The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-22
LABOR TRANSITIONS
BRING DIFFICULTIES
Col. Alexander Stands by His
sNo Overtime" Rule at
4 Army Supply Base.
MANY PLANTS CLOSING
Hat Company Shuts Down and
Fabrikoid Works Cut Two
Days OFF Week.

The difficuities being encountered In
the Transition OF industry from a war to
peace basis were emphasized in many
directions yesterday, chief among them
being the announcement by Col. Joseph
Alexander. u. s. A., that the Govern
fnent will not recede. from its order that
future work on the army supply base Mt
Fifty-ninth street and First avenue,
brooklyn. shall be on an eight hour
basis, without overtime for the workers.
Col Alexander 10 q member of the
Emergency Construction Wage Commits
sion. and for ten days has been investi-
eating adjustment Of the wage scale In
force at the army supply base. When
the order was issued the workmen pro-
tested and threatened a strike that
would halt construction there, Col.
Alexander made public telegram from
Secretary OF. war Baker. which said the
signing Of the armistice had made un-
necessary the completion OF the base as
an emergency project. but the prevail
ing rate Of union pay would be given.
II Hat Plant shut Down.
More workers were discharged at
Newburgh, N T.. when completion OF
war time contracts caused the closing
down OF the Ferry bat Company there.
snd a shutting down for two days each
week OF the Du Pont Fabrikoid plant.
affecting 1900 men. and women. So far
huN Il, tn aKtx haI tt,,N
bat II win be shut down completely after
Saturday night II has been operating
since 1858.
An officer Of the hat works said Its
contracts have been completed and no
new ones are In sight He said a plant
of the company ut NewariS-will BIO closed
next week, and n third win shut down
soon unless conditions change. e.
Pending the change from war 10. q
peace basis the fabrikoid plant will be
operated by only two-thirds OF the en-
ployees now Mt work there Prcpara-
tfons. however. are being made for en-
Iargement OF the plant for use IN the
spring II anticipated contracts are
awarded.
George W. Loft. chairman of the
Mayors Committee on NATIONAL Defence.
announced last night that the 1000
members of the committee had consti-
sr:ted themselves Individual employment
agents and viii seek out Jobs for re-
turning soldiers and sailors who went
into the military service from this city.
The Mayors corfitnittee as n whole. Mr..
loft, said, viii cooperate with Federal
sgeneies In the task OF obtaining jobs
for the discharged fighters and collect
ing data relating to the labor situation
In and near New, York.
FarnituYe Men Protest.
Representatives of bedroom and diny
Ing room furniture manufacturers met
last night at the Prince George Hotel
and adopted resolutions protesting
against the continuance Of the Furniture
Industries War Service Committee, be-
cause they said It's continuance as q
part OF the War Industries Boards ac,/
tfvities Affords an opportunity "for the
use OF power over our industry for in
tiividual and sectional advantage"
The manufactures eaid they repre-
scented 90 per cent. OF the hnen engaged
IN thai: business east OF Pittsburg and
Buffalo. Resolutions were adopted
recommending thar war schedules and
restrictions pertaining TO their industry
be rescinded, and opposing legislation
bS Congress shat will limit individual
Initiative. restrict normal supply and de-
rhand. or continue the life of the manu-
facturery war service committee as an
asBoclate agency Of the War Industries
BOARD after the declaration of peace"
Copies of the resolution will be sent to
the President, Congress and the War
Industries Board.
Samuel Golnperss plan for retaining
the eight hour day for labor In peace
time was called impractical by Profess
scr Everett Kimball OF Smith College, in
an address yesterday before 500 MEM
bsrs Of the Columbia University Insti-
trte Of Arts and Science. Prof KIM
ball said labor should return TO pre-war
conditions. Hours OF labor, he said, de-
psad upon the occupation and cannot be
fxed as a whole. He advocated the re-
lease OF railroads from Government con-
troll
OF all the countries needing recon-
struction. Prof. Kimball said. Germany
Is In the worst plight. ,...
III we are not careful" he said, Ger
many Will be oyerrun by anarchy, and
anarchy win not stop at the Rhine. The
only way TO stop 1t Is to feed Germany.
for the sake OF Europe. II not for the
sake OF Germany" He said the estab-
lishment OF a League OF Nations was one
OF the principal immediate demands II
permanent peace is TO be established.
COST HIM JOB,
en- LIE &c IUA TEDC AgnVU