South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-30
CANAL WORKERS IN
PANAMA ASK BONUS
Threaten 10 Leave Canal Zone
Ending Operation Work
If Gratuities End.

WASHINGTON. April 29-The
Panama canal Is 20 he wrecked be-
cause The United States workers on
the canal zone have been deni-u
their perquisites by an order ~
President Harding. according 20 VII
liam q flushing. member OF the
Panama canal Wage Board and the
Panama Canal Complaints Boaiu.
who represents the Canal employees
and ls asking relief from congress.
The canal workers do not intend
10 blow up the canal but Intend 20
ieave the Canal zone and return TO
fine United States unless their Pc.
quisites are restored TO them. Hush
ing said. They viii tell other work.
Crs in she United States how unsat-
i-factory climatic and working CON
d.tions IN the Canal Zone really az
and they 40 not believe any one will
80 there to take up the work WITH
Que perquisites. he asserted
Representative Cooper. republi-
can. OF Ohio. a labor member 81
congress. has taken up the cudgels
ln behalf OF the Canal Zone employ
g. He has introduced IN congress
"a bin restoring conditions Of en-
ploym ent on the Canal Zone as tnss
existed mp 10 January I last. AZ
which time the rerquisities were cut
ous by the president on the recon-
mendation OF special Panama
Canal commission which spent a
month Investigating the canal in the
summer OF 1921
Must Pass Tests.
The American employees on the
canal. according TO Rep. Cooper.
have been selected after rigorous
physical and mental tests from the
finest craftsmen and clerical work.
CTS in the United States They We're
induced 70 enter tropical service by
the customary % per cent different
ga in wages. and free quaraters.
ght. fuel and sanitation. Service
.n the tropics entails from twenty
10 thirty days cumulative leave each
year and twenty-four days annual
leave with seven days travel time TO
enable an employe to return TO the
United States periodically to recup-
crate his health. These peruuisities
are gone because OF the order OF
the president. Cooper declared.
Representative OF the canal en-
ployes assert that in the order re-
vOking the perquisities there has
been discrimination against tho
skilled American workman In favor
OF the executives and the alien negro
wOrkmen. The latter, mostly Brit
ish. continue TO receive free heat.
Tight and sanitation. they say, while
American wOrkmen are required to
pay a rental so percent higher than
that OF the negro wOrkmen for
similar quarters. and are charged
Tor heat. light and sanitation.
Officers Get Increases.
The supervising officers OF the
Panama Canal Zone formerly re
oeived the same perquIslties aas the
skilled workmen. but when these
perquisities were revoked the Off
GERS had their pay increased $50 TO
500 "A month The pay OF work
men has been reduced in many in
stances. and further reductions are
scheduled. The average pay of
skilled workmen and the clerical
staff of the Panama Canal Is s1S2
entail Of % per cent over compen-
sation for cimilar work in the Unit
ed States.
GCTernor Morrow, OF the Panama
Canal one. has sided with the en-
ployes in heir protest He has told
Secretary cf War Weeks that "adop-
ton OF these recommendations a
once and in toto would ruin the
Canal"
Continuing. Governor Morrow
says. we would soon have "A halt
ing. limping service. damage bills %
an incalculabIe extent. a very con-
siderable traffic loss, "A wholesale de
sertion of highly-expert employees
resulting in a disorganized service
that could never be restored to even
"a small fraction of it's present efHci-
ency. also, "a valuable stragetic asse.
would be Almost totally destroyed
The net result would be an actua
financial loss as we'll as a great loss
in national prestige"