Evening journal., 1918-01-11

+ wives whose husbands are employed
I in the shipyards in Philadelphia, Ches-
ter and Wilmington. and from the fam
! ily budgets thus obtained have deter
mined that, since the beginning Of the
war, the cost Of living has advanced
almost 400 per cent.
Threats Of walk-outs which would
seriously hamper the Government =
shipbuildfng program, so far as
Delaware is concerned. also featured
yesterdays sessions Instances Of al
legged bad faith on the part Of ship
yard owners toward their employees
were brought to the attention Of the
board, and when il was learned that
this commission could not intercede
the labor representatives strongly inti-
mated that a strike would be the next
step.
Charles McCollum. representing the
workmen i'm the Wilmington yards
made the accusation that yard owners
i'm his district had discriminated
against the unions and had refused to
grant hearings in cases where work
men were underpaid or discharged
Joseph H. Richie, representing tho
men in the Chester yards, said the en-
ploycrs In Chester had taken advan-
tage Of the ignorance Of foreign work
men to cut down wages.
"The men in Chester were ready 90
strike last night said Richie, "and
they are working today only because
persuaded them to be patriotic and
make sacrifices, II necessary. for the
good OF the country
McCullum declared II would be inn
possible for the men to continue work
unless some adjustments were made
soon
I'VE have been having patriotism
thrown at us since the beginning Of the
war" he said. but we have not been
getting Justice. Neither the foreman
nor the superintendent in the Whining
ton yard would listen TO our appeals in
behalf of men who had been arbitrarily
discharged for refusing TO accept work
That would not have paid them a living
wage. We are just as anxious as you
are 30 have these ships built, but we
must have a fair deal If The employ
ers are going TO take a stand like this
we VIII have 10 take a stand, too
Commission Without Authority.
v. Evert Macy, chairman Of the
board told the witness that his com
mission did not have the authority to
intercede I'm disputes of this charac-
ter
I'VE are here simply TO fix a wage
schedule he explained. "and not 10 set
Tie labor trouble. As soon as we have
fixed this schedule we shall appoint an
examiner who VIII be empowered TO
see that Justice is done to ALI"
McColum was about TO resume his
strike talk, hut was stopped by Charles
Scott generN organizer for the Broth
crhood of Boiler Makers and cham
pon Of the labor cause I'm the present
"Do moi worry The board with these
said Scott, with a show Of
anger III YOU find 10 necessary TO walk
out to get justice go tO it. IL will not
be your fault. I am sure the Whining
ten men can take care Of themselves.
They always have In the past"
Mr.. Fosters cosi-of-llying chart pre-
clpitaed q long discussion The labor
Ing men insisted that The advances In
necessities since 1914 had been greater
than ss 10 per cent Some of them
placed emphasis on the point that while
the governments percentage may be
accurate no attention had been given
the quality of the staples received for
the money paid out. Hundreds Of fam
ilies depending on a husbands or a
sons income, they said have not seen
steak or a roast Of beef since the war
began. 10 was maintained also that
they are wearing clothing Of an infer
or grade and one or two pairs Of shoes
a year instead OF three or four for each
member OF the household
Among the working classes, accord
ing. 90 Mr. Scott and his associates,
meatless and wheat less days are any
thing but a novelty. Many families
have been deprived OF a sufficient sup
ply of bread and meat ever since prices
began 20 soar, they declared
Mr.. Scott questioned tho accuracy 0f
The Foster chart he said the working
people had been "pestered" so much by
so-cslled Investigators that they now
refuse 90 give any Information concern /
ing their household affairs 30 anybody. .
There was a general "laugh" through
ont the room When Mr.. Foster said that
several of the budgets in his list had .
been obtained i'm OAK Lane.
That's high-brOw neighbOrhood,
came a voice from the re6r Of the /
room.
oh no, interiected Mr. Scott. |
~ know q number OF riveters living |
up there That part Of It is an right" |
The principal witness during the
session was Edward /. Keenan,, /
president of the Central Labor Union. |
He made the assertion that family Of /
five cannot possibly live on 81 90 a day 1
with prices as they are now. He quoted /
he prices of eggs. meats, flour. fuel and .
other necessities 10 show that sA50, /
once a respectable wage, was now /
mere pittance.
one OF the novel suggestions Of the /
day was shoeless days for children. Mr. I
Macy suggested that This might be