The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-14
WORKMEN FROM
THREE FACTORIES
Give TESTIMONY
Complaints Heard by War La
Dor Board Based on De-
mands for Higher Wages.

Cany anu wayne WORKS were nearu
his morning by examiners of the War
Labor Board.
Testimony OF the witnesses in the
William ". Johnson Sheet Metal
Works showed that all conditions
were good with the exception Of ven-
iilation; that ordinary labor is being
paid from rs to 80 cents, helpers 30 to
35 cents and the rest OF the labor at
the plant Is receiving 40 to As cents;
that the employees work nine hours
day. There is a punctuality bonus
Of ten percent. it was said, and there
has been no objection shown to men
Joining unions. Increases have been
granted when asked for, witness
said. George Davis, witness, said
that he was getting SO cents an hour
and when doing some government
work at two different times he re-
ceived Is cents an hour for five con-
secutive weeks.
Fred Lantz and Fred Taggart were
witnesses in the Wayne Works hear
Ing. Taggart said that after he had
presented demands to the company he
was laid off. He said that in the
foundry there was no price book and
this Is customary in other foundries.
He said that he was making IS day
and that he wanted an eight-hour day
with six dollars. He said that COM
mon labor in this factory Is receiving
40 cents an hour, and that when he
worked on piece work he received
$3.50 n day, but that he did not want
the piece work system. witnesses
said that sanitary conditions we're bad,
Kirby Names was the witness
brought up for the Pilot Motor Car
company The brief of this company
has ben handed in and attached to
II was list of names Of the employees
of the company stating that they did
not consent TO the complaint being
filed with the war labor board. Names
said that he volunteered the complaint
and was not chosen by the employees
to file it, but that they seemed to be
satisfied with 1t. He said that he had
been called into the office of Mr.. Sci
del and asked to withdraw the COM
plant. He said that Mr. Seidel talked
with him about the conditions and
told him that the government inspect
or had said the sanitary conditions in
the plant we're first class. He testi-
fed that Mr. Seidel had said the COM
plant was not fair
Names is young man employed
eight hours day at forty cents an
hour, He is a machine operator and
said that he was not regular ma
chinist He said that he wanted from
55 to 65 cents an hour with an eight
hour day.
City Attorney Robbins appeared for
the city at the War Labor Board hear
ing of the city firemen's complaint
Wednesday afternoon. He said the
city taxes will not permit an increase
In fremen's wages above the $40 in
crease already given them.
Alfred Griffith. representing the
nremen, said they had been promised
by two members of the board that the
matter would be brought before coun-
Gil but that this promise had not been
fulfilled. City Attorney Robbins said
that he would not appear in the case
other than TO deny the jurisdiction OF
the War Labor Board
Mr.. Griffith said he had been an
employee of the fire department for IL
years, that he started at $50 month
and Is now receiving 500. He said fire
men work "a hours day and seven
days a week and that their uniforms
have increased in price and that if
they are soiled 1t is necessary to buy
a new one.
Witnesses testifying in the Male
able hearing said wages were cut when
the company was on war work: that
men were reduced to wages that wo-
men received in ORDER to make them
equal.
1t was said that the Malleable pays
for mans house rent, but docks him
fifty cents day when he lays off.
Denv .lurjSdjction
The testimony of Miss Bertha Olmet-
Ger charged that improper conduct of
foreman in the coremakers' depart
ment caused a walk-out in that fac
tory several weeks ago. Forty-five
girls are employed there. those doing
piece work getting forty cents an
hour. It was said.
brief prepared by The Malleable
representative denied all charges. re-
pudiated the jurisdiction of the War
Labor Beard and said 1t would not
he guided by any decision Of that
board
The case OF Carl Jessup. who was
discharged at the National Automatic
Tool company, was brought up and it
was suggested by Examiner Bland that
Il be presented In the form Of an aft
davit.
The brief prepared by Attorney
Rupe for the National Automatic Tool
company denied the validity Of the
complaint served upon the company
and refused to recognize the jursdic
ton Of the War Labor Board
Claude Smith. witness In the
Swayne-Robinson hearing. testified
that he was paid so cents an hour for
n 10 hour day. He said he wanted
an eight hour day with "A cents an
hour Jim Reece, woodworker said
he received s1140 week with
10 hour and 20 minute day.
The brief of the Swayne-Robinson
company was read It denied all
charges and said the real purpose is
TO COMPEL employers to recognize
union labor. II stated that the COM
pany has never Disseminated against
it's employees because OF affiliations
with labor organizations.
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