The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-20
EXPLOITED U. S.
men IN CAMPS
Spruce Probers Learn SOL
diers Worked for 81 Day
! Continued From Page one

OF ntaftf" he was asked.
II had practically the command
Of all troops. except in 30 far IA their
use was concerned Tho men az that
time numbered between 10000 and
80 .0O0."
In connection with the production
side what did you do2"
II approved all matters that ]
didn't think Of enough Importance
TO so To Ten. DiRaue. The duty OF
adjusting labor troubles was assign
Ell To me. II we got a report that
camp was paying too much or
too little. l handled IL. The matter
OF contracts was left 20 young man
named Crisp. lilo signed all con
tracts"
Col. Stearns explained that In nd
justing wage disputes he followed
directions In bulletin issued BY a
committee OF ioggcra and lumber.
men.
"wha, was done with the
soidicraf" he was asked. What
wages did they gctr''
There was shortage OF labor. ="
explained the colonel Gen. DiHque
made a recommendation that the
soldiers be used and that they
should bo given more than soldiers
pay. II was obvious that TO put
soldiers into camps at $50 q month
with men making s. n day would
disturb the civilian workers who
would fear the loss Of their job
1T was alno obvious" went on the
colonel. that II soldiers were en-
ployed at soldiers pay the private
operators would be making lots OF
money at the expense Of the govern
ment"
"pid you ever employ soldiers at
soldiers pay
THE government was employing
soldiers at soldiers pay at first
When they went 20 private operators
the difference between soldiers pay
and the going wage was paid by tho
operators"
Green Men Got Less
when a man was green" the wit.
ness explained. "and not capable OF
earning hls money. orders were is-
sued 10 his officers that he was TO
be paid soldiers pay until he became
efficient Then no was 10 receive
fun pay.
Congress fixed certain wage
for men employed In spruce pro
duction camps" declared Frcar. yet
you took u upon yourself to pay
them whatever you saw fitT"
when he arrived at a fair state
Of efficiency he was Immediately put
on the payroll at what bis compan.
ions were getting" said Col. stearns.
In other words. you Issued an
order that his efficiency was TO be
determined by his osficeraY'
Yea. But we had approval for
all this. We were not trying TO
rvvolutionixc the army on our own
hook. Col Disquc went Go Score.
tary Baker. lie took II up with A..
ststant Secretary OF War Post. who
took u up with the secretary him
self, who. approved IT,"
But did tho secretary Of war or
anybody else give you the authority
To judge the efficiency OF these re-
spcctivc menY"
mo. sir"
Coutraetsrs' Profits
AZ that time our American
troops abroad were engaged In pretty
active fighting There was no one
there who determined the efficiency
Of the men They were there on the
pay given them by congress They
were losing their lives quite rapidly
And you out here determined the 81.
ficiency OF your subordinatcs and
they were exempted from active
military duty" Frear commented.
AT that same time your contractors
were not only getting 7 per cent
on the earnings Of civilian employees.
but on the earnings Of soldier en-,
pioyes as we'll. what about I. W
W. troubies7"
When we first came here we
couldn't talk to a logger or n lum.
herman without getting mixed up In
l. W. W.ism." replied the colonel.
Were any troops used for the pur-
pose Of preserving order In the
camps so far as you know"
None were sent out for that pur.
pose. but their presence had very
desirable effect"
How many contracts were made
with the Stems CareyH. &. Ker.
bauEh corporation"
Two are all I'm familiar with"
How was the spruce production
division financcd7"
by allotments made by the chief
signal officer. These amounted to
f27 .4s7 .s4o.i2 prior 10 organization OF
the corpora ton"
After the corporation was organ.
lied. Siearns said. iis account was
credited with s2i 800 900. tho whether
that sum was ever physically dellv-
cred. he said he could not say.
The aircraft bureau sent US what
we needed he explained. THE
bureau raised its funds from the
allies. The English have already
paid AT Washington $4,000. 900 for
their share Of the lumber produced 4"
At the conclusion Of the hearing
here the committee will return To
Portland TO take up n more detailed
probe.
With Representative Frear the
committee is composed OF w w.
MCGEE. New York, and Clarence Il.