New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-04
The worEK1ne IN i'm the Navy Yards and MP.
Henshayy's Letter-The Facts.


The workm m i'm the Navy Yards and Mp.
Henshaw's Letter-The Facts.
To the Editor Of The Tribune:
We have noticed in the Tribune OF Oct. 81, q
letter from the Hon. David Henshaw, the new
Secretary OF the Navy, concerning his recent Or
der for the reduction Of wages at the different
Navy Yards, which apparently tends TO cast
shade upon the honorable intentions of the work
ing people. If the position of the Mechanics at
the Charlestown and Brooklyn Navy Yards were
properly understood, there would undoubtedly be
few that would deny that the compensation re-
ceived for their labor they were fully entitled to-
The Honorable Secretary says, it is very natural
that the Workman should try to obtain high
rate Of wages. have no complaint to make OF
this course.
Truly, this is very kind it would however, be
somewhat superfuous for him to object to the
workmen exercising the prerogative Of obtaining
fair equivalent for their labor.
He also says, he is willing to face before the
whole nation the business Of the order. There IS
scarcely mechanic in either Of the above Yards
but that can Immediately perceive from reading
the communication ofthe Hon. Secretary that they
are placed In a position which is not very deslra
bic. He SAYS. the workmen in the Yards at
BROOKLYN and Charlestown deducting the time for
ro-calls, &c. The workmen IN either OF these
Yards never required of the Government these
rolcalls and if the Government is the loser
therebv-which the Hon. Secretary apparently is
SO very anxious to avoid-the responsibility rests
upon himself: there is no roll call at the private
yards. He further says, that the prices paid for
labor inside the yards, were higher than the cur
rent rate Of wages for like work outside the yards
and the days work outside the yards longer than
IN the yards.
The prices Of labor recently paid the mechanics
at the above Navy Yards have been the established
wages for about five years, and several times has
an investigation been had to know, why these
prices were paid, and after full and proper IN
derstandngit has been admitted to be just. There
are two classes Of work at vessels, viz: building,
and repairing. At private yards the prices for
labor at building are l25 per cent. less than at
repairing; because, ten hours day is the csta-
blished rule at building, and nine at repairing.
In the Brooklyn and Charestown Navy Yards the
established hours for labor are ten hours day
without any difference in prices, whereas there is
a difference OF twenty-five cents day outside
the yards, and to cquaze this state Of things, the
medium price was made the established wages In
side the yards the time for labor in the govern
ment yards being less than in private yards, is not
the fault of the workmen. The hours that they
work. have been established by the government
about five years; and it would certainly be as
suming absolute power, for the present Secretary
to encroach upon established regulations.
The Hon. Secretary also says, efforts will be
made to induce the working men as class, to
believe that they are benefited by high prices paid
to this portion of the laboring interest. In this
assertion the Hon. Secretary certainly is prcma-
ture; the working men outside the yards well
know that their employers eagerly seize hold Of
every opportunity TO effect reduction of wages,
and when three or four hundred mechanics and
others are elected from employment by the gov
they must 60 to private yards, hence
the small quantity Of work that is there, is soon
completed, and the great body of workmen is
thrown out of employment. He continues and
says, it is from the earnings of the laborcrs and
outside the yards that those employed
inside the yards are paid. The laborers and me-
chanics generally, understand by what means the
expenses of government are paid, that they out
side the yards do not pay more than they inside
the yards, that one pays as much as the other &C
cording to their possessions. It's rather ungcne-
rous to prejudice the minds of portion of the
people against the other to set them at variance,
to divide and then despoil them. He further says,
he will appeal to the laborng people, one dollar
per day for ordinary labor and three dollars per
day for head or master mechanic, be not fair
prices While the Hon. David Hensllaw, the
new appointed Secretary of the Navy, says, that
three hundred dollars year is enough for work
men, his honorable self is obtaining from the Ia
Dor of the people five thousand dollars year,
While he is engaged in his economical expert
ments, it would be satisfactory to the people for
him to propose to Congress next session, that he
would be exceedingly glad TO have his annual
salary reduced one thousand dollars then the
people Will certainly have confidence in him, and
it would be as iust as to discharge all the work
men, and then reduce the established rate of wa
geS.
The reason given for the suspension of work,
is deficiency of money. The workmen in the
Navy Yards have heretofore waited three months
for their pay, and they would willingly do it again
Ii is generally regretted that the Hon. Secretary
has suspended all work in the government yards,
especially at this season of the year when every
thing tends to the disadvantage of the working
men.
The papers that have published the letter of
the Hon. Secretary, will confer favor on the
working men by giving publicity to this commu-
nication MANY MECHANICS.
GOAL, COAL, Peach Orchard and Red Ash
~ Broken, Egg aud Stove sizes OF the best quality and in
B1 n and N1fEs as w ST c5 Fnk