The Washington times., 1922-04-23
CANAL WORKERS
|DEMAND BONUS
| WAGES REMAIN
Threaten to Leave Panama
Zone. Ending Work, 1t
1 Cratuities Stop.
by international News Service.

The Panama Canal rs to be
wrecked because the United States
workers on the Canal Zone have been
denied their prerequisites by an order
OF President Harding, according TO
william c. flushing. member OF the
Panama Canal Wage Board and the
Panama Canal Complaints Board,
who represents the canal employees
and is asking relief from Congress.
The canal workers do not intend
20 blow up the canal; but intend to
leave the Canal Zone and return to
the United States unless their pre-
requisites are restored TO them. Hush.
ing said. They will tell other work
sers In the United States how unsatis-
afactory climatic and working condi-
tt3ons in the Canal Zone really are
and they do not believe any one will
go there to take up the work without
Prerequisites. he asserted.
Representative Cooper, Republican.
of Ohio, labor member of Congress,
has taken up the cudgels In behalf
OF the Canal Zone employees. He
has introduced in Congress "A bill
Restoring conditions of employment
xpn the Canal Zone as they existed
up to January l last. at which time
The prerequisites were cut out by the
oPresident on the recommendation of
.apspecial Panama Canal Commission,
which spent a month investigating
the canal in the summer OF 1871.
Must Pass Tests.
a. The American employees on the
canal, according to Representative
yCooper, have been selected after
nh nd Yrnantal fnafS
from the finest craftsmen and cleri-
seal workers in the United States.
They were induced to enter tropical
service by the customary twenty
five per cent differential in wages,
and free quarters, light, fuel and
sanitation. Service in the tropics
entails from twenty to 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 recuperate his
health. These prerequisites are gone
because of the order of the Presi-
Gent, Cooper declared.
", Representatives of the Canal en-
ployes assert that in the order
revoking the prerequisites there has
been discrimination against the
NllltilCdh Woi IaNoi
of the executives and the alien
negro workmen. The latter. mostly
British, continue TO receive free
heat, light and sanitation, they say.
while American workmen are re-
quired to pay a rental so per cent
greater than that of the negro
workmen for similar quarters, and
are charged for heat, light and
sanitation.
Officers Got Increases.
The supervising officers OF the
Panama Canal Zone formerly re-
ceived the same prerequisites as the
skilled workmen. but when these
prerequisites were revoked the
officers had their pay increased
$50 TO 500 a month. The pay of
workmen has been reduced in many
instances, and further reductions
are scheduled. The average pay
of skilled workmen and the clerical
staff of the Panama Canal is s1S2
a month, which includes the differ
ential of rs per cent over COM
pensation for similar work in the
United States.
Governor Morrow, of the Panama
Canal Zone, has sided with the en-
ployes in their protest. He has
told Secretary of War Weeks that
adoption of these pecommenda-
tions at once and in toto would
ruin the Canal"
Continuing, Governor Morrow
says: I'VE would soon have a halt
ing, limping service, damage bills
to an incalculable extent, q very
considerable traffic loss. a whole
sale desertion of highly-eIpert en-
ployes, resulting in a disorganized
service that could never be restored
to even a. small fraction of it's
present efficiency; also. a valuable
strategic asset would be almost
totally destroyed. The net result
would be an actual financial loss
as well as a great loss in national
prestige"