The Washington herald., 1921-09-17
Labor Secretary Believes
General Reduction
Unjustified.
SENATORS READY
TO AID WORKERS
Federal Employees Plan
To Carry Fight to
Congress.

A Cabinet member-Secretary of
labor Davis-and several members
of Congress yesterday assured en-
ployes of the Washington Navy
Yard and other navy yards they
lid not consider the reductions in
pay. which became effective yester-
lay, equitable. and that they would
take immediate steps toward a fur
ther consideration of the matter.
The reduction, which ranges
from 13 to 30 per cent. amounting
70 approximately S52,OOO.OO0 a year
1t the local yard, is termed unjust"
by several Senators and Representa-
tives.
Sees Injustice to Clerks.
After stating that he did not be-
heve that the general industrial
situation justified general decreases,
Secretary Davis expressed a purpose
20 discuss the wage decrease with
both Secretary of War Weeks and
Secretary of the Navy DENLY.
L any cut is necessary. he said.
II should be distributed as equitabIy
as possibly. He considered it "un-
Just" to pay clerks less than COM
mon laborers.
Secretary Davis assurance of sup
port was voiced during an interview
with Hugh Reid and Clayton s.
Spear, representatives of the Ma
uonal Federation of Federal EN-
ployes- Similar support has been
pledged by the secretary to a COM
mittee representing the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists.
Harding's Views Sought.
A communication sent to all navy
yard locals of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees, under
the signature of Clayton S. Spear.
assistant to the president of the or
ganization, declares that efforts to
bring about further consideration of
the wage matter through Secretary
Denby have been unsuccessful, and
states that immediate steps will be
taken to place President Harding
on record in the matter. The letter
also urges the employees affected TO
ascertain the stand Of their Con-
gressmen for guidance at the next
Congressional election.
AFTER a thorough Investigation
Of the situation at the navy yards
Of my district, the Naval Proving
Ground at Indianhead. the Naval
Academy and the Washington Navy
Yard / am convinced that equity
and general welfare can best be
served by a further hearing of the
wage reduction case" writes Rep
resentative Sydney E. Mudd. of
Maryland in a letter to President
Harding and Secretary DENLY.
Hopes for RehearinE.
Certainly there can be no harm
for the government from a rehear-
ing of this most important matter,
and I sincerely hope there can be
a stay of execution to that end, be-
lieving that existing conditions
Justly warrant such action"
Il am opposed to the government
reducing the standards of living"
Senator Hiram Johnson. of Califor-
mia, declared in an interview with
representatives of the International
Association of Machinists. He as
sured the workers that he was with
them in the fight" and that he had
already communicated with Presi-
dent Harding and Secretary Denby
TT is not a matter OF sympathy
with me" said Representative
Charles F. Curr. of California, but
this wage affair is a matter of right
and wrong. That the government
should reduce wages without keep
ing in mind the necessities of men
who work for a living is wrong. 1
shall do all in my power to bring
the matter before President Hard
ing"
Apprentice Boys to Protest.
Senator Samuel NJ. Shortridge of
California, declared that he would
exert every effort to have the wage
matter brought before the next
meeting of the Presidents Cabinet
for discussion.
More than 200 apprentice boys en-
pIoyed at the Washington Navy
Yard will hold a mass meeting at
Naval Lodge Hall, Fourth street and
Pennsylvania avenue southeast, this
morning at 10 o'clock. for the pur-
pose OF protesting the wage de-
crease. Herbert P. Leeman, presi-
dent os Columbia Lodge. No. ia, In
ternational Association of Machin-
lists, will preside
denunciation of the wage de-
crease was issued yesterday by c. L.
Rosemund. president of the Inter
national Federation Of Technical
Engineers, Architects and Drafts
mems Union.