South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-17
SEE END OF
SHIP PiWORKERS
STRIKE SOON
New Wage Scale Awarded,
and President is Expected
to Take Hand-HutChe-
son Finds Opposition.
Associated Press service:

Associated Press Service:
WASHINGTON. Feb. 16.-Enorts
by the government TO end the
strikes Of carpenters in eastern ship
yards brought two important deve.-
opments today which officials de-
clared promise to effect an early set
tlement
Pres't Wilson prepared TO take
some action in the situation. the ma
ture of which has not been disclosed
and the ship building labor adjust
ment board handed down a vase
award covering Delaware river and
Maryland ship yards which will
form the basis of a general eastern
ship building wage scale.
The president is expected TO eX-
press definite views on the situation
in reply 10 a telegram he received
tonight from William L. Hutcheson.
president of the Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners, asking an
opportunity personally to put the
situation before him.
other developments in connection
with the strikes during the day
we're:
WOn'fSuppOrt HutchesOn.
Indications that the heads of
other unions Will not support
Hutcheson's position and assur-
ances from New York metal work
ers that they will continue work
awaiting an adjustment by the wage
adjustment board.
A statement was made by the
shipping board that no effort would
be made TO coerce the strikers by
threatening to call them into the
military service.
a declaration by Chairma n
/ Fletcher If the senate commerce
/ COMMITTEES. investigating shipping
that the government should take
| over the operation of all ship yards
and fix a general wage scale.
A request by ship yards that they
/ be permitted to crush the strike in
/ their own way
There was no indication tonight as
\ to what measures the president has
in mind end at the white house it
I was said no reply would be sent to-
night TO Hutcheson's telegram. The
president has given his personal al
| tention to the situation since yester-
day.
New Scale Lower Than Pacific.
The new scale is not as high as
/ the Pacific coast scale. Carpenters
under its provisions will be paid 81
/ less a day II makes no provisions
for bonus pay. Employers will be
required in certain instances to pay
/ the transportation OF the workmen.
The award provides for a Satur-
day half holiday, time and a half
pay for ordinary overtime and dow
BILE pay for Sundays and holidays.
Men employed on night shifts will
draw five per cent higher pay than
those employed in the day time
Eight-hOur shifts are urged o.
employers and employees wherever
the system can be put into effect.
In deciding that the limit shall
be removed from the amount OF
piece work "A workman turns out
the board has taken a long step for.
ward and has opened the way for
an increase in production estimated
at from - 10 30 per cent. At the
same time in ordering that no piece
work pay shall be cut the board has
[ removed the cause for limiting out
put. Unions heretofore limited the
output OF piece workers on the
grounds that as soon as man be
gan 10 draw unusually high pay the
piece rate was reduced.
The piece work arrangement, il
was said tonight. probably will b5
extended 10 all yards in the countrl
as fast as employers and employe,
can he induced TO agree to its pro
visions
The new wage rate ranges from
$1.35 an hour minimum for ham
mer and machine forgers 70 40 cent.
for laborerS. The average pay Z.
about 20 cents an hour.