The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-08
w A II | N G. I @ N.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOV. s. 1s4a.
THE LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 90, 1915

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, lS43
DEAR Sir | have your favor Of the goth, and
am obliged for the Information about the meet
ing of the workmen of the CharlestoWn Navy
Yard, consequent upon the recent order Of the
Department, fixing the rate Of compensation the
United States are willing to pay for specified
services. WA stss azfl Fr s st1
1t is all very natural that the workmen should
try all fair means to obtain high rate of wages.
have no complaint to make Of this course. /
am aware too that small politicians will seize
upon the measure and make capital out OF it tor
their personal purpose; and against this have
no objections. am perfectly willing to face,
before the whole nation, the responsibility OF
this order, in its broadcast and fullest extent.
The order was given with no party or political
object, but in obedience 10 what conceived to
be duty to the country.
The workmen in the yards at Brooklyn and
Charlestown, deducung the time for roll calls,
work on an average, the year through, little, ii
any, over eight hours and half per day. The
prices paid for labor were from fifteen TO twenty
per cent. higher than the current rate OF wages
for like work paid by citizens outside the yards;
and the days work outside the yards is some
fifteen to twenty per cent longer than IN the
yards. The prices established by the recent
order are in conformity to the current rate Of
wages for similar work outside the yards. do
not believe / have any more right to pay twenty
per cent. above the market prices for labor, than
to pay twenty per cent. above the market price
for materials and supplies Of clothes and proyi-
sions for the Navy.
Efforts will be made to induce the working
men and producers as class to believe that they
are benefited by high prices paid to this portion
of the laboring interest. These efforts, how
ever, will fail. 1t is from the earnings of the
laborers and mechanics outside the yards that
those employed inside the yards are paid; and
surely these can never desire that those employ
ed by the Government shall receive more than
they themselves earn, who labor on private
works, to pay them.
binary work, is fixed at one dollar per day
Head or master mechanics are paid three dollars
per day. | will appeal to the laboring men
throughout your State, If these be not fair prices
| know Of hundreds, and can find thousands,
of worthy, competent men in Massachusetts,
who would be exceedingly glad to accept these
prices, and work two hours day more for this pay
than the operatives now work at the navy yards
1t is to save the earnings OF the working men,
as class, who finally pay all the expenses Of
the Government, that / have directed this just
retrenchment The measure is right in itself,
and just to all parties; and so long as / have the
control of the Navy Department shall adhere
to the order with unfaltering tirmness. What
know to be right | will do, fearless of conse-
quences. I'll
Nothing can preserve the character and stand
ing of the Navy but an energetic, just, and eco
nomical administration of its affairs and sure
am the country will sustain all measures tending
TO this object.
am, dear sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant. DAVID HENSHAW.
Now, here is sort of manifesto from the new
Secretary in which he attempts, by a.specious
Kill -
excessive zeal for economy at the expense of the
mechanics and laborers in the navy yards. Evil
IDENTIFY he expects and desires comment; he is
ready to face the "whole nation" upon the sub
ject Of his "order." Well, as an humble indi-
vid9al, we propose to say something about it.
These workmen, whose wages he has cut down,
work deductng the time for roll-calls," (when
it to be supposed they not sweatng) g little,
if any, over eight hours and half per day." The
Secretary goes on to say, that they work longer
for less money outside the yard, and that he has
no more right to pay above market price for
work than for clothes and provisions for the ma
wy. This, begging pardon for our plainness, is
not true. In the one case the matter is in his
own discretion in the other he is obliged to pub
lish proposals for the lowest bidder.
Efforts will be made to convince the working
men, says the Secretary, that they are benefited
by high prices, &C., but these efforts will fail
How so? We thought that Mr.. Buchanan HIM
self had backed out from his theory OF low
wages.
Again: 1t is from the earnings Of the labor.
ers and mechanics outside the yard, that those
inside are paid" Indeed Then the laborers
sons in the country. But next comes the great
error into which the Secretary has fallen, j. e..
that the laborers " outside do not desire thai
those inside should have more than they them
selves earn" &c. This appeal to the jealousy