The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-17

ms lldu klNFl lltI Il NAs1ea 49, ''N'
OF life.
settlers. wood reamers. punchers, fur
mace strikers. cleaning leaders. wire
men and firemen and helpers, drillers.
liner forgers. IS.
Linermen. "a.
Second-class regulators, .a2iz.
Third-cIsss marine ercctors and
machinists, 81 cents.
Grinders. clippers, Cranemen. and
drop forge helpers. holders boilers,
cementers. locomotive. ana road crane
conductors, hoisting and portable
firemen. so cents.
Sawyers, 4IIsc.
Helpers to burners. welders. angle
smiths. boItmakers, blscksmiths. liner
forEers. boiler shops, sheet metal
workers, riveters. foundry. hulls. ship
sheds. fitting up hands, 46 cents.
Helpers TO Boilers.
Helpers to boilers. liners, cement
ers. joIners. lumber. mold lofters,
painters, ship carpenters. 42l3c.
Boiler shop workers, rIVet heaters,
40 cents.
Heaters. So cents.
Piece rates are prescribed IN inc
decision and will be made public
in pamphlet form. Provision is made
for the fixing OF supplemental hourly
rates under the direction OF an eX-
aminer.
The new schedule will be used as
a standard for all Eastern yards, the
details to vary only according to
local conditions. As TO the open or
closed shop. the yards will be oper-
atad arcordInu 70 conditiOns existinR
before the war.
Carpenters now striking can come
under the new agreement IL they re-
turn to work. Their disagreement
now is over the question OF the open
shop.
Unusual situation.
Never in the history OF labor has
a situation arisen such as that con-
fronting the nation today. Unrest
everywhere has been reported among
war workers. The causes have been
attributed by labor TO profiteering.
unstandardIzed wages, and enforced
idleness.
All departments Of the Government
have been grayely concerned at the
trend Of events. Congress has in
jected itself into the situation with
demands for everything from a gen
eral investigation OF labor conditions
to consumption of all workers.
President Wilson has prepared to
go before the men personally. should
the situation become critical. At no
time has he considered the proposal
OF conscriptinE labor.
The far-reaching, unsettled condi-
lions have been brought TO a head by
the walk-out OF shipyard woodwork
ers. Led by William Hutchenson-
the only international labor president
to refuse his signature on the agree
ment between the Government and
labor last June-carpenters in scatter
ed yards have tied up work by their
strike.
Majority Responded.
In this situation a majority OF the
workers patriodcally responded to the
nations appeal Disapproving the ac-
ton Of Hutchinson. they threw their
influence upon the striking carpenters.
urging them to return. They fear the
consequences OF public opinion II the
ship carpenters action leads 70 convlc-
ton that labor is not behind the war.
But even should the present crisis be
passed successfully. the Government is
faced with the greater problem OF
stabiliziug industry everywhere.
Labor leaders who have the COM
bined confidence OF their own men
and the Government. too. declare that
there must be a national labor policy.
designed to put at an end the un-
rest
They demand a stable wage. one
that will not permit different war
workers in the same locality to get
different wages. They ask that
their work be placed on a virtual sal
airy basis-to insure a wage when
lack Of material forces idIeness in
great plants. This plan the Govern
ment today has under careful cOnsid-
Grafton, and is expected to move to-
ward its eventual acceptance soon.