Evening star., 1926-05-26
REVIEW IS REFUSED
IN PRINTERS AWARD
Justice Hitz Declines to Re-
consider Decision In
! creasing Wages.

to accede to the plea or tne NaSn'
irgton Newspaper Publishers Asso-
citation that he reconsider his recent
tentative findings as arbitrator grant
ipc wage increases to newspaper
printers in Washington. which. the
publishers informed him, may lead
10 "disa strous results" in the news
paper publishing industry here and
elsewhere.
The publishers. in representations
made to the arbitrator on behalf OF
the association. asked that he recon
slider before making his tentative re-
port final, the evidence submitted In
the wage matter between the Column
hia Typographical Union. No. l0l. and
the publishers association.
Specifically. the publishers asked
that Justice Hitz still rons'der the
matter of his findings SO far open as
to permit him to confer with other
members Of the board of arbitration in
order that the views and reasons
for your tentative findings may ne
stated and considered by the fun board
and any isapprenhensions on your
part. if such exist. cleared away:
Decision Called, "Extreme."
In presenting their plea to Justice
Hitz. the representatives "f the ass"-
citation declared
The handing down hy you. as the
disinterested arbitrator. of your find
inye without conference and exchange
Of ideas with the other members OF
the board (eyen though in tentative
fornD with the statement that you
had made up your mind on all points
except the matter of the duration OF
the proposed contract. and the TURNER
statement that you did not propose
to give any reasons for your decision
we believe unprecedented.
We assume that even though you
have formed definite ideas. your mind
is still open and that YOU will recog-
nize that the other members of the
board have right to know the rea-
sons for your tentative findings ana
hat they may have an opportunity
to point out any fallacies in your con-
illusions.
Effect Held Harmful.
Regarding the general effect OF the
findings. the publishers declared:
Nothing can be clearer than that
to make this tentative report f1nal
will create for the term II continues a
class of skilled workers preferentially
treated to an unexampled extent. Ii
this were carried through the news
paper publishing industry here and
elsewhere, the industry could not. We
believe. economically survive. aside
from the most prosperous newspapers
Such enormous increases. save in 1so-
lated instances. could not he met by
passing on the increase to the ultimate
consumer.
IF the principle of the award is
inst and should he applied to the
Union joh printing offices in Wash
jnston, these shops could not COM
petitively exist"
In citing the apprehended effect OF
the wage increase findings, ana what
they regard a. their want of justin
cation either from the standpoint of
comparative wages here and else
where or cost Of living figures Of the
Department of Labor, the publishers
declared:
We feel strongly and confidently
that IL your honor had taken up and
discussed the various points a t issue
with the other members of the board
cf arbitration. no such extreme and
radical decision would have been
reached"
Rig Increases Cited.
In this connection, the publishers
urEed the great responsibilities OF an
arbitrator, as means OF erecting
industrial adjustments without the
costly recourse to strike. in giving
full hearing consideration to the
views of both sides and maintain
ing the confidence of employers ana
employees alike"
In citing the effect of the increases,
the publishers showed that for the
day scale they raise the annual in
come for the normal AZ hour week to
s. sos, an increase of $405.6O, and for
the ma Ximun as hour week to
81 .2Oo.44. an increase of $57S.24, over
the present scale. For the night scale
income based on the 42-hour week is
increased To 1920. an Increase or
S4aa20, and income based on the 46-
hour week is raised to S3,563.e4. an in
crease Of $692.64.
LAS we see the ease" the publishers
declared in their representations. the
evidence submitted showed that the
newspaper printers here have beer
literally paid as compared with their
fellow craftsmen in this and other
cities and as compared with all skill
ed workmen in other walks of life, and
with the clerical forces who comprise
the ma ajority Of Washington's citi-
zenshlp. We know Of no testimony
whatever that was submitted that
would have justified an increase on
this score.
Cost of Living Lower.
"In the cost Of living statistics Of
the Department Of Labor. the changes
since the last arbitration by Judge
Mccoy, in 1920. showed decrease
rather than an increase. And since
1929. when a negotiated scale was
agreed upon. an increase was shown
hy the last figures Of the department
of approximately 2.7 per cent, or
shcut 81 cents a day on the day scale
We feel" the publishers declared.
that in the face nf these facts we
are entitled to know and discuss with
Won YOUR reasons for the tentative
view that unprecedented increases
should he made.
Justice Hitz declined to change MS
tentative findings. granting wage In
cresses ranging from 1853 to 24.l per
cent The final award made the basic
scale retroactive to November IL. 1925,
eliminating the retroactive feature as
to overtime.
Printers Accept Award.
In the arhitra ton proceedings print
ers ha sed their contentious for An In
crease purely upon their rights to a
living wage. consisting Of a sufficient
income for the maintenance Of fam
ilv in the necessaries Of life as well
as margin for savings IL recrea-
ton" according to John y. Breen,
their attorney.
Although the final award did not
have retroactive effect insofar as
overtime pay was concerned or pay
for night shift workers for work be-
fore pm said Mr.. Breen I'VE ac-
cert the award as finally given. de-