Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-09
NO WAGE CUT At
NAVY YARD HERE
Announcement by Secretary
Daniels Delights 5000
Local Employees.
HOLDS CONGRESS- ACTION
\ PROHIBITS ANY CHANGES
Increases Made in Ratings at Indian
Head Totaling $1,000 Year,
With No Reductions.

All the employees Of the Washington
navy yard. about 5000 in number, to-
gether with their relatives and depend
ents, are delighted over an announce
ment made by Secretary Daniels today
that the wages at that yard, which were
increased on per capita basis of 7S per
cent July last. will not be changed dur
ing the remainder Of the current fiscal
year. ending June 80. On the ground of
the high cost of living in the National
Capital Congress Increased the appropri-
atoms for the local yard for the current
year, without regard to the scale of wages
paid by private establishments in the
vicinity for similar work. The total ap-
preparation allowed for labor amounted to
about $2,OOO,OOO and is distributed to
about 5000 employees.
According to calculation made at the
Navy Department the average pay of me-
chanics at the Washington navy yard
is $.;.92 day, higher average than OBJ
tains at any other yard on the Atlantic
coast. The next highest wage scale is
at the Boston yard, where the mechanics
receive an average of $3.50 day.
Reduction Was Recommended.
The regular naval wage board at the
local yard reported to the department
that the existing wage scale was about
10 per cent higher than wages paid for
similar work In private esta blishments
In this vicinity, and recommended a
general reduction in the present scale.
After thorough consideration of the
subject Secretary Daniels, Assistant
secretary Roosevelt and Capt B. c.
Bryan. director of navy yards, reached
the conclusion that the action of Con-
fhn nj ion
1or the fiscal year prohibited any
change In the schedule before the eX-
pfration of the current fiscal year.
announcement also was made at the
creases in the wage ratings had been
made at the naval proving grounds at
Indian Head, Md, and that no reduc-
tions had been made. The title
to attendants, powder factory" There
are about lit of these attendants. Four
OF them are promoted from s296 to
$3.50 a day, an increase of 81 cents.
and loN attendants will each receive an
increass Of cents a day. The daily
wage oflboilermakers was raised from
1886 to $3.50 u dayy-and the wage Of
the locomotive engine tenders from
ss.o4 to 1886. The pay rolls are in
annual increase Of about $1,000 in the
expenses at Indian Head.
The Official Announcement.
An official announcement ON the sub
oect OF all these changes was made at
the Navy Department, as follows.
Secretary Daniels today decided two
of the three remaining cases of wages
at navy yards, a subject that has oc-
cupied large amount of his time dur
ing the last month, as he has given it
MS personal attention. The two cases
referred to were decided as follows:
AT the Washington navy ward. in
view Of the fact that an extna ap-
preparation was made by Congress to
increase the wage for this fiscal year. no
change Will be made in the schedule
prior to July / next
At the Indian Head proving grounds
slight Increases were made in the wage
OF three ratings, amounting to about
$4,000 year. with no reductions.
The only remaining case to be decided
is that of the Naval Academy, and as
the appropriation in this case is specific
any Increase will mean an Increase in
appropriation or reduction of force"