Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-25
BREEZE ST|RS UP
LABOR Commission
Near Clash Over Question OF
Straining Law to Keep NUM-
tions Going.

Something of breeze rippled the
waters NJ n meeting yesterday of the
labor Commission of Delaware, when
he petition of the du Pont Powder Com
,any. TO be allowed to run an eleven
,o,1r shift for women doing special war
work was discussed.
On Angus, |, the Brandywlne plant
If the powder company, applied Tor
permission to extend the second shut
If women workers to II p. m, IN order
to get out special mumtion parts badiy
needed by the Ordance department
at Washington. They asked the extern
sion for sixty days, and when they were
ienied permission, since TINS was III
violation Of the State Laws governing
he employment of women, closed the
nlant during daylight hours.
The commission. however, gave them
nermission to operate overtime Tor
thirty davs pending decision by the
Woman's Division of the Ordnance
Department. But after this time expired,
NOT having heard from the Ordnance
Department, they notified the du Pont
Company that nothing renamed for
the Commission but TO enforce the ex-
sting laws.
FRAME MAKES DIRECTION
commissioner Thomas Frame, Jr. want
cd Ia know Just why the COMMISSION
had taken this arbitrary stand ii tins
uprk was needed to further the war
"If tbis was the only plant where
those narts could be turned out, he
s,;d .'and we were notified by Major
Finley of the Secretary of Wars office
thai the plant should be allowed to run
even in violation of the State law. | think
we should have done so. | should be IN
favor of lowering all bars to further the
prosecution of the war.
Chairman Warner explained that foi-
lowing the telegram from Major lulley,
hc had wired Chairman, OF the war
palicics Board. and received reply
whirh in it's intent was for the Delaware
body ia stand pat on its decision
An amusing confusion arose during
the exchange Of telegrams between
the Delaware body and the government
denortmcntS When Mir Warner received
the word from Major Tulley. to mann
tam the status quo in regard to the du
Pont plant, the plant was AT that time
closed Tic later explained this 10 one
Of he War policies Board. and the latter
who plainly favored the stand taken by
tn, Delaware body wired To MIR Warner: :
II agree with Major Tulley that the
status quo should he maintained,
Plant WASTED TIME.
Miss Garret. secretary Of the Delaware
Commission. here pointed out the fact
that the du Pont plant could have worked
undcr the law bv running the SHIFT until
10 u. m. hut that they shut down entirely
during the daylight hours, losing all this
valuable time.
Mr. Warner then declared that the
whole matter had been IN the hands of
the government for slN weeks and that
they had failed to take action. 1t really
hecamc'a Cabinet wranglc, lac SAID and
until they settle the matter We arc taking
the proper stand by observing the state
laws.
Commissioner O'Ning became excited
over the remarks of Mr.. Franc. If
We allowed the du Pont Company 10 act
contrary to this law to protect women
,rkcrs it would not be long till every
.,hcr industry doing war work would
asnt the same privileges.
But can YOU not see the vital import
dncc in this case Of not hampering the
output of needed munitions IN the slight
est degree" Mr.. Frame asked heatedly.
Mr. Warner then said that subsequent
communications from the Navy Depart
nent the shipping Board and the Housing
Commission urging the Delaware Com
mission rigdIy TO stand BY state laws
on sanitation in regard to inspection o.
houses for government employees, all
justified the action taken BY the Com
mission on the din Pont question
The Commission passed a resolution
to the effect that il prepare n bill asking
an appropriation Of $4,000 from the
state to coordinate : he three denarfDentS
OF the Commission.