Evening star., 1921-08-16
FEWER EMPLOYED
UNLESS WAGE CUT
|SPUT IN EFFECT
Only Alternative at Navy
Yard, Labor Men Are Told
by Capt. Robson.
ASK LOWER OVERHEAD
AND ELIMINATED WASTE
Mr.. 0'Connell Says Men Should
Have Opportunity to Suggest
Savings.

0otluSos
Pictures OF little children and their
mothers all over the country going
hungry and on short rations, and the
possibility that these conditions would
be aggravated unless the navy yard
workmen accepted lower wages to per-
nit of the employment of more men.
were painted before labor men at the
hearing of the general wage board Of
the Navy Department today by Capt.
James X Robson, chairman. The
board is hearing arguments on the
proposal Of cuts in wages recommend
ed by the local wage boards in the
Washington and other navy yards of
the country.
Capt. Robson indicated that he
would recommend a reduction, be-
cause he said that he couldn't feel
/! that he would be responsible for lit
tie children all over the country GO
argument Of Jlmes O'Connell. head Of
| the metal trades department Of the
American Federation Of Labor. Capt.
Robson said that II the men In
quent cutting down of the hours of
employment. "the butter is going TO
be darned thin on the bread this win
ter"
Found Much Want.
"On a recent tour of this country.
gathering data for this board, found
much want" the captain said. Il can
not conceive of any man wanting.
through personal greed, to keep bread
from the children of others in order to
get more comforts for himself. The
| main thing is to prevent this want
! eraL It's an awful responsibility for
! three Of us to carry. 1 cannot see
i children hungry. but this winter you
are going to see them"
Capt. Robson pointed out to the
labor men that the naval establishment
has only SO much money to spend. and
! IL il increased wages, 1t would have to
throw men out of employment, and
asked them to consider it in that
! light.
! He would be glad. he said. to have
any suggestions for overcoming the
difficulties, to which Mr.. O'Connell,
taking the Washington navy yard as
/ an example, said that there were so
many employees and SO much money.
There should be monthly conferences
| between the employers and the men. he
pointed out. whereby each side would
| be presented with the conditions faced
by the others. II the funds were low.
| no said. then the labor men. would
| take reduction in the number of
days Of employment.
Mr.. OConnell pointed out that
| there was an opportunity for re-
duction of expenses at the navy yards
by the reduction of overhead charges
pointing out that it costs more to do
the paper work on job than it does
for workman to perfect the job
| itself
| go ahead" said Capt. Robson.
II would like to have some more of
/ that
Seven Bosses for One Man.
There are known instances. con-
tinued Mr.. O'Conneli. where there are
seven bosses over one workman. He
J suggested that the wage board take
] up the question of reduction of over
head charges. waste, losses and such
! before it gets to the matter of reduc-
tion of wages of the men.
Capt Robson characterized waste
as the most damnable of crimes. and
said that money should be turned into
useful artisan labor wherever pos
sible.
To a suggestion Of Mr.. O'Connell
| that some means might be devised
whereby the men could suggest con-
/ structive measures for saving money
without jeopardizing their positions
! because of the possible criticism of
their losses it might involve. Capt.
4! Robson said that he was cogniZant OF
a plan which is not general in all the
yards whereby men could make anon
| ymouS suggestions. keeping a copy.
If found practicable they would be
| posted. then the man could claim the
credit and it would be made a part
of his record. He said he was not sure
but what some means might be pro-
vided whereby the man could be paid
for it.
q. s. Should Be Model Employer.
Mr.. o'Connell said that the govern
ment should be considered as the
model employer and should not be the
| first to reduce wages. and pointed out
| that wages OF yard employees were not
| comparable to those on the outside.
because the navy yard men were more
| class of work. On their efficiency. he
| said. depends the safety of the ON
GERS and men with the fleets at sea.
The cost of living. he continued.
has not been appreciably lowered. He
pointing out that he paid more for
/ coal this year than last. more for
street car fare and more for electric
light.
Answering the plea for higher wages.
Capt. Robson pointed out that il this
able to compete with the outside yards.
and that they would be closed To this
Mr. O'Connell replied that II would be
/ far better to close them all than have the
side today. Capt. Robson pointed out.
they were cutting each others throats In
order to get jobs.
| When James Wilson. head OF the
Patternmakers of North America,
| started to present his argument he
pointed to a war picture on the wall
| and said that that pictured scene
| in a war Of autocracy against Justice.
and that he didn't want to see the
United States government take an
"That war" interjected Capt. Rob-
ison, "was a war OF autocracy
against law. I don't want to cut the
wages of a single man. but i Will
| not disobey the law"
! Mr.. Wilson refuted the statement
that lower wages would provide more
employment, saying that the govern
| ments of the foreign powers could not
! buy because of the prevailing rate OF
exchange. To provide employment the
wages of the laboring man Of this
country must be such that he can pur-
| chase and thus permit the industries
| to go ahead.
! He expressed the hope that the gov
ernment would not take advantage
! of present conditions to lower navy
| ward wages. While the men OF the
navy yards are loyal. he said.
there 10 nothing that will develop dis
content and radical tendencies quick.
er than an empty stomach. He feared
| for such conditions Ii wages were re-
duced, he said.
N&apt. Robson did tell the labor
{xk&n that he had personally colleceed
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