New-York daily tribune., 1843-10-27
AnUpright. Manly Act.


pleasure than that Of doing justice to the merto-
rious acts of political opponent, especially II ne
be one Of whom our personal opinion has beer
unfavorable as in the instance below. It seems
that Hon. David Henshaw, the new Secretary O.
the Treasury, found, on taking charge of his De
partment that certain descriptions Of Labor IL
the Navy Yards were compensated at rate de-
cidedy higher than the current wages OF such
Labor elsewhere Mr. Henshaw thereupon
promptly ordered a reduction, which of course
met with strong opposition from those interested
and their personal friends. A great meeting was
held in Charlestown, Mass to demonstrate against
the reduction and procure its abandonment But
Mr. Henshaw stands firm, and, in reply to the
letter Of friend has transmitted this honest ano
conclusive answer:
WAsaINGToH, Oct -, lS43.
DEAR SIR: have your favor of the 2Oh, and am obgea
for the information about the meeting OF the workmen OF
the Charleston NayyYad consequent upon the recent order
Of the Department. fixing the of compensation the nite
States are willing TO pay for specified services.
Its all natural that the .orkmen should Try all af
means to obtain high of wages have no compliant
TO make Of this aware too that small poiIa
|
for their personal purposes and against this have no
Iectons. am perfectly willing face before the Whor
nation the responsibility of this order, us bfoadesI au
fullest extent The order given with party or oi'
cal objects but obedience what conceived 10 Dc
duty 10 the country
The workmen in the yards at Brooklyn and Chaestown
deductng the for roll calls work on an average e
wear through little any, eight and half hours PEI
day The prices paid for labor from fifteen 10 twenty
per cent higher than the current of for Ike woh
paid by citizens outside the yards and the days work OUT
side the yards fifteen twenty per cent Longer t
in the yards The prices established by the recent order a
in conformity TO the current of wages for similar work
outside the wards do believe have any more ght 10
nav twenty per cent above the market piice for labor than
10 a twenty per above the market price lo materials
and supplies of clothes and provisions for the Navy
Efforts will be made to induce the workngmen and pro-
ducers as a class TO believe that they benefited by high
prices paid this portion of the aboIng interest ihss
srorts however will fail 1t is from the earnings OF the
laborers and mechanics outside the yards that those EN-
poved inside the wards paid and surely these
desire thar those employed by the Government shall receive
more than they themselves who labor private works
to pay them.
The wages of the day aborer on the most ordinary work
is fixed at one dollar per day Head master mechanics
are paid three dollars per day will appeal 10 the aborinC
drought your State thest be not far prices kno"
of hundreds and hndithousand oi worthy cometen'
Massachusetts, who would be exceedingly Siad u
accept of these prices and work hours day o
this pay than the operatives work at the Navy ards
Ii is TO save the earnings of the workincmen class
who finally pay all the expenses Of the Government thai
have directed this just retrenchmnt The rgh
in ITSELF and lust 10 all parties and long as have th
control Of the Navy Department shall adhere 10 the orde'
with unfaIteng irmness What know TO be night vi!
DO fearless OF consequences
Nothing can preserve the character and standing OF The
Navy but an energetic Just and administration OF
It's affairs and am the country will sustain all msa'
sures tending TO this object.
am, dear sir very respectfully,
Your obedIent servant,
DAVID HENSHAW.