Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-24
ACCEPT WAGE CUT
OF PACKERS, WIN
EIGHT HOUR DAY
Big Fives' Workers olgh eoh'r ac'
for Reduction of II IL to
is Per Cent.
SAY SECRETARIES INSISTED

SAL SCOnC MILD NV SiO ~
washington, March PA tempo
rarv settlement of the differences be-
tween the big meat packing concerns
and their 100000 employees was reached
late yesterday after another conference
Of representatives of both sides to the
controversy with Secretaries DAVIS
Hoover and Wallace.
The terms of the settlement which Is
a compromise by concessions on both
sides. were embodied in letters adj
dressed TO Secretary Davis and signed
by the negotiators for the two sides.
The letters read:
In connection with the matter OF Ia
hor rates and conditions in the pack
Ing houses within the Aschuler ad-
ninistration, and agreeable to the con-
versa tions which we have had with
YOU during the last few days. we here
nv accept your recommendation, COW
ering an amicable adjustment of said
matters, and an arrangement for the
continuation of wages. hours ana
working conditions as they existed un-
der the latest Alschuler ruling. sub
iect however to the following modif-
cations:
First-The wage cuts of cents per
hourly for hourly workers and IL
per cent for all pieceworkers shall
remain in effect as Of the dates an
nounced by the packers and shall not
hc subject 70 any further arbitration.
II any further reductions are desired.
they shall be submitted to the admin
lstrator.
Second-The basic eight-hour day
and overtime rates announced in
the latest rulings Of Judge Alschuler,
shall be restored. subject. however, TO
the right Of the employers or employees
10 submit 10 the administrator, if they
desire. any question rs TO changes
therein.
Third-The agreement Of Dec. IS.
1917. and extensions thereof and all
decisions thereupder except as herein
modihed) shall -er n in effect until
Sept Is. 1921. at which time the
agreement and all awards hereunder
and supplements and renewals there
of and understa ndings connected there
with shall absolutely terminate.
Fourth-Judge Samuel Alschuler or
his successor. as administrator. shall
until said date retain and exercise all
~ the Jurisdiction and authority here
tofore existing and the employers and
the employees shall abide by his de-
-isions in all matters Of Jurisdiction
and power under the administration.
and all subjects OF hours. wages CON
aitions and adjustments thereof ex-
.,pting as herein before set out. The
employers ard employees shall, how
ever. be permitted 70 put into opera
ion plans whereby they may develop
method To handle between them
selves all matters Of mutual interest
- hong as they do not interfere with
he administration.
Frrrh-Any questions relating 10
nours on wages submitted to the ad-
ministration during the continuance Of
he agreement shall be submitted in
written briefs. unless otherwise re-
auested by the administration.
The employees, in order TO show that
their decision was not to be taken as
binding on fellowtworkers outside OF
the district. embraced the agreement
added 10 I cir statement the following
paragraph:
Sixth-We understand and appreciate
hat this agreement contemplates anC
covers the exigencbes and conditions al
this tine in the packing houses within
the Alschuler administration. without
relation 10 industrial conditions OF
wages generally.
non by the parties TO the controversy
and significance was seen in the asser-
ton by Redmond S. Brennan, a repre-.
sentative OF the employees. that the rner
agreed TO the wage cut because 'tht
three secretaries held that wages mus
come down" He further indicated tha
Secretary Davis had avowed himself ar
advocate Of the basic eight-hour day
Nevertheless. MIR. Brennan showed
hat the men were still tanding by thei
guns. His statement said in part:
What we have really done is TO sigl
truce 10 prepare for war. If the pack
srs continue their hostility TO the EN-
2loyes. hostilities will be resumed OF
sept IS, when wartime agreements ex
Dire. The Government got this agree
nent through pressure on the packers
Dur attitude from the first completed!
won Secretaries Davis. Hoover ant
Wallace. I want 10 say that in the pas
have never considered Herbert Hoove
friendly toward labor, but / was graft
Ted at the way in which he graspet
the justice of our claims He showed
a remarka BILE knowledge of industria
principles and an accurate acqUaintanct
with economic conditions He got tn
gist Of the whole matter quickly, an,
when he realized that the question 0
recognition Of the unions was not al
issue ne was entirely converted 10 ou
side. believe. in pressing a settlement
Mr.. Wallace also contributed valuabl
assistance with his knowledge Of tn
problems Of the cattle industry.
we are highly pleased that Secretar
Davis has committed himself to tn
eight-hour day. ] do not agree wit
MIN on all economic questions, but
greatly admire the spirit he showed i
the conferences with US. His conten
ton that a reduction Of wages is tn
proper way to solve present industTla
problems, ] believe, is wrong"