Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
HOLDS OUT HOPE
OF INCREASED PAY
Director Ralph Says Cooper
alton May Obtain Short
Hours Also.
FAVORS LONG LEAVE FOR
TUBERCULAR WORKERS
Addresses Bureau of Engraving and
Printing Employees at Machine
Division Banquet.

Three dollars day as the minimum
wage for all employees of the bureau of
engraving and printing and legislation
providing for one year of sick leave
with free sanatorium treatment, rail-
road fare and other expenses for en-
ployes afflicted with tuberculosis, were
held up as ideals toward which all en-
ployes of the institution should work,
by Director Joseph Ralph of the bu-
reau last night. He expressed these
views during an address at the annual
banquet of the machine division of the
bureau of engraving and printing, held
at the Hotel Winston last evening. He
was heartily applauded.
Mr.. Ralph spoke of the improvement
of working conditions at the bureau,
told of the improvements for which he
was working and in obtaining which
he desired the earnest cooperation Of
all employees. He declared workers
should not bubble" over small mat
tiers. but should put their shoulders to
the wheel aid work for those things
which would bring about the greatest
benefit. He declared that if every en-
ploye would save the bureau cents
day 1t would mean saving in the
plant of $4,000 year, which money,
he said, he would have put into in
creased salary for the most poorly paid
workers.
Urges Reciprocal Relations.
What we need is reciprocal rela-
tons between employer and employe."
said Director Ralph, after explaining
that a committee of men had recently
visited him to inquire as to the nature
of new registering machine which
was being tried out. Don't be sus-
picious of everything"
He brought up the proposition of al
lowing one years leave with pay to
tubercular patients, saying that forty
five cases had existed, and that even
He said that by sending these employees
away for their health Uhey are now
isolated so far as possible for the pro-
lection of their fellow workers, he ex-
plained) general benefit would be de-
rived. Under present conditions, he
said, the afflicted ones must continue
working to support their families and
themselves.
Sees Better Conditions.
He said that a man cannot live and
keep a family on $3.50 a day, and
urged that both man and woman en-
they may live comfortably I'VE can
give you forty-ve days leave year.
a seven-hour work day and better
wages than private firms if you Coop
crate" he said
James A. Williams, the POSTMASTER,
spoke on behalf of his fellow employees
at the end of Mr. Ralphs address, say
ing they appreciated the efforts the d.
rector is making for them and attrib-
uting the success of the great printing
plant to his ability as a manager.
Declaring there is no shortage of men
who are willing to work for a living
wage in America, Frank Morrison, sec
rotary of the American Federation OF
Labor, admonished his auditors to be
ware of the dangers of unrestricted i'm .
migration and at the same time made
it plain that labor intended to win the
fight for a literacy test immigration
law, even il it had to be done over the
Presidents veto.
Workmen Showed Out.
Don't be fooled into thinking immi-
grafton will shove American labor up
ward" said Mr.. Morrison. 1T is
showing the American workman out. I
believe we will get the immigration
literacy test bill through. however. and
that we will get it passed over his
veto if he should veto it.
There is no shortage of men in this
country who are willing to work for a
living wage"
He said cry to this effect was being
raised "by publicity bureaus supported
by trusts and big interests"
Efficiency as obtained through good
fellowship was the theme of William
P. Malburn. assistant secretary of the
Treasury. who is directly in charge of
the bureau. He urged cooperation
and teamwork.
Clark Griffith Speaks.
Clark Griffith, manager of the Wash
ington base ball team. was another
speaker. He announced that April 4 a
game would be played between the Ma
tionals and a team from the bureau.
A letter Of regret that he could not
be present was read from Secretary
McAdoo of the Treasury. In addition
to the speakers. r. H. Chappell, chief
of the machine division, and A c.