The Washington herald., 1921-09-08
Reductions of 10 to 20
Per Cent Are Effec-
:, tive Sept. Is.
5000 AT CAPITAL
SUFFER BY ORDER
$4,000 Employees Through.
out Country Are
Affected.

Wages Of all navy yard employees,
including those in Washington.
were ordered reduced by from 10 to
20 per cent. effective September 16.
by Secretary Of tthe Navy DENLY
yesterday. upon recommendation
Of the Naval Wage Board of Re
view. The reduction affects about
$4,000 employees, including about
5000 here.
In general, the reductions are 13
to II per cent for artisans. includ-
ing machinists; 10 per cent: for
technical employees. Is per cent for
clerks and 20 per cent for certain
overhead" positions.
Laborers. to Get Il Cents.
Wages of ffst-class laborers: are
generally fixed at ~ cents an hour,
and skilled mechanics at 73 cents
under the new scale. The new
wages will be effective for one year.
The continuation of the present
hve-day week is approved. but the
hoard recommeds that as soon as
teh unemployment Is relieved the
former forty-four-hour week be
reinstated.
Reductions were recommended the
board says, because the decrease
in cost of living amounts to. ac-
cording to figures from the Depart
ment OF Labor. 1871 per cent; and
the general Industrial repression IN
the country is now perhaps in Its
most acute stage"
Refers to ReadJustment.
The board, in its report. also
pointed out. that the wages REQ
commended Nwere only 50 per cenI
higher than prewar scales while
the cost Of living is still 80 por
cent higher than in 1913. II tIke-
wise called attention to the rad.
justrnent between war and spesce
conditions that Is now perhaps at
Its most acute stage. one of tho
painful results of the war"
Overhead positions. including su-
nonproducers, felt the full force of
tIc wake DOdTu . recommendations.
In addition to a general reduction
of 20 per cent in pay for such en-
ployes the number Of such posi-
tions was decreased one-third and
in some cases one-half.
Below Railroad Wages.
New scales are said to be based
on those prevailing Tor similar
work IN the various communities
where navy yards are located. bnr
they are. according to the board.
cents an hour higher than those
in shipbuiIding trades.
Institution OF a new leave law,
granting employees right 10 leave
with pay earned on the basis OF
monthly service. beginning with
the completion of his first months
service. was also advocated IN the
approved report.
shop Committees.
The present leave law holds IN
leaves of empoyes until a year of
service is completed. The en-
ploye is then entitled to sixty days
in his second year, thirty of which
has been earned during his first
year. The law seriously affects the
yard organization. the board be-
lieves.
Inauguration of monthly meet
ings to take place at all yards and
stations where grievances of shop
employees may be presented through
shop committees. free and untram-
meled." and given immediate con-
sideration by the commandant, who
is to attend. Is proposed.
Members of Board.
Members of the wage board in
clude Capt. John X. Robson, U. S.
N. senior member: F. S. Curtis.
chief clerk. Navy Department, and
A. ]. Berries, representing labor.
In the hearings before the board
early in August representatives of
yards in all sections of the coun-
try appeared. Complaints against
heavy overhead expenses and en-
ployment of foreign laborers was
voiced at that time.
Capt. ]. H. Dayton, U. S. N, COM
mandant of the Washington Navy
Yard, declared last night the re-
duction would make possible the
employment of additional labor
here, in all probability. He ex-
planned the budget would permit
l. l.