Evening star., 1923-04-02
Job PRINTERS PAY
UPHELD BY JUDGE
Present Scale Continued by
Observation-Disclosures
Denied.
PLEA FOR RAISE LOST
Standard of One Apprentice for
Each Four Journeymen Also
Approved in Opinion.

! A decision, important 20 al labor.
continuing the present wage scale
being paid printers in book and job
| offices, has been handed down By
Judge Fenton W. Booth. associate
justice of the Court of Claims, acting
as arbitrator in wage scale negotia-
tions between the Typothetae Of
Washington. closed shop branch. and
| the Columbia Typogra phical Union.
No. 101. on behalf of the members Of
the union working in the shops
named
Judge Booth was selected as arbi-
| the Typothetae.
"A complete survey OF the whole
record convinces the arbitrator thai
the present wage scale now in force
and observed by the parties to this
arbitration should stand" Judge
| Booth asserted in his DECISION.
Typotbetne Sought Cut.
The typothctae brought forwara
seven reasons for q 10 per cent re
duttion in the present wage scale,
including the allegation OF decline
! in the cost OF living.
granting that II has declined. ii
is nevertheless apparent TO the. most
casual observer that the decline Is
not of sufficient proportions TO war
| rant a reduction in the wage scale
! of workers, when the scale now hAed
discloses that it is no more than
sufficient 10 maintain an ordinary
family in moderate comfort and de-
Cency," the decision states
Judge Booth stated that he inquired
! of at least $50 people. rich and poor
alike, and never once did ] receive
an answer that any appreciable de-
| cline in the cost Of living in Wash
fHgton had taken place. and the!
spoke from experience, with no KNOW
. edge that l was at all interested IN
! the elected information"
Refuses Wage Increase.
Judge Booth said that the arDitra
tor would not enter into q long dis
cussion as to the unions claim for u
I substantial increase In wages not
because 1t is unimportant, but for the
reason do not think the record war
| rants its allow ance.
The Typothetae at present is car
/ rying in wage scales all that the in
dustry should be burdened with" the
decision declared while ! am firm
| ly convinced that the present wage
scale is not beyond the limit of all
ordinary livelihood, under prescn
conditions | am also convinced be-
| yond peradTenture that the record as
at present constituted does no. in an>
respect warrant the establishment o.
! an increased scale at this time.
| The typothetae contended that any
+; limitation other than the ratio Of one
apprentice TO every four journeymen
or major part thereof, regularly en-
p!oyed, is fundamentally wrong.
Rules on Apprentices.
Il am of the opinion that the y
pothetae is right in this respect. and
tlleir contention should be adopted"
Judge Booth states in his argument.
Ihe typothetae put IN claim for
leeway of four hours overtime on
Saturday afternoons at the regular
minimum rates of pay and the union
wanted Saturday afternoon made 4
Z holiday and double pay decreed.
Z The arbitrator stated that he thinks
! both contentious are without merit
! 'anG q more deliberativc reflection
! VIII convince the parties that this is
! so" He stated that in this connec-
! tion he coCld see no valid reason for
I extending to inauguration day the
/ status Of holiday
The arbitrator is convinced tbs
/ the present wage scale is conmen-
I surate with the profits of the indus
| under present circumstances" Judge
Booth concluded
! Would Limit Rules.
| The union also contended that
| local union laws and the laws OF the
| International Typographical Union
conditions shall not be subject to ar
! bitratiou.''
| IF the proposiS Of the unions.
Judge Booth held. "is limited in its
application to the mere local laws
and laws of the International Typo
graphical Union having to do with
procedure and disciplinary affairs
/ concerning only the internal govern
| ment of the respective organizations
! il is not subject to attack.
Il fNll he
| brace rules and regulations now in
existence. or hereafter made which
may be imposed upon the typothetae
by general provision in the con
! in the employment OF union labor
would be bound TO respect. il is sub
! ject TO debate" Judge Booth said
! The t%pothetae ought not to be
| the terms of which it knows not or:
assuredly il ought not 10 be held
! responsible for rules and regulations
; in the making and PRONUNCIATION OF
to be a part and parcel OF its con
tract with the union" Judge Booth
added.
Urges Cancellation.
! He declared thar he believed that
| a contract should be entered into con-
tanning the following provisions:
That the parties hereto will settle
| any and all differences affecting
wages. working conditions and shop
practices that may arise between the
| two parties in interest under the
terms and conditions OF the contract,
| by conciliation, and if conciliation
fails. by arbitration.
The strike of union printers for a
forty-four- hour week in job offices.
which has been on throughout The.
country since May 20. 1921. has cost
sl3,3S6,000 which has been con
! tributed by working printers in
| news spaper and other offices TO aid
! their fellow unionists who are on
| strike This is in addition to the
! loss to the strikers in wages, esti-
mated to run into many more millions
of dollars.