The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-16
BETHLEHEM CO.
RES|STS ED|CT
Of WAR BOARD

WASHINGTON. Jan. l5.-Thc author
| ~ Of tho National War Labor Board to
enforce IT'S DEGREES now that hustiliiirs
| have ceased. was challenged today by
counsel for thr Bethlehem steel rUm-
rany. who had been asked To appear TO
answer complaints that awards mad" ly
| tho board curing tn" war had no been
| carried out.
Joint Chairman Taft If tn" board.
questioned III" good faith OF tho conf
.Irlny. and said its present attitude col
nrs the whole situation with Il sons" nf
Injustice which makes ono yrarn for jul
! licial power Ia compel compliance" He
added that thu. board did not have this
| power hut would meet Saturday with
| employees representatives. I" determine
what thor" is possible To hc done IN
| this situation"
Representatives Of marhinists and IL
rctr!rianS employed Ivy lhr Bethlehem
! company. complained that awards Of
! hnck pay were not carried out and that
mon who complained through the plant
| Commitir"g established by the board.
| were discharged.
! Compnny's Position.
Our position is that th" award d"rg
! no apply to-day said Guy CHrrirr Of
Boston. attorney for the company. al
| though during tho war we were prepared
| 10 accept anything the board rcc"m-
mcndrd. We don't fccl now that this
| board can go on adjusting grievances
| between employees and arrangements OF
| the induSt rial plants"
| Chairman Taft read y letter which the
| hoard received last Srpt"mhcr from +.
&. Grace. president Of tho Bethlehem
company who expressed willingness tn
enforce the award and allow III" men 10
organic" committees. rF- said. however.
that the payment Of tho back wages
under tho increases would hc contingent
unou tho readiness Of tn" war and navy
departments to increase thr payments to
tho company for the production Of NUM-
tons.
Now. doesn't tho bethlehem company
,ntnnd TO show any good faith with tho
board" Mr.. Taft demanded. You on
tered into tho agreement Ia enforce the
award in this letter. l. dhn't consider
that your present attitude shows good
faith. You intend 10 f!out what has.
bern done.
Attorney C'urr!rr objected IN tho con-
sirur,inn placed upon III" action Of tho
company hv Mr.. Taft. II" said that III"
war and navy departments had not al
lowed Increased payments on the COM
pany's war contracts and asked that
special section Of the board nc appointed
!, tn investigate III" matter.
Regretted By Tnft.
Attorney Curr!rr said the bethlehem
Company was laying off larr" numbers
# mon and that III" production nj muni-
rions which was it's principal business.
had entirely stopped. II: said that. mem
bcrs Of III" shop committees created by
the hoard had not h"rn DISCHARGED in
larger numbers than had other employees
This is 4 very painful situation 10
me Chairman Taft said. in adjOurnjrE
the session. I'VE wish to Srcur" what
threr workers ar" entitled (" have under
our previous award. Tho present atti-
tIdc Of Mr.. f;rac" and hia company in TO-
fus;ng 10 accept after what had BEEN
done, cnlors thr Who'll" situation with n
sens. nj Injustice which makes on" y"arn
for judicial power 10 compel compliance
hut this board has not that power. de-
clare this meeting adjourned now to
meet on Saturday. with the employee
representatives TO determine rs nearly aS
we can what there Is possible 10 be done
| IN this situation" ,
. ffJ1.1 = ~ T., -,
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