The Washington herald., 1918-02-17

Of production.
Five Of these commissioners will be
chosen from a list suggested by en-
ployers and fve from n similar list
presented by the American Fedora
ton Of Labor.
While the names Of the commission
ers were not made public last night,
Secretary Wilson expressed his con-
ndence that all would serve. They
will be summoned to Washington i'm
mediately for a conference probably
Tuesday or Wednesday.
To Adjust Wage Scales.
This commission, which will extend
broadly the work already done by the
division of conciliation of the Labor
Department. will consider the wage
scales on the basis Of the increased
cost OF living, which the workinSman
all over the country Is decrying. 1t
win seek to stabilize the pay through
out the country as completely as that
In possible, taking into account the
various practical details such as the
cost of transportation from one Sec
tion Of the country to the other, and
so on.
The ship building situation will be
taken under advisement at once, OF
course in full cooperation and with
fun suggestions from the wage ad-
justment board OF the United States
Shipping Board.
All reports received In Washington
Yesterday indicated that the strike OF
the shipbuilding men was not SO
widespread as stated carrier.
The American Federation Of Labor
Executive Council was in session all
day, but It was said that the shipping
matter was not taken up. Neither
Samuel Gompers. president. nor
Frank Morrison, the national secre-
tary, would discuss the situation at
the conclusion OF the conference.
Mr.. Gompers went Immediately to his
conference with President Wilson
Less Than 1000.
While Il was stated in official circles
that the men on strike would number
considerably less than 20co the Divi-
sion of Counciliation Of the Labor
Department made 1t apparent that
thev considered the situation not at
all alarming. or in any sense SO
serious that proper adjustments
could not be made to keep the men
at their work.
within the last fortnight the con-
ciliators have brought harmony in
more than fifty controversies, in all
effectinR not more than 1000 men
throughout the country. Following u
conference yesterday attended by
Chairman Edward N. Hurley, Of the
Shipping Board: Charles A. Piez,
general manager of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation; Franklin D. Roose-
welt, Assistant Secretary Of the Navy.
and v. Everit Macy, chairman OF the
adjustment board, It was stated that
the offer OF the government to the
carpenters to come into the wage ad-
justment agreement is still open
While naval shipbuilding general
ly Is protected by a separate agree
ment with the workers. It was ad-
mitted at the Navy Department that
there are a few ships building for the
navy in private yards at Baltimore
that are affected somewhat by the
strike.
All suggestion that labor at the,
yards be conscripted to force a re-
turn of the men to work was
frowned upon by officials. Mem
bers of Congress for the most part
fatty protested against such a
move. though Senator Calder of
New York, in . statement, declared
that IL he were President he would
have the men back to work In Is
hours or blacklist them for the
period of the war.
Irsa WORKERS Oppose.
Representatives In Washington
of the iron trades were quoted last
night by. Shipping Board officials
as having expressed lack of SYM
pathy with the striking carpenters.
who, 1t was reiterated by Officers
of the board, are the only ones out
of II trades who have refused to
come into the wage adjustment
agreement
Officials Of the Shipping Board
professed to entertain no alarm
over the demands of the craftsmen
at the Seattle. yards for higher pay.
It was explained that when the new
wage schedules were announced for
the Pacific coast yards, the drafts
men were not included. 1t IL be-
lieved that the dispute In their case
can be quickly adjusted.
The striking shipyard carpenters
win hnd the Shipping Board sit
ting tight" The Board will take
no action, other than the customary
one through the routine channels
of the labor adjustment board.
which yesterday sent J. L. Hughes
to New York as joint representa-
tive Of itself and the Department
of Labor.
Edward N. Hurley. chairman Of the
shipping Board. said last night that
the board had no policy concerning
the strikers except that It stands
ready as It always has TO treat with
them under the agreement that sew
enteen other shipyard trades have
signed.
Drafts strikers
TN England no one pays any at
tention when q group of workmen
strike. II they don't go back to work
within fourteen days. the fifteenth
day sees them in uniform. on their
way to the front in France"
Shipping Board officials are waiting
the effect Of the Philadelphia wage
decision. which meets In some meas
ure the demands Of those ON strike.
II has been announced that last
nights decision win be the basis for
all the other shipyard districts, and
wage adjustment for the entire ship
yard industry Is expected to be COM
pieted within six weeks.
v. Everit Macy, head of the labor
adjustment board. said last night that
the new wage decision. the FIRST for
tne Atlantic Coast establishes an In
crease much beyebd the increased cost
Of living. based on prs-yar conditions