Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-25
D. c. STRIKE VOTE
. POSTPONED WEEK
AT j. S. REQUEST
ConciIiator's Plea Wins at
Meeting Attended by
Over 500.


the District government. who had
less granted raise in pay, which the
District Commissioner have so far
refused to grant, has been postponed
one week, at the request of Roland
B. Mahany, conciliator from the De-
partment of Labor, one of the speak
ers at the meeting of the City En-
ployes' Association, held last night at
1906 NJ street.
The immediate cause for the post
ponement was the statement by Frank
Bresnahan, representing the associa-
tion on the District wage board. who
said that at the time he signed the
wage boards report recommending
an increase Of "a cents per day he
did not know that the navy yard en-
ployes had received an increase of ap-
proximately IS cents per day, but be-
lieved their increase had amounted
to only about 16 cents per day.
Door Not Closed to Increase.
Engineer Commissioner Kutz, in re-
sponse to- question by President Jo-
seph Hurley of the association. said
that SO far as the Commissioners were
concerned the door was not closed to
a wage increase at this time. and i'm
mediately after that statement viva
voce vote was given in favor of post
poniug action until a meeting to be
held one week from last night at the
same place.
More than 500 District employees
packed the hall, taking up every
available foot OF space. and the men,
bers of the union the three eoncili-
ators from the Department 0f Labor
and the Engineer. Commissioner were
frequently interrupted by questioners
during their talks, but the utmost
good order prevailed during the two
hours discussion.
Admit Justice Of Plea.
The justice of the plea Of the per
with that Of similar employees at the
navy yard was admitted by Col. Kutz
and by the conciliators, and the men
were promised without reservation
that at the next session of Congress
the Commissioners and the officials
of the Department of Labor would
unite in asking for an appropriation
that would make such. a scale pos
sible. The Department of Labor, in
addition to Mr. Mahany. was repre-
sented by John B. Colpoys and Wal
ter D. Davidge.
The chief reason advanced by Col
Kutz for not granting the scale asked
per diem employees SO far above that
Of the statutory employees as to cause
a serious disruption of the local gov
ernment. He said that instances al
ready had occurred where foremen
and supervisors had resigned their
positions to take their place in the
rank and file because the humber po-
siti6ns paid more money.
The Engineer Commissioner also
the point that the District
commission had approved the action
of the wage board in regard to the
per diem pay, and that the City EN-
ployes'. Association had a representa-
tive on that board.
Celpoys Warns Of Strike.
Mr.. Colpoys said the situation was
as complex as any that was ever pre-
sented to the Department of Labor.
He said that there was not a man on
the statutory roll at the District
building that was not entitled to more
than he was getting, and said the
present Congress had been "the worst
Congress with respect to the feelings
and rights Of government employees,
bar none, Of any in recent years"
He said its members had gone out of
they could.
ut would be the gravest mistake
you ever made in your life TO start
trouble now." he added. Don't get
the idea that you can strike against
the District government, part of the
national government, and get away
with it. You are bound to lose from
the time you start. I do not say
your cause is not just, but you are
making a mistake il you allow even
the justice Of your position to in
fiuence you to such action at this
time"
Mr.. Mahany. in beginning his talk,
said he did not agree with the Com
in their stand that they
could not raise the scale of the per
diem employees above that of the
statutory employees. but that he in
dorsed every word said by Mr.. Col
poys as to the inadvisability of a
strike.
This is not the time for you or any
other class to try conclusions with
the government. or with a highly
public opinion. It is not
good generalship to go into battle
when defeat 10 certain"
Although the audience heard the
and the conciliators at
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