Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-19
NO FURTHER NAVY
YARD WAGE BOOST
- 2
Secretary Daniels Refuses Ma
chinists' Plea for Reconsid-.
GRAFTON Of Scale Adopted.

Machinists of the Washington navy
yard, will not receive further increases
in pay. This was made known today
by Secretary Daniels of the Navy De-
partment. who has listened. during the
last two weeks, to the pleas of the
navy yard machinists' Representatives
for a reconsideration of the scale
adopted by the wage board and made
effective October 9.
After giving the matter full con-
sideration in the light of the repre-
sentations of the machinists and Of
the wage board" said Secretary Dam
iels. in making public his action today.
II have declined to revise the new
scale Of wages
Local Men Well Paid.
"The men at the Washington yard
are now paid on a higher scale than
at any other yard in the country. and
in the light of the evidence presented
by both sides l do not feel disposed
to increase the wages beyond the in
crease of s cents a day given them
October g."
The Secretary did not look with ia
vor upon the request of the machinists'
representatives to put the machinists
and tool makers on the same scale.
He said it had been custom in the
Washington navy yard and other
yards for years to pay the tool makers
on a higher scale than the machinists,
and he thought the custom should be
continued. To make change in this
regard at the local navy yard. he said,
would involve a change in other yards
of the country along the same line. and
that he would not do.
In making public his action, Secretary
Daniels did not give out formal state
ment, but declared his letter to N F.
Alias. president of District Lodge, No a.
International Association of Machinists
and chairman of the committee represent
ing the navy yard machinists, would give
all the facts necessary.
Secretary Daniels Letter.
The letter follows:
referring to your several communica-
tions and to your various personal calls
at the department in< regard to the pay of
machinists at the Washington navy yard,
l have given this question very careful
thought and study.
las you know, the board on wages
made thorough inquiry into the rates
of wages paid by private establish
ments and government arsenals en-
manufacture of ordnance material, and
its recommendations were submitted
only after mature deliberatiOn and con-
sideration of the data it secured and
the data presented by committees rep
resenting the employees of the yard.
The representatives of the employees and
representatives of outside organiza-
tions were both accorded a hearing at
the department before action was
taken. Subsequently the entire ques-
ton was discussed. the senior member
of the wage board being in personal
consultation with the department.
How yer, after due reconsideration. l
feel constrained to adhere to the
boards recommendations which were
put into effect october 9.
I'm regard to toolmakers. it is found
that this rating is held separate from
the rating of machinists at all navy
yards, and l would not at the present
time feel warranted in abolishing the
rating of toolmaker at Washington and
substituting the rating of machinist
therefor at the rates of pay carried for
toolmakers."