avoid tho precipitation Of q strike. add
ing that he did not feel sanguine OF th'
success OF the officials efforts to preven
otible.
At the shops today no indications o
any immediate trouble were visible. bu