The Washington times., 1920-07-25
D.C.EMPLOYES
DELAY STRIKE
Per Diem Workers Vote to A.
low Labor Dept. Week to
Affect Wage Settlement.

Strike OF 2.4OO per diem employees
OF the District government, which
was TO have taken place this morn
ing. has bean postponed for one
week. The men unanimously voted
last night TO give the Department Of
Labor conciliators until next Sstur-
day night 10 effect n settlement OF the
dispute over wages.
whether or not there will be q
strike depends entirely upon the
District Commissioners. Engineer
Commissioner Kutx last night agreed
TO reconvene the District wage board.
with q view TO giving the man op-
portunity to recommend an adjusted
wage scale, II members OF the board
DO desire.
n this board recommends q fur
ther increase in wages the Commits
sioners can prevent a strike by sp-
proving the suggestions OF the board
and increasing pay accordingly Com
missioner Kutz said last night he
could not tell what his or Commits
sioner Browlow's attitude might be
\ IL the wage board recommended high
q Or wages.
STRIKE TALK RIFE.
When the City Employees Associa-
tion, to which the majority OF the
per diem men are associated. met at
1900 NJ street northwest strike talk
was nlling the air. All through the
meeting the men insisted upon
1 strike and at first refused 20 take the
advice of conciliators not to strike at
this time.
Joseph Hurley. president of the
association. opened the meeting. He
reported that efforts Of the Labor De-
partment conciliators to effect a set
tlement of the dispute last week had
been fruitless. He then introduced
Commissioner Kutz.
Commis ssioner Kut2 told the men
that the District Commissioners felt
they were doing their duty in refus-
ing a wage increase; he declared the
increases had been approved by the
wage board on which board were rep
resentatives OF this organization;
that the District Comm 'ssioners were
trying to do right by the employees.
and If the men were not satisfied they
had better seek better wages else
where.
"BEsT WAGES POSSIBLE"
I'VE are giving you the best wages
We can under the cfrcum sta nces." said
Commissioner Kutz. 'Tf you can do
better, do so. We are sorry to see
you go and know that we cannot re-
place you with man who have served
US so loyalty and efficiently as you
have In the past.
"As to the action you are contem-
plating tonight. I want to say this:
Do what you think best. I won't urge
you one way or the other. But / eau
tion you to think very carefully be-
fore making any move and listen in
tently to the advice the conciliators
will give YOU"
Next followed Walter d. Davidge,
conciliator. He todd the men their
cause was just. but advised them
against striking at this time. John
b. Colpoys. another conciliator. also
admitted their cause was just, but en-
phatically urged them against
strike. He told them they could not
beat the Governme at of the United
States.
Rowland B. Mahsry. another con-
ciliator, followed. de told the men
they would lose if they walked out.
"CAN"T DEFEAT U. 81
"Do you think you. men can inter-
fere with the operat IONS of the Fed
eral Government" Mahany asked.
"If you do so, you are Iaboring under
q wrong impression. There are two
forces waiting to fll your places II
you strike. I advise against it,
speak to you as friend. know
that in ten days you will be wanting
lost the fight"
After these speeches President Hur-
ley introduced Frank y. Bresnahan.
member of the District Wage Board.
It was Mr.. Bresnahan who voted for
the recent small pay increase that
was granted per diem workers. As
the whole wrangle cenrers over a 76
cent difference in the wage scale Of
the District Government and Navy
Yard, Mr.. Bresnahan was called upon
TO explain why he voted for this in
crease. when il was known at the
time the Navy Yard was getting
greater increase.
BRESNAHAN EXPLAINs.
Bresnahan declared he voted for the
increase with no definite knowledge
Of the Navy Yard scale increase. He
stated that he understood the Navy
Yard men were getting an average
increase OF 16 cents day, and for
that reason voted for tho average of
"a cents a day for District workers.
The District Commissioners had be
Iievcd, heretofore. that all members
OF the board knew OF the Navy Yard
increase when they voted for the av-
erage "a cents raise. After Brcsna-
han had declared several times that
he voted under the wrong impression
Mr.. Mahany took the floor.
Mahany said this msundersta nding
opened the door to a settlement of
the controversy. He asked the men
to postpone action until next Satur-
day. during which time the concilia-
tors would endeavor to have the wage
board recouvened.