Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-09-13

SHOulu De revised also, anu IUdI d uco-
ignated, guaranteed minimum hourly
wage rate be established in conform
ity with one OF the scales now being
applied by the war and navy depart
ments as most nearly fits the condi-
lions in this particular case"
This finding was made unanimous
ly by the National War Labor Board,
the members of which are five repre-
sentative manufacturers and five rep.
resentative workers, with William
Howard Taft and Frank P. Walsh as
joint chairmen, representing the pub
lie.
In the course of the same interview
with Mr.. Schwab in the American
Magazine it is stated:
1.-The president (of the Bethlehem
Steel company. Eugene C. Grace is
being paid by Mr.. Schwab over mil
lion dollars a year, thanks to the OPP
Grafton of the Bethlehem system OF
payment for results" (the bonus sys-
TEN" to which the men objected.)
What are the results" for which
Mr.. Grace is paid over million dol
lars year?
One of the foremost, as found by
the National War Labor Board, head
ed by former President William H.
Taft and Frank p Walsh, is a vast
quantity of labor unrest which, in the
words of the board, "is having a Sc
riously detrimental effect upon the
production of war materials absO-
lutely necessary to the success of the
American Expeditionary Forces. This
was clearly developed in the testi-
mony of the officials of the ordnance
department"
Another of the results" for which
Mr.. Grace is paid over million dol
lars a year is heavy Labor turn
lover" or rapid "hiring and firing" of
employees which was reflected in lost
production of important war mate
rails"
1T was discovered, for instance,
that during the year ended May 81,
1918. the company employed 57,423
workers, while during the same
period 56,771 left for other employ
ments. 1t was stated during the
Bethlehem hearings by Vice-President
Lewis that the labor turnover for the
month of May 1918, was 1888 per
Ut no Of no nonf
per year."
These results" the board found,
were direct result of President
Grace's system of payment by re-
SUITS" of which he is the beneficiary
to the extent of over a million dollars
year.
The results" obtained at Bethle-
hem were also due, in the words Of
the board, to "the absence of any
method of collective bargaining be-
tween the management of the EN-
ployes. The company. in most of it's
departments, refused to treat with
committees representing its men on
the ground that these committees
"savored of organization" Charges
by the men that employees We're dis
charged for legitimate union activity,
were referred to the boards exam
liner, with instructions that such dis
elimination be discontinued. Charges
that military exemption was utilized
by the employing foremen to coerce
workers were referred to the war de-
partment.
Whatever the exact truth as to
these latter charges, which the board
fund plausible enough to examine at
length, the fact is that they seemed
to the men we'll enough grounded to
cause discomfort and hence lost pro-
duction of important war materials"
In sum, the Bethlehem company
was not able to inspire in its en-
ployes the confidence. and the result
ing rivalry and enthusiasm" which
Mr.. Schwab declares to be necessary
for maximum production of war ma
terials.
The National War Labor board
took steps, in its award, to correct
these inetficiencies by installing a
system of collective bargaining,
wherein the management will receive
committees .of the men whether or
not 1t believes them to "savor of or
ganization"; by ordering the compli-
Gated bonus system to be totally ere
vised or abolished; and by granting
increased pay to many Of the work
ers in conformity with the schedules
authorized for such work by the war
or navy departments.-The Public.