New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-11
Arbitrary Power Proposed
for Adjustment Board
Arouses Gompers
Wages To Be Adjusted
War and Navy Department
Officials to Investigate Con-
ditions in Plants
From The Tribune Bur.Iu ]

<iAy ASL iutAb NOHlHlSs4OH, NItdNct gSS-
terday by the Council of National De-
fence, has not yet been Endorsed by
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation Of Labor. On the
contrary, it was learned to-day, Mr..
Gompers has filed with the Council of
National Defence objections to some OF
the most important details of the plan.
In consequence. the new commission is
without the necessary sanction to per-
form the work for which it was Gre
ated. Il was termed by a man closely
in touch with labor leaders to-day as
Just another paper committee"
The principal objection of Mr.. Com
pers, IL is stated, is the provision that
all workmen accepting employment on
government contracts shall agree 20
abide by the decision Of the Adjust
ment Commission. Labor objects TO
this, it is stated. because il is foreign
TO the fundamental policy of organized
labor to insist on collective bargaining.
1t further sees unpleasant possibilities
regarding non-union labor.
Object to Garment Workers
Another phase Of the situation which
has doubtless Influenced Mr. Gompers,
it is said, is the reported intention Of
the Council Of National Defence TO
give the Amalgamated Garment Work
ers' Union representation on the COM
mission. This organization is in bitter
competition with the Gompers organiza-
ton. It is participating in government
contracts on uniforms, and hence, IL is
pointed out, has q reasonable claim for
representation. Moreover. the AmaIga-
mated Garment Workers Union OBJ
tanned no representation on the War
Industries Board. the labor representa-
tive appointed by the President being
Hugh Frayne. Mr.. Gompers's lieuten-
ant. This appointment aroused bitter
resentment in Amalgamated circles, and
was the subject of vigorous protests TO
the Council of National Defence.
Labor officials here are. non-commit-
tai about the new labor commission and
the labor situation in general. Beneath
this reticence, however, there is a strong
undercurrent of unrest and obvious indi-
cations of serious labor difficulties I'M
less the Council of National Defence
can reach thorough going understand
ing with the American Federation.
To Adjust Wage Scales
The Navy Department announced to-
day the creation of an inter-depart-
mental committee on the adjustment of
wage scales of employees in govern
ment plants under the leadership of
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Frank
lin d. Roosevelt. The other members
are Walter Lippmann, assistant TO the
Secretary of War, and William Black
mon, conciliator Of the Department Of
Labor.
The two departments recognize that
labor difficulties in shipyards and
srsenals just now might interfere
seriously with the governments war
plans. For this reason the new com
mittee has been ordered TO begin work
this month. and in September it will
institute the new wage schedules. In
former years the departments have
made the annual adjustment in De-
cember.
The committee will receive reports
on August "a upon which it will base
its findings. Both the War and Navy
departments arc well prepared with in
formation, which has been collected
during the last few months.
The committee, in determining the
wages for the next twelve months, will
take as a basis the average wage paid
in any community as that to be paid
by the government. In some communi-
ties the government is known 20 be
paying more than the average wage and
in others less. There will be an equal
izing effect, it was believed, in the
amount paid By the government and by
private interests.
The wages paid will not be uniform.
as the present wage scales throughout
the country are not uniform. In the
Puget Sound region, il was stated,
wages are approximately IL per cent
higher than in the East. In the South
last year they were, in some instances,
25 per cent lower than in the North,
although the tendency has been to
reach the Northern level.
Normal Conditions Considered
The committee will take under con-
sideration temporary conditions in any
community which may tend to depress
or TO initiate wages, and will be guided
in determining wage scales by normal
conditions.
Each of the executive departments OF
the government, il was believed to-day,
would formulate its own policy respect
ing the treatment of labor in relation
70 the questions of unions, hours and
wages. The union question has come
forward as a result, II was said to-day,
of the partial abandonment of the plan
heretofore adhered 20 by the executive
departments of awarding contracts on
competitive bids. Now contracts are
awarded on the percentage basis, in
order TO expedite war work.
Admiral Harris, Of the navy, IN
charge of barracks construction work
in the vicinity Of New York, is in that
city to-day comforting with labor rep
resentatives in regard 10 the dispute
there concerning the employment of
non-union men on work for the govern
ment. The Navy Department would
make no announcement of its policy in
the absence Of q report from Admiral
Harris.
1t was made plain, however. that the
Navy Department has no intention of
aboishing the eight-hour rule hereto
fore adhered 10 on government work,
but, wherever il may be necessary 20
speed up work, the department is pay
ing and will continue 70 pay time and