The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-28
INCREASE FOR $4,000
IN U. s. NAVY YARDS
Only 10 Of 81 Trades in New
York District Benefit by
Daniels's Order.
SOME GET BONUS WAGES

WASHINGTON. Dec. 27-Only ten or
the ninety-seven trades represented at
the New York Navy Yard will receive
advances in wages In 1915. according
to an announcement made tonight BY
Secretary Daniels OF the new wage
schedules approved by him for the COM
ing year. Under an act Of Congress. the
Secretary is required annually to adj
Just wages in the various yards to the
prevailing wages paid for similar SER
vice by private employers In the vicinity
Of the respective yards.
The increases in daily wages allowed
at the New York yard were as follows I:
Helpers, laboratory. from S2.tS to 1855 {;
engine tenders. crane. 81 to $4.N; en-
CINE tenders, locomotive. 81 TO $4.4S:
forgers. heavy. S4.96 to S5.t4: gardeners.
s2.64 to $3.50; meters, $3.04 TO S3.44 {;
moulders. $3.50 to 81 ship filters. 1915
to - switchmen. s2.6t to sass: ma
chinists. - to st.0s.
Secretary Makes Explanations.
In making the announcement with
regard to all the yards Secretary Dan
iels said
LAS a result Of these reports n
hearings IL has become evident that in
certain trades the rate of wages paid by
private firms In the vicinity OF navy
yards has increased materially during
the last year. Thu Government Is by
law required to fix the rate of wages at
the various navy yards and stations 40
that they shall conform as nearly as is
consistent with the public interest with
those Of private establishments in the
immediate vicinity OF the respective
yards.
Three recommendations Of importance
have been approved by me. They are:
"Ffrst-There has been much COM
plant about the multiplicity of rates of
pay In individual trades. In some cases
there have been as man. a. fifteen diff
ferent rates in an individual trade.
Orders have been issued that hereafter
there shall he not more than five rates
In any one trade at any one yard.
"SeconL. In putting the new schedules
into effect orders have been issued that
where the maximum in II trade has
been increased every employee in that
trade shall be advanced to the next
higher rating. The reason for ihis Is
that the maximum is increased only be-
cause under the law 1t has been found
that the rates paid in the vicinity have
increased. 1t is believed that every
workman in that trade Is entitled under
the law to share In the increase. THIS
does not necessarily mean, II for In
stance the maximum pay in n one
trade has been advanced ~ cents. that
every employee in that trade will re-
ceive a "a cent increase. Because OF the
limitations OF the number OF ratings
below the maximum II Is possible thai a
man employed In the lower ratings viii
receive more or less than the "a cent
increase. but in any event NE Will re-
ceiye an increase. Also this does not
mean that such increases will be, in the
case OF every employee. permanent. The
merit system will continue as in the
past. II an employee makes good he will
continue on TO the next higher rating 4:
II he fails TO make good ne will OF course
be reduced to the next lower rating.
Bonus Wages In Exceptional Cases.
.'Thlrd in accordance with the recon-
meudations OF all the wage boards the
paw Of the supervisory fo~rce-Iuarter-
men and leading men-which has hereto
fore been liked at % per cent. and 10
per cent. re respectively above the maxi
mum pay OF the trade. will he Increased
TO so per cent and 10 per cent. respcc-
lively. This Is believed to he in line
with the best practice in this country
giving "A material Increase In pay to those
mechanics and artisans who show their
ability to act in a supervisory capacity.
ut 10 impossible to determine with
exactness the average amount or the
increases. II may be stated. however.
that these increases will AFFECT a great
majority of the employees at navy yards
and stations. There are about $4,000
men employed in navy yards and naval
stations and the compensation of most
of them will be increased beginning jan
uary I. Those that receive the greatest
Increase this year did not receive any
increase last year"