Evening star., 1917-09-26
NORFOLK WORKERS
ARE ORDERED BACK
5000 Navy Yard Mechanics to
Await eNgotiations Now
Pending.
EARLY SETTLEMENT URGED

International officers of the
labor unions involved in the
'strike OF more than 5000 me-
. chanics at the Norfolk navy yard
have advised the heads of the
local unions there to return the
men to work pending negotiations
! to adjust the differences.
Representatives of machinists
in all government navy yards and
arsenals. following their session
this morning, decided to seek an
other engagement at the White
House. They probably will call
there late this afternoon.
Seek Early Action.
These representatives seek an assur-
ance of early action on their brief sub
mitted yesterday for higher wages
than those granted in the new scale
that went into effect on Monday.
! Meanwhile Secretary Tumulty today
forwarded the machinists' brief to Sec
retary of the Navy Daniels. who made
no comment upon it. 1t was learned
that he will take up the matter as
soon as possible with Assistant Secre-
|tary Roosevelt. The men state that
they will call at the Navy Department
to present their grievances in fuller
detail if such a presentation is desired.
n. P. Alifas of Washington, president
of district No. A. International Asso-
citation of Machinists, the district which
includes 1900 or more machiniSts In
government employ, again will head the
delegation to the White House. He will
be accompanied by five or six men who
form a subcommittee designated by the
general committee, now in session at
the Metropolitan Hotel in Washington
Situation Most Acute.
Mr. Alifas today said that the situa-
ton is most acute at the Norfolk and
the Charleston. =. c.. yards. The Navy
Department already has been advised by
the commandant of the Norfolk yard that
about so per cent Of the workers there
had walked out because of wage dis
agreements.
Those on strike include thirteen
trades. 1t was stated, but the machinists
are still at work. Strong pressure is
3,
however. it was stated by their repre-
sentatives here, to go out.
Secretary Daniels Confident.
Secretary Daniels said the situation
there is being handled by officers at
the yard and he is confident an agree
ment will be reached without interven-
tion of the department, by which the
men will go back to work.
w ha hrja ,hy,,it tad
Tumulty. and by him forwarded to the
Navy Department, 1t is stated that the
men believed themselves entitled to an
average Of so cents a day increase. and
they received but 25 cents.
Today. It was said. the men were de-
manding even more than a so cent in
crease. though they would have been
satisfied with that scale had 1t been
granted by the central wage board that
acted on the recommendations Of the
local boards. This so cent figure is only
an average. the demands being relatively
higher In some yards. and considerably
lower in others.
Asked So Cents; Received 80.
For example. 1t was pointed out. the
l6 cent increase in the New York yard
brought up the average of increases
granted. as did the 10 per cent increase
at the Mare Island yard.
At the Washington yard the men
commended 40 cents and the central
board allowed but 80 cents. 1t Is ad-
mitted that few rates were raised
beyond this average, but it is claimed
that these rates affected comparatively
few men.
At Indian Head a raise of cents was
granted. but the mon there are de-
manding the same rates as those at the
Washington navy yard. At Charles
ton. S. c.. where trouble is imminent.
according to the ma chinists, the men
wanted a Ascent increase. the local
board recommended 40 cents and they
received but "a cents.
Dissatisfaction also is reported to be
growing at the Newport torpedo sta
ton. where important work is in prog
ress, because there the men wanted
As cents. mad a Accent recommendation
from the local board. and were granted
a 16-cent increase.
At Puget Sound the men ask for
$3.50 minimum. the price paid in
nearby private corporation, where the
same class Of work is performed and
the local board recommended S5.2S. but
the central board pared this figure
down to maximum of $5.12.
Yards Represented in Conference.
Navy yards represented at the con-
ference here are those at Washington
(Which has seven delegates), Norfolk,
Philadelphia. Boston. New York. New
port. torpedo station. Charleston, S. C.;
New Orleans Mare Island and Puget
Sound. Arsenals having representa-
tives are the Rock Island. Ill: the
F'rankford. Pa; the Watertown. Mass
and the Watervliet n. Y. There also
are delegates representing the Spring
field. Mass. armory. the Panama
Canal Zone. the lighthouse service. the
government printing Office and the