Evening star., 1921-09-17
NAVY YARD BOYS
OPPOSE PAY CUT
Apprentices Also Call on
Clergy to Refer to Situation
in Sermons Tomorrow.

Two hundred apprentice boys en-
ployed at the Washington navy yard.
who are now making 80 cents a day
under the new wage scale Joined with
the master workers today in protest
ing the drastic pay cut put into effect
yesterday, at mass meeting in Naval
Lodge Hall. 4th street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue southeast. Resolutions
protesting against the reduction in
pay were unanimously adopted and
will be sent to President Harding and
Secretary of the Navy Uenby
The apprentices also made plans to
have the clergymen of their respective
churches refer to the pay cut m their
sermons tomorrow. and to have the
ministers appeal personally to Sec
wage award reviewed. Herbert p. Lee
man. president Of Columbia Lodge, No.
ia, International Association of Ma
chinists. presided at the meeting.
Tell Pathetic Stories.
Pathetic stories of how they will be
affected by the decreased salaries
were related by a number of boys
One of them who lives in Maryland
said that under the new wage scale
he would earn $3.50 week. 81 Of
which he will have to spend on bus
fare to reach the navy yard.
1t was pointed out by officials of
Columbia Lodge today that already a
number Of the apprentice boys have
resigned for more lucrative employ
ment. Others they said are contem-
plating such steps if they can find en-
ployment in private establishments
The Washington navy yard en-
ployes won another point in their cam
paign to have the wage question re-
opened when Secretary Of Labor Da-
q Tot NJ
the National Federation of Federal
Employees that it was his intention to
discuss the pay decrease in the navy
yards with both Secretaries Weeks
and DENLY. The local workers also
have enlisted the support of several
members of Congress. one of whom
sent a letter to Secretary Davis urg-
ing a stay of execution pending a re-
hearing of the case. Mr.. Davis state
ment is the first positive assurance
yard award would be taken up fur
ther.
Secretary DENLY Refuses.
Secretary DENLY has not only re-
fused the request Of representatives
of the metal trades to suspend the
award pending its revision. but has
also denied the petition of the Ma
tional Federation of Federal Employees
to set a day upon which he would
"
revising the schedules.
POSTMASTER General Hays has
agreed to look into the schedules as
| a matter of general interest. but has
not indicated what interest he would
take. Various members of both House
and Senate have. however, indicated a
determination to bring the entire
matter up as soon as Congress con-
venes.
business interests of the country
are beginning to realize that a fur
ther cut of wages is going to have a
disastrous effect upon business, to
say nothing of the failures which may
result in that the reduced purchasing
power Of the worker will materially
restrict sales Of business houses. both
large and small, which in turn will
reduce the size of the orders to be
placed with manufacturing concerns.
thus prolonging the unemployment
situation" said a statement issued
today by N. p. Alifas. president Of
district "a. International Association
of Machinists.
"As a nation we oppose the importa-
ton of cheap foreign goods because
of the effect it has on American
manufacture" the statement added.