Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-08
ANXIETY OVERPAY
INCLUDING TRADES
Coming Wage Readiustments
May Bring Clouds to In
dustriaI Sky.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The star.

special Dispatcn TO Inc star.
NEW YORK, January 8.-Employ-
ment barometers today showed no
signs of storms approaching in the
near future. But the skies of indus
try are not entirely cloudless. The
chief anxiety is felt with regard to the
action of the building trades. In
many of these lines of endeavor wage
scales come up for revision in the
Spring and the duration of the ire
mendous building activity which help
ed so materially in supporting every
line of American business in 1925 is
known to be dependent on keeping
building costs at or close to present
figures.
Skilled Labor Higher.
Reports received by telegraph today
from widely scattered sections indicate
that while the average rate Tor COM
mon labor Is around "a cents an hour,
or slightly lower than a year ago. the
remuneration of skilled artisans Is
slightly above that of January, 1928.
Taking the 1913 costs as 100, the
Engineering News Record figure for
construction costs this month Is 2O7.lo,
as compared with 210.40 year ago,
and 273 80, the 1920 peak.
Most distributors and manufacturers
heaved a sigh of satisfaction over the
agreement between the railroads ana
the railway brotherhoods on terms or
a bill to settle wage disputes. me
terms agreed upon would provide for
arbitration and prevent any strike or
change in the situation for at least 80
days after a report has been made 10
the President by board named by
him to probe any failure to agree.
System Entirely Changed.
Producers. distributors and merchan-
disers have all changed their system
Of doing business in the last two years
TO take advantage of the increased
efficiency of the railroads, and any
sudden failure of that efficiency would
work serious damage to the whole
business fabric of the country.
Employers and employees alike are
good deal puzzled today to know just
where organized labor stands with re-
gard TO arbitration. The most power
full single union affiliated with the
American Federation Of Labor-the
United Mine Workers, whose leaders
have been comforting. without avail
with mine operators in an effort to
end the anthracite strike-have taken
the stand that under no circumstances
will they submit differences to arbitra
ton. The three great railroad broth
| erhoodS. the most powerful group in
| the American Federation Of Labor. on
the other hand. not only advocate ar
| bitration. but are supporting a law
| which would make arbitration COM
! pulsory.
Urge Governor to Act.
A combination OF civic and CONNER
cial bodies in Philadelphia are making
insistent demands that Gov. Pinchot
use his efforts 10 have the Legislature,
which will shortly meet in special ses-
sion. repeal the mine certificate law.
which makes 1t obligatory for miners
In anthracite properties to have a
State license. This in, the past has
| prevented use OF non-union workers in
| the anthracite fields during strikes.
1t has also been suggested that the
| governor be given authority to sus-
pend the mine certificate law in times
| Of strikes
| The most prominent dramatists Of
America. while they have not today
| affiliated themselves with the Fedora
| ton of Labor. to all intents and pur.
! poses have formed themselves into a
| union, to protect their interests in the
moving picture rights to their plays.
! There are 131 dramatists in the union,
| but the managers who oppose their