Evening star., 1925-11-18
WARNS NAVY BOARD
T0PAy MEN MORE
Will Refuse to Work Unless
Given Adequate Wage.
Spokesman Says.

Higher wages must be paid navy
yard employees or they will refuse TO
work for the Government any longer,
James q. Higgins. representing the
plumbers and pipeftters in the
Washington and other navy yards,
today told the navy general wage
board of review, which is consider
ing the wage scale for navy yard
workers for the year 1926.
He said the plumbers and pipe
fitterS maintained the yards when
it is necessary. but they we're not
going to work for the Government
for nothing. He said the yards Will
have TO go without help unless they
increase wages to meet the outside
competition.
Demands Law Be Kept.
He demanded the law governing
the annual change of wages In the
yard be lived up to. The intcrpreta-
ton put on the law by those in
the Navy Department should not he
allowed to exist and he contended
that the Interpretation was con
trary TO the law itself and 10 its
intent.
He told the board that wages on
the outside show an upward trend
and he could not Indicate when the
peak would be arrived at. He asked
that the men be given the average
of the outside rate scale and chal-
lenged any successful contradiction
Of the figures submitted by the EN-
ployes themselves 70 show that they
were entitled to an increase under
the law. He told the board that he
could bring in employees agreements
to show what the wages are, regard,
less of the statements of outside en-
ploying firms that placed them at d
lower figure.
". ]. Gallagher OF this city, rep
reSentinS the painters. also demanded
the same wages that were being paid
to this class OF employees by private
establishments. He asked the board
to look into a so-called abuse In the
Norfolk district, where enlisted men
of the Navy We're doing painting on
the naval station, thus denying this
work 10 outside painters, 70 whom
he said II properly belonged.
Pleads for Riggers and Divers.
Higher wages were also asked for
riggers and divers by Thomas A.
Wood Of the Norfolk yard, who ap-
peared for this classification of EN-.
ployes at all yards and stations. He
cited specific instances where riggers
and divers We're performing work
which made it possible for the Gov
ernment to save thousands of dol.
lars in comparison to its cost by out.
side contractors. He charged that the
Norfolk local board did not have any
figures on which 10 base recommends
tions made to the general wage board
He told the board here that the Nor.
folk board would not pay any atten.
ton to the figures submitted by the
men, although the latter made an
honest effort 10 get them. He also
explained that when the men who ap.
peared at the general board hearing
last year returned to their home sta
ton they were taken severely to task
for statements attributed to them.
Higher wages We're also asked by
James B. Freeman, Representing the
ordnance men at the Washington
navy yard: D. f. Murphy and ]. E
Mccarthy, representing ordnance men
at Philadelphia c. W. Boone. repre-
senting employees at St. Julians Creek
naval magazine: b. l.. Carpenter, rep
resenting employees at the Dahlgren
naval proving ground. Va; Henry
Smith. representing the employees in
the torpedo plant at Alexandria. Va,
and W. T.. Carver. representing the
employees at the naval magazine at
Belleview, d. c.