Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-17
MACH|N|ST CHARGE
AGAINST ADAMS HIT
AT WHITE HOUSE
Union Accuses Secretary OF
Refusing to Reopen Navy
Yard Wage Farley.
EXECUTIVE STATEMENT
DENIES GIVING ORDER
Secretary of Central Labor Union
Declares Protest Will Be
Sent to Congress.

Charges that Secretary OF the Navy
Adams has refused to abide by re-
quest of President Hoover to open wage
negotiations affecting the pay OF en-
ployes of the Washington Navy YARD,
laid today before the central LABOR
Union. were countered today by Wnlte
House statement that the President has
made no such request of the Navy De-
partment head, and that the situation
at present is being investigated.
The charges leveled at Secretary
Adams came into the open last night at
a meeting of the Central Labor Union
at Musicians Hall, with declaration
bv delegates from local No. TIA of the
International Association OF MachmlSCS
that Mr.. Adams has absolutely declined
TO reopen the hearings of the Navy Yaro
wage board. 1t was stated at the Whlte
House that, although the President
talked with President Green OF the
American Federation of Labor and
committee of officers of the 1nterna-
tional Association of MachinistS sew
eral days ago, he made no promises In
the matter.
Request Not Made.
At the same time it was said the
President has not made request TO
Secretary Adams to reopen the wage
neROIldIlOIlSs
looked into. Nor has the President had
q conference with Mr.. Adams on this
subject.
Local No. TIA is made up of machin-
lists who are employed in the Washing
ton Navy Yard.
At the time Mr.. Green and the dele
CATION of machiniStS' representatives
called on the President it was stated
they reminded Mr.. Hoover that the
statement that no new wage increases
would be requested during the period
of industrial sterilization was qualified
by an understanding that the wage adj
justments in conference at that time
would not be affected by the agreement
regarding new wage increases.
1T was stated that President Hoover
called into this conference Secretary
Adams of the Navy Department" Frank
J. Coleman, secretary OF the Central
Labor Union, said today, land requested
him to open up again the elaboration
of the Wage Adjustment Board of the
Navy Yord in order to give these under
paid employees of the Government a
slight increase in pay which had been
recommended in all the navy yard wage
boards throughout the United States.
Plan to Protest.
Out Of this meeting, according to Mr..
Coleman, grew Ine charge IdSI hlsuC
that Secretary Adams has refused to
reopen the hearings of the Wage Board,
the White House statement that Mr..
Hoover has not specifically requested
Mr.. Adams to do SO and the statement
that the matter is being investigated"
The further charge was made by the
labor delegates that Secretary Adams
has been Influenced in his alleged de-
termination not to reopen the matter
by a conference he is said to have had
with certain steel magnates before his
announcement that no increases in pay
would be granted to navy yard workers
during 1890
THE Machinists' Union will make
protest to the members of Congress as
regards the autocratic position taken
by Secretary Adams as regards this
question" Mr.. Coleman said.