The Washington times., 1920-07-18
'B0ARODEN|ES
D.C.PAY RAISE
Threatened Walkout OF Per
Diem Men Awaits White House
Conference Tomorrow.

Beneving they nave peen mofc thah
fair TO the per diem employees OF the
District government, the District
commissioners are determined not TO
grant a wage increase at this time
despite threats OF a walk-out which
would tie up the .city's water and
sewerage systems.
The White House and the Depart
ment Of Labor now have q hand In
the controversy. Joseph Hurley,
president of the City Employee As
socistion. told the per diem mon last
night, when they met at lSoS NJ street
northwest, that he had an appoint
ment with Secretary to the President
Tumuity tomorrow morning.
Drastic action was Postponed until
such time as Mr.. Hurley could report
the results OF the White House con-
ference. Hugh kerwin. assistant
secretary OF labor. and Chief Clerk
Foster at the White House are ex-
pected to be at tomorrow morning =
conference.
INsIsTENT ON wALk-OUT.
The COO men who met last night
were insistent upon a walk-out. Hur-
ley advised against II. urging there
should be postponement In view OF
The fact that the White House had
manifested interest. Hurley will not
go before the commissioners for an
other appeal he said last night.
The men are demanding rs cents
more a day. being dissatisfied with
the increases ranging from ] to B
cents an hour granted July ]. This
increase was recommended by the
District minimum wage board, COM
posed Of Major Brown. assistant en-
gineer commissioner; two District de-
partment heads and two representa-
tives OF employees.
''Wc acted upon Recommendation
of this wage board" said Commission
or Kutz yesterday. Their report to
US was unanimous. On this board
was a representative of the City
Employees Association. He voted that
the increases we granted were suf-
ficient.
"a few days after we announced
the new wage scale we received pro-
tests from Hurley. We had the wage
board reconsider its decision. Their
second report was the same as the
first The representative OF the City
Employees Association voted for 1t
again.
have been setting the wage scales,
but last fall we decided to let our
subordinate employees do 20. This
came after We had requests from sew
eral organizations. We believe this
board works in the interests OF the
employees and acts on their recon-
mendations.'
COMMISSION NOT WORRIED.
The District Commlssi toner's do not
fear walk-out. For the past three
years the City Employees Association.
on an average Of once every four
months. have threatened to tic up the
water and sewerage systems OF the
city by striking. Their threats never
have materiAlized.
A strike by these men would mean
Intervention by the Federal Govern
ment Several thousand mon would
Immediately be recruited to nll the
places of tho strikers. Apparently
the District Commissioners are not
in the least worried. At this time
they believe they have the upper
hand.
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
the White House conference will be
held. In the special notice columns
OF the local newspapers Tuesday,
Hurley will tell his men the results.
II the results are unfavorabIe, spe-
cial meeting will be called within a
few days. If results are favorable. a
meeting will be held next Saturday
night at 1906 NJ street northwest.
Many of the men at last nights
meeting insisted on strike. Two
motions for strike today came be-
fore the meeting, but were tabled.
All evening cries for a 'Wslkout--
strike" came from the audience.
However, a few of the cooler heads,
realizing a strike meant interfering
to some extent with the operations OF
tho Federal Government quieted the
boistcrous men.