Evening star., 1918-02-17
Seeks Talk With President.

President Wilson is expected to ex-
press definite views on the situation in
reply to telegram he received last
president of the Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners. asking an oppor-
tunity personally to put the situation
before him.
Other developments in connection
with the strikes during the day were:
Indications that the heads of other
unions will not support Hutcheson's S
position, and assurances from New York
metal workers that they will continue
work awaiting an adjustment by the
wage adjustment board.
A statement by the shipping board
that no effort will be made to coerce
the strikers by threatening to call them
into the military service.
Chairman Fletcher's Proposal.
A declaration by Chairman Fletcher
of the Senate commerce committee. in
vestigating shipping, that the govern
ment should take over the operation of
all shipyards and fix a general wage
scale.
A request by shipyards that they be
permitted to crush the strike in their
own way.
There was no indication last night as
to what measures the President has in
mind, and at the White House it was
said no reply would be sent during the
night to Hutcheson's telegram. The
President has given his personal at
tention to the situation since Friday.
Open or Closed Shop.
Hutchsson,s refussg to ieave . setsle-
1ment to the labor djnsfm5al bezsd
list nfEht Drew from .0ffcials Of tie
board fno ssatsnaent that the cafreh-
terS' organixatdon alone of Aat< fAe
trades engaged in shipbuildfng h1S Is.
clinedt to let it adjust dff1cultfes.
Hutcheson. they said: agreed to let the
steadfastly, refused to leave to it the
question of conditions Of labor, de-
claring the question of the open or
closed shop.
officers of the American Federation
of Labor. it was. declared last night,
attitude; and are likely to -repudiate
him. Local organizations of the car
penters- on the Pacific and gulf coasts
and along the South Atlantic, despite
orders from Hutcheson. are leaving to
the adjustment board, members said
last night, all questions affecting their
relations with their employers.
Scale Uniform for 60 Per Cent.
The Delaware river and Maryland
award given out yesterday establishes
a uniform wage scale and working
in 60 per cent of the At
lantic coast yards. 1t gives carpenters
a minimum wage of $3.50 a day and the
striking Baltimore carpenters. al
will be permitted to accept its provi-
sions if they SO desire. The award
will be used as a basis for arranging
other agreements. The adjustment
week expects to-take up consideration
of a New York district scale.
Yesterdays award, by establishing
identical conditions in all the yards in
cluded. will put a stop; ofticials said.
to most of the unrest in these yards
and will check the practice of some
employers in hiring away each others
men. 1t establishes an eight-hour day,
prohibits more than ten hours labor.
creates open-shop conditions, gives
the limit on piece-work production, as
sureS there will be no reduction in
pay and provides for retro
active payment of the wage increases
provided.
Not as High as on Pacific Coast.
The new scale is not as high as the
Pacific coast scale. Carpenters under
its provisions will be paid 81 less day. 1t
makes no provisions for bonus pay.
Employers will be required in certain
instances to pay the transportation of
the workmen.
The award provides for Saturday
half holiday, time and a half pay for
ordinary overtime and double pay for
and holidays. Men employed
on night shifts will. draw, per cent
higher pay than those employed in the
DAYTIME.
Eight-hour shifts are urged on em-
ployers and employees whenever the
system can be put into effect.
In deciding that the limit shall be re-
ponVaH from the amOnnt of niece work
a workman turns out the board has
taken long step forward and has
opened the way for an increase in pro-
duction estimated at from 25 to 80 per
that no piece work pay shall be cut
the board has removed the cause for
limiting output Unions heretofore
have limited the output of piece work
ers on the grounds that as soon as a
nan began to draw. unusually high pay
the piece rate was reduced.
To Extend to All Yards.
The piece work arrangement, it was
said last night. probably will be ex-
tended to all yards in the country as
fast as employers and employees can
be induced to agree to it's provisions.
The new wage rate ranges from $1.35
IN hour minimum for hammer and ma
chine forgers to 40 cents for laborers.
rhe average pay is about 20 cents an
hour.
Shipping board officials last night /,
aid that to make a special exception /
II the case of the carpenters, as asked |
~ Hutcheson, would upset their entire /
abor program. The magnitude of the /
plans, they said. forced I
hem to deal through the adjustment I
BOARD with the unions as a whole. |
autchsson, they said, could not be |
reated with separately. but must come |
o the adjustment board. as have the |
,thers.
Intends to Play Fair.
Members. Of the adjustment board last
light said that the assurance Of the New
= CONTINUED on Second Page.l