New-York tribune., 1917-06-07
Refusal of Congress for
Budget Disrupts Bu-
reau Staff
Situation Called Grave
Disturbances Predicted if
Gompers Loses His
Control
Prom Tho Tribune Bureau

Washington, June 6.-The Depart
ment of Labor has dropped from its
payrolls seventeen members cf its con-
ciliation staff and is now declining re-
quests for mediation from manufac-
turers throughout the country. The
reason for the disruption Of the staff
lies with Congress.
A year ago the department received
$500 for its conciliation work. This
amount has been exhausted on account
of the great demands during the last
year, and recent request by Secretary
Wilson for S25O,OOO to continue the
work was refused by the House Ap-
preparations Committee.
Officials of the department point out
that the labor adjustments effected in
recent weeks by its conciliators have
contributed a great deal TO the progress
of the war programme. They further
maintain that provision for the con-
tinuance of this work is essentially
part of the governments war plans.
Many Troubles Adjusted
During the last few weeks, in CO
operation with the labor committee of
the Council of National Defence, the
Labor Department has adjusted dif-
ferences between employers and en-
plcyes at the Cramp shipbuilding
works. Philadelphia; the Matthias Snip
building Company, Camden ~ D."
where fifteen submarine chasers are
under construction by the government;
the Newport News Shipbuilding Com
panv; the New London Ship Company
New London. Conn, which is construct
ing submarines, and the American 10,
comotive Company, of DunklTk anu
Schenectady, n. Y, building locomo-
tives for the Russian government
In addition. less than month ago;
Secretary Wilson personally secured
the ratification Of the agreement en-
tered into by miners and operators IN
the No. 2 District, in Pennsylvania
where a strike of 10000 men threat
encd to tie up production OF bltuminous
coal. 49,,
Department adjusted forty-one labor
disturbances in 1915, 227 in 1916 ana
thus far this year has satisfactorily
settled 267 strikes or threatened
strikes. The deuartment has been called
in as mediator in sixty-slx labor dis
turbances within the last month.
officials of the department state that
trouble of a serious nature is brewing
throughout the labor world. LABOR IL
ia said. resents the attitude of great
many Administration officials in COM
pletely ignoring it in the war pro
gramme. and also resents the over
whelming representation Of capltalistlc
interests in the war advisory boards
Gompers Controls Situation
The labor situation. one official said
today. rests with Mr.. Gompers, s
ability 10 retain absolute control. II
ne should lose the labor hel m the coun-
try would face serious industrial DIS
turbances.
That President Wilson is acquainted
With the serious possibilities in the
labor situation was shown to-day IN
letter which he wrote TO Governor
Brumbaugh of Pennsylvania, saying:
~ think it would be most untortu-
nate for any of the states to relax the
laws bv which safeguards have been
thrown about labor. ! feel that there,
is no necessity for such action, ana
that il would lead to a slackening OF
the energy of the nation rather than
10 an increase Of it, besides being very
unfair to the laboring people them
selves"