Evening star., 1933-02-11
Decision on Scale Under Ba.
con-Davis Law Hardly Pos
SibIe Before Monday.
WEATHER COMPLICATES
SITUATION IN DISTRICT
Continuance of "Strike" or "Lock.
out" Threatens Tie-up of Other
Work on Six Buildings Affected.

The carpenters wage dispute, which
has thrown 334 union carpenters out Of
work on six Government buildings, was
in the hands of the Treasury today for
a decision as to what is the prevail
ing wage for carpenters in the Dis
trict of Columbia, under the Bacon
Davis law.
Termed by the union a lockout" and
by the subcontrsctors STRIKE" the
controversy so far has affected only
the carpenters, but if it continues
much longer, with the carpenters off
the job. it threatens to tie up first one
part of the work after another, until
much of the construction on six big
buildings would be at standstill.
In the meantime, however, the Treas
ury Department was pushing forward
its investigation, upon which to base
a decision as to the prevailing wage"
for carpenters in the District Of Co.
1umbia. Under the Bacon-Davis law
the contracting officer" is to attempt
adjudication of wage disputes, after
(which 1t may be appealed to the Sec
fyetary Of Labor.
Data Asked by Heath.
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
Heath, the contracting officer" has
asked the office Of supervising architect
of the Treasury to prepare data on
which he will make his decision on the
prevailing wage. 1t was learned that
the construction engineers have been
asked to compile data from both public
and private work in the city, concerning
the wages of carpenters.
The controversy on six public build
angs here was precipitated when the
subcontractors on these structures
posted notices claiming the prevailing
wage here is So and announcing they
will pay So instead of the $11 union
scale which had previously been in
force. When the carpenters appeared
to work on Thursday morning asking
$l1, they were offered SO, and so, ac-
.locked out" and according to con-
tractors they struck"
The Bacon-Davis law provides that
the prevailing rate of wage in a COM
munity must be paid on Government
buildings.
Henry W. Blumenberg, general rep
fesentative of the United brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners, left WASH
angton for Baltimore yesterday on busi-
ness for the union, but expects to re-
turn here Monday. Before leaving,
nni. oluIucuucIs again eWplldSlZeQ tQe
inSistence of labor that the subcon-
tractors concerned should not be al
lowed to change their scale of pay on
q job for which they already had a
contract.
Complicated by Weather.
The weather has complicated the
situation ever since the first men quit
work Thursday morning. Cold weather
prevented much construction work on
both Thursday and Friday, and virtual
1y all the trades were off today on ac-
count Of the five-day week, Saturday
being a labor holiday.
Even should the Treasury reach
decision today in the matter of the
disputed wage scale, it is expected to
be appealed to the Secretary of Labor
by the side which is disappointed. The
Department Of Labor, observing a five
day week under the economy act, Is
closed today. SO no action from that
source can be expected until Monday.
The Treasury Department also was to
close at l O'Clock. Up to noon the
prospects for a decision in the wage
scale today were uncertain.