The Washington herald., 1913-10-13
NAVY YARD wage
PAY in DISPUTE
Secretary Daniels Criticised
by Machinists' Assoeia-
ton Representative.
OTHER PLEAS EARLIER
N. P. Alias Says 0ut-of-Town Yards
Made Demand Before Local Body
Came Forward with Petition.

Charging Washington newspaper with
creating t,e misleading impression tnat
the increase in the wages Of the local
Navy Yard machinists has lead to de-
mand for increases in other yards
throughout the country, President N. p.
Alifas, of District No. a. International
Association of Machinists, yesterday
took exception to the statements and also
criticised the action Of Secretary of the
Navy Daniels regarding navy yard wage
conditions.
The representative of the machinists
said that other navy yards had made
requests for increases long before the in
crease went into effect at the local yard.
He further states that in most of these
other yards no substantial increases have
been had in years, while the cost Of
living has been steadily climbing. Presl-
dent Alifas said:
THE deniaIs made by officials of the
Navy Department to statements in the
press credited to me are erroneous
partially due to the fact that my Ian
guage in their denials was misquoted
Without quibbling over the appro-
priateness OF the words to indicate the
degree OF certainty with which we viewed
the departments plans as TO wage in
creases, the fact remains that many. who
were present during various interviews.
agree with the version of the case as
expressed in my statement; this ] have
taken the pains to ascertain, because the
truth Of my statement is questioned by
the department.
Discussion of Denial.
''Since it is denied by the department
that an increase was promised upon the
presentation OF satisfactory evidence last
June, does any one believe that nearly
100 representatives would have been sent
here from distant navy yards last June,
at great expense, in response to a notice
issued by Secretary Daniels, IL no pros
poets had been held out for an increase?
Our opinion on this vas further
strengthened when, about June .. 1t was
rumored that the Navy Department.
might not have sufficient funds to give
a general increase. and we were told by
Secretary Daniels that he was having his
bureaus investigate the amount OF funds
available for increase purposes.
The present plan Of the Navy Depart
ment OF allowing representatives OF the
employees to see the report of the wage
board, and to comment on the figures
submitted by them, but not to be allowed
TO see the names of the firms from which
the data is collected, does not give the
employees an opportunity TO ascertain
the accuracy of the figures or the degree
Of their application to yard conditions,
since Ihe kind of work done is a factor
IN Gessrmining just wages. What as
sussUss have we that another investiga-
Dr and hearing before the same au-
.Irc- ties will have a different result than
t-at given us last June and previously?
Since my veracity has been questioned
Hv Eae department when / said that as
.a.e - the previous Saturday the Secre-
.-s 4 Labor was willing to investigate
fas age question, / desire to suggest
.5St would be quite possible for the
SH"Er tary Of Labor to discover between
atgTiay and the following Thursday that
b.. dId not nave the necessary funds
There are, however, about 5000 labor
organizations in the United States, where
the word of labor official is as good as
that q any other man