Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-12
MINT HEAD WRONG,
ASSERTS k|NSELL
Federation Official Declares His
Figures Of Wages Paid Here
Are Accurate
CAME FROM AUTHORITIES

| Raymond T. Baker. director Of the
mint. Is wrong in his statement that
! mint employees in this city are as we'll
paid as those in San Francisco. de.
clares y. Tyson Kinspll, vice president
for this district of the National Fed
| Grafton Of Federal Employees. Mr. Kim
sell SAYS that his stat tcment of compara-
tive wages. published yesterday. Is alb
solutely accurate. and that the San
Francisco figures came from the super
intendent Of the mint there. and were
the same AS the figures given before the
congressional appropriations commit
tee by Congressman Ware.
Mr.. Kinspl will read q statement
containing these wage statistics at the
coming convention of the federation at
st. Louis. and he reitprates his con-
tention that the scale here is "perhaps
one of the most nggravating instances
Of wages paid for like service"
comparison OF the Philadelphia and
San Francisco wage scales. according to
Mr.. Kinsell. showed variations of from
fifty cents to $3.50 day. "and when
compared with wages paid for skilled
labor in private employ the figures are
Astounding"
Probed Wage Scale
Director Baker was forced into
making a visit of inspection to the Phil
sdelphia mint last week to investigate
the wage situation, according to Mr..
Kinsell.
A survey of the mechanical equip
ment of the mint, which was made by
Director Baker. and which showed that
on account of the complete moderniza-
tion of the mint's mechanical equip
ment. a record breaking annual output
Of 515. 900. 900 coins has been estab-
lished = has nothing to do with paying
mint employees living wage" Mr..
Kinsell said.
He added
1T is indeed gratifying to note the
statements which the director of the
mint makes. Apparently an issue is
raised as to the correctness of the state
ment regarding comparison of wages
paid to local mint employees as com
pared with the San Francisco mint. A
simple absolutely untrue pronounce
mrnt. coupled with the admission which
follows, and the statements made by
the director before the appropriations
committee Of the House during the last
sPssion-and this is a matter of public
record--that the reason for higher
wages being paid at San Francisco was
because they were compelled to adopt
the union scale Of wages in that city,
Is sufficient answer and. In any event,
the comparative scale which we sub
mitted speaks for itself.
To Get Increase
"But what is particularly pleasing
Is the belated announcement of the di-
rector that an increase in the pay of
these faithful employees will become ef-
fective as of August I. 1t has been
a long. weary struggle. but our fedora
tion has never given up the fight for
Justice for these men. We will await
with interest the announcement of fig-
ures showing the increases actually
granted.
Superintendent Joyce, in replying to
Mr.. Kinsell, said the only exception
where San Francisco wages were higher
than in Philadelphia was in the case of
three machinists with executive as
we'll as mechanical ability who are
maid Sc. Is day. whereas twenty three
machinists in the Philadelphia Mint
without executive duties are paid $4.75
day.
Made SAC. 900 Appropriation
Mr.. Joyce intimatcd that since Con-
gress made a lump appropriation Of
$40 900, which will mean increased
nav for the mechanical employees, the
National Federation OF Federal En-
ployes was trying to claim credit by
making it appear as though 1t was re-
sponsible for the raise.
"Of course. some of our workers are
members Of the federation, but not all, !"
said Mr.. Joyce.
Director Baker, in his reply to Mr..
Einsell. said he had invited complaints
and criticisms while in Philadelphia but
received none.
cone or two highly skilled workers
in San Francisco may get little more
than the same class of workmen in
Philadelphia. he explained. "bui if
that is so it will be due solely to local
labor conditions on the Pacific coast,
where workers of that sort are not al
ways SO easily obtainable as in the
Fast"
His big aim. Director Baker said, was
to standardize wages paid to mint en-
ployes throughout the country.