The Washington herald., 1916-12-04
100000 Looking to Capitol
To Help Underpaid Employees
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

Employees Union pointed out last night
that they were gratifed at the action OF
the government in making this inVesu-
CATION, they hope 1t will not be cited as
a reason for delaying legislation Tor tne
immediate relief of the poorer paid en-
ployes at the present session. The FED
eral probe undoubtedly will take some
months 1t is doubtful that the hndlngs
will be available to assist Congress Inc
information secured may be used as the
basis for criminal complaints rather than
to aid increased compensation leSlslauoh'
For that reason, officials of the union
will start work today to try to induce
members Of the House to have the Nolan
sS-a-day minimum wage bill called up
for action as soon as possible. There
are already 2l7 members Of the lower
branch on record in writing favoring
the legislation and an unofficial canvass
of the United States Senate shows more
than the necessary number to insure It's
enactment in the upper branch.
Strong argument for the passage of the
50 a day measure was offered, say union
oficials, in the recent increases granted
by the United States Steel Corporation.
These aggregated 4219 per cent in the past
twelve months. II will cost that corpora
ton in excess of three times more TO
meet its annual payroll than it would
cost the government to put the minimum
wage bill into effect.
The cost OF putting the Nolan minimum
wage bill in effect would be $3,S12, 900 in
the District of Columbia and S24,124, ,OOO
throughout the country.
While the main efforts of the increased
pay advocates will be directed toward
effecting the passage of the Nolan DILL
the measures advocated by the American
Federation of Labor at its recent con-
vention in Baltimore will be pushed.
among them a bill advocating a straight
500 increase for all employees in the gov
ernment receiving less than 5000 to en-
able them to meet the increased cost OF
living.
Certain members of Congress- opposing
an increase have stated that they are
not yet satisfied OF the necessity. For
their information the union officers have
prepared statistics showing the general
increase in salaries in the business world.
supplemented by letters which have been
pouring into the Federal Employees Union
since the movement for higher wages
started and since the hearings on the
Nolan bill were held This information,
with the statistics now being secured by
Fthelbert Stewart. chief statistician Of
the Bureau of Labor, will be offered in
support of increased pay legislation and
urged upon members who desire addi-
tional information.
Nolan Speaks Tonight.
Representative Nolan will speak before
the board of representatives of the Fed
cral Employees Union tonight on the
prospects of the passage OF his bill at
this session
The California Congressman plans to
tall; with the members of the House and
seek support FOR his plan to have the bill
called up on a suspension calendar day.
If he is successful in this effort he will
not have to wait for the call of the Labor
Committee.
The different organizations indorsing
the movement for higher salaries, whose
representatives all will work for speedy
action, are the Maryland State Fedora
tion Of Labor, the Federation OF Civil
Service Employees the Federal EmCIoves'
Union. the National Federation Of Post
Office Clerks, the United National As>O-
ciation of Postofrice Clerks, the National
Association OF Letter Carriers the Ma
tional League OF Government Ernploves
the National Association Of United States
Civil Service Employees at Navy Yards,
the Consumers League Of the District
the Board of Trade. many civic organiza-
tiOns OF the District, and labor unions
from every section Of the country. The
legislative committee of the A. F. of L.
will be directly in charge Of the work at
the Capitol.
Members of Congress poured into the
city from all parts OF the country last
night. and a number Of them assured H.
NJ McLarin that they would be active in
the movement for higher wages
I'VE look to this session for the most
important bill that can come out Of
Congress in many years. said a delega-
ton from the Government Printing Office
who visited The Washington Herald last
night We have waited for some relief
for months and feel certain that the high
cost Of things all throughout the country
will fnally get it for US. We can't tell
You how grateful the poorer paid workers
are to have a newspaper speak for them
We see 1t coming and we are glad"