The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-23
WILL CONGRESS
DO FAIR THING?
WATCH AND SEE


(From David Williams, Vice Pres
ident International Association of
Machinists, Machinists Building,
Washington, ID. CD
An appeal has been made to the
President in connection with the
claim against the War Department
of the $4,000 employees of the Beth
lehem Steel Corporation for approx
imately $1,500,000. The assistance
of President Harding has been re-
quested by David Williams, Vice
President of the International As
ISOLATION of Machinists, who has had
charge Of the case for the employees.
This claim had it's origin in an
award of the former National War
Labor Board, of which Chief JUS
tice Taft was one of the Joint
Chairmen. The award was made
in July, 1918 and arrangements
were originally made for it's pay
ment by adjustments in the con-
tracts of the Bethlehem Company
with the War Department The
Armistice interviewed. however, be-
fore these adjustments were made,
and the War Department. then
made arrangements for the payment
of the claim under the Dent Act.
A vast amount of auditing and ac-
counting was necessary in ascertain
ing the amounts due individual
claimants and it was not until last
March that the War Department
found itself in a position to make
payments.
Announcement was made that the
checks were to be distributed, but,
before they were mailed, the legal
officers of the War Department
advised the Secretary that the OBJ
legation was moral one but he
was without legal authority to order
payments made. The matter was re-
ferred to MISUNDERSTANDING Vain
wright who after more extended
consideration decided that there was
moral obligation to pay the claim
ants but legal authority would have
to be obtained from Congress to
make the disbursements.
ACIlIlS upon tllS OpIlilOH, oSC-
rotary Weeks has asked the Con-
gress for the necessary authorize
ton. The War Department has
the funds available for the pay
ment of the claim and action by
the Congress. is necessary only to
overcome certain legal technicalities.
Mr.. Williams has appealed to Pres
ident Harding to urge Congress to
take early action in accordance
with Secretary Weeks request. Mr..
Williams letter to the President
follows:
Washington, D. c.,
September Is, 1921
Dear Mr.. President: In a recent
decision by Assistant Secretary of
War Wainwright, which was later
sustained by Secretary Weeks, the
War Department found that it did
not have the legal authority to
pay the claims of the employees of
the Bethlehem Steel Corporation
against the War Department; and
the Secretary of War, recognizing
the moral obligation involved, has
formally requested the Congress for
authorization to pay this claim.
This claim originally grew out of
decision of the National War Labor
Board of July 81, 1918. 1t covers
the cost of increases in wages and
changes in conditions which was
necessary by this decision. The
War Labor Board took this action
at the request of the War Depart
ment in order to accelerate the
production of heavy ordnance which
was grievously needed at that time
and which, because of the labor
policy of the Bethlehem Steel Cor
poration, was not being produced as
rapidly as was desired by the War
Department.
The labor and other costs of the
award would have been met by the
War Department, but, because of
delays in adjustments. the armis
tice interviewed and the contracts
of the Bethlehem corporation were
cancelled During the period in
tervening, between the award of the
War Labor Board and the cancel
lation of the Bethlehem contracts
by the War Department, the en-
ployes of the corporation, on the
assurances of the War Labor Board,
fully complied with the award of
the Board, and the War Labor
Board, in turn, depended upon the
War Department to make good the
assurances which were given to the
employees of the company.
Through an arrangement between
the War Labor Board and the War
Department, provision was made
for the payment of the employees
under the Dent Act, and several
months ago checks were prepared,
and actual arrangements were made
for payment, when it was discover
ed by the War. Department that
certain legal obstacles prevented it
from carrying out the arrangement.
The money for the payment of this
claim is in the hands of the War
Department and only the techni-
cal legal authorization is lacking.
The Secretary of War, in his re-
commentator to the Congress, has
requested that he be given the
necessary authority to meet the
moral obligation to the Bethlehem
employees by distributing the money
which he has in his possession for
that purpose.
I am enclosing herewith a disin
terested history of the case consist
ing of a report by the Council of
National Defense to the War De-
partment.
On behalf of the $4,000 employees
involved in this matter, l am writ
ing urgently to request YOU to join
nth +bo Cacratorvy Of Way. in tba