The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-10-10
ATTORNEY FOR
SHIP men GIVES
HIS TESTIMONY

Seattle bodybuilding employers
launched a mass OF figures and fea'
sons on the wage adjustment board
"Wednesday In their effort 10 show
why they should not be required to
shoulder the increase demanded by
the unionista.
Attorney Bruce shorts. repre-.
aenting the building interests. was
the first witness called before the
board NJ the opening session al
the New Washington.
In approximate figures. he stated
the new wage scale demanded by
the metal tradesmen was an In.
crease OF 27s per cent over the
prevailing scale This. he pointed
out. would make the cost OF con.
structlon reach SIS n ton.
In showing the great share In
construction expense that labor
plays. he testified that from % 10
30 per cent OF the cost Of operat.
ing the Seattle Construction a.
Dry Dock Co.'S yard was consumed
by labor.
Materials Increase
He further testified that the cost
OF materials had greatly Increased
owing 90 an Increase In freight
rates.
/ lie said n cost $40 900 more "a
build an s00.ton vessel in Seattle
than or the Atlantic coast
I lie drew the boards attention Il
tho fact thpt the blanket agree
ment between the employers and
/ the employees did not contain the
unfair material" clause previous
TO August l. except In the case oi
the monlders. As Ames and
E Duthie have no moulders. those
plants we're not affected.
On the new agreement. he said
the men could walk out on ans
material they saw ~.
In an cndeayor 10 show how Il
would be impossible 20 guarantee
/ fair materials. he said that large
yards contracted for their mater
ials months In advance He said
that they might be considered fall
AZ the time the contract was made
but unfair AT the time Of delivery
/ He also cited an example in the
requirements demanded by Iioyd'i
E surveyors. Seattle has only ons
I foundry. the Washington Iron
Works. capable OF turning out Ger
7 tain castings which are included
under these specifications. And
At this time. this foundry Is under
boycott,
Apprentice Clause
He further said he believed the
shlpbuilding companies should be-
allowed TO obtain their skilled me
chanics from the ranks OF the I'M
skilled. proyidink the latter could
be educated properly and they
were paid equitable wages.
( Under the existing conditions. h.
said. helper must undergo II
months apprenticeship before he
can be n mechanic. This. he be
/ licyed. was unfair during the exist
ling national emergen$ and
scarcity OF skilled labor.
Shorts submitted statistical data
showing food prices in Seattle
were lower than those in New York
city. and the same an in several
cities scattered at random thruoui
tho country.
G. W. Wiley. president OF the
Seattle Construction a Dry Dock
Co. followed Shorts.
: He reviewed labor activities
prior and subsequent 10 the closing
o' the yards on August !. Like
Shorts. he said II was practically
Z imperative the shipbuilders be al
lowed 10 obtain their skilled labor
from places where the greatest ex
/ pediency could be obtained
He said that his company had
suffered losses amounting 90 more
than $3.50. 900 on number OF the
huils under construction. and was
unable TO grant the demanded In