Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-04


are shown by the testimony. and the very
Voluminous correspondence. OF the Depart
ments with Commander Rootes and. Mr.:
Graham, the constructing engineer. Most Of
the members Of Congress went to the yard
during the hours of work to look after their
interests. Each was anxious to have his
friends in the yard. and most of them in per-
son frequently press, these applications
They had controversies with each other, with
the officers of the yard. and with the master
workmen about the division of patronage.
Several cases of this kind are testified to by
the master workmen. and are shown by the
| correspondence. Pressed by laborers begging
| for work as q reward for partisan servlces-
members sent them TO their master-workmen,
il some cases to others. with letters OF recon-
mendation, in many cases without proper IN
| quiry as to their fitness or ability to do work.
| The master workmen, themselves appointed
| for partisan services, often yielded. 10 some
eases. when they refused. threats of their
| own removal were sent TO them and when
\ COMPILED TO choose. in some cases they pre-
| erred packing the yard With idle and unskiii-
| ful workmen or laborers to risking their own
places. In one case, the Hon. John Cochrane,
| believing that Lawrence CuhaDe, the master
carpent.'r, did not fairly divide the patronage
| in his department, wrote Cohane thus:
''' New YORK, June 13, 1851
| Mr.. CoHAxE: Nj. Cullen tells me that you
are fo take men on Tuesday; now Il ask yon
| TO taxi him on, and the others | have asked
you TO take on. ! uiU have my proportion
of men under you; if you do not give them
| I will lodge charges against you Iou have
| turned away all the men but one from my
district already. OF this / have compliance
| to the Secretary, and now, unless you rectify
this Injustice. will make application that you
be turned out. The bearer will bring me an
| answer. Yours: DC: -
The testimony clearly shows that, through
The master workmen. nearly all the workmen
IN the yard were selected by members If Con
gress and mostly on account of political ser
vices One Of the master workmen testities
that when unfit men were pressed upon him
by IN, mbers of Congress. he r. ported it TO the
Naval Constructor, Mr. Delano., and the reply
was, q. He was sorry for me. but he could not
help it." He informed Capt. Rootes. who
said. He saw it, but could not help It," 1t
was reported in the yard, and the report was
acted upon, that it was the order of the Sec
rotary, that the patronage OF the different de-
parfments was to be divided and distributed
among the members of Congress.
That this report was well founded. the fol-
lowing correspondence will show
New YORK. July %. 1883
"My Dear Sir:-I have applied to Mr. Fra
ganza, master-joiner of the Navy Yard.
to give employment to IA few men, good work
men and worthy persons in my district. AL
though he has 100 men or thereabout in his
shop, he has not done so.
Il have only sent one letter Of recommended
ton to him, but no attention has been paid to
IT, beyond the answer that when he put an
additional number of men to work he would
thenssee what he could do. <-
II appeal to you to vindicate my district
from thisunIust and partial discrimination.
"MI. FraganZa admits he has not one
man in his shop from my district.
If have not misunderstood your views. i
il is your wish that the masters should select
from the different districts adjacent to the
Yard, in equal proportions upon recommenda-
ton of members, the workmen employed in
the shop, &c.
Truly yours, D. E. STcKLEs.
"Hon. ISAAC ToUcEY, sec'y. of Navy Washington"
-E NAVY DEPARTMENT, Aug. 2, 1858.
"SIR: The Department has addressed the
CommandaHt ofthe Navy Yard at New York
on the subject of your letter of the 9th
ultimo. ISAAC TOUCEY.
Hon DANIEL E. SIckIEs. New York 1"
"NAvY DEPARTMENT, July 30. 1858.
"SIR: The Hon. Mr.. SickIes has complain
ed to the Department that an unequal and
unjust course is pursued toward his district
by Mr.. Fraganza. the master joiner, who.
though he has about 100 men under him. has
not employed a single person from his district
although Mr.. Sekles has made only one re-
COMMUNICATION.
.'Tha Department desires that fair and
liberal course BE- pursued toward MrSickles's
district. and wishes you to inquire into and
report upon this matter.
Il am, respectfully, your ohed't servant,
Isaac TOUCEY.
Com. T.. KRARSY, Commandment Navy Yard, n. Y.
"NAvY YARD. New York. Aug 5, 1858.
"SIR: On the receipt of the Departments
letter of the 30ih ult.. Mr.. Fraganza. the
master joiner of This yard, was called on for
an explanation in regard to the complaints
made by the Hon. Mr.. Sickles. wr Fragar-
Ia letter, in answer to the subject, is here
with respcctfllly submitted
THE Department. letter of the same date
with reference 10 the selection of their fore
man by the master workmen was also re-
ceiv' 4. and on the recommendation of Mr.
Kennedy, the master stnne-cutter, I sane
toned the hiring Of fnrrman. named by
him, and the discharge OF the person who had
previously held that position
believing that have carried out the in |
tention of the ID partment's order, would |
like to he informed if the course pursued i'll
this instance meets lis approval.
Il have the honor to be, sir. very respect |
fully your most obedipr,t servant, L
IL. KEARNY. COmmandant.
'The Hon. Isaac ToUcEY. Sec'y of Navy"
This is certainly a very extraordinary bust /
ness on which to detail an officer Of the high |
ct rank known in the Navy of the United |
States
The natural result followed: many of those |
a 81 s,f.. 6
With rare exceptions. coed workmen would |
not humble themselves To seek from a pcliti- 4
clan a job of work when they can get it |
elsewhere. A master workman testified that
the poorest wOrkmen were pressed upon him |
with the most pertinacitv. Romeo Fraganza.
one of the master woIkm"n, writes the de- |
partrnent u1der date Of August 5, 1858. sin /
"eight Congressional Districts. who claim
the patronage Of the yard, in niue cases out
"of ten. the m n who are most strenuously /
recommend, d. are very Indifferent hands,
.many OF whom cannot obtain employment
from private employers Men from the
laborers' gang, who knew nothing about
painting were ranked irst-class painters
(Fitzgrrald.) others "a blacksmiths, &c; aud
so on in the d.f ferent departments. Laborers
" ere employed TO act as clerks and to. work
As carpenters. B4f 100 go Ae
These abuses increased in the Yard ms the
election Tor members OF Congress approached.
Members master wOrkmen. all were interest
I'd in packing the yard. II the master work
men was reluctant to increase his force. he
was urged to do so by the members of Con-
gress. aud was compelled to yield to the d.
mand. In Ibis way the master black. NTH in
creased his force twenty-five men. He testified
that the same general increase, tor the same
reason orcurred throughout the yard in all
the different departments and that of the
'orcr OF about 9 400 men thus employed, one
ourth We're useless; that il was understood
hat particular master workmen were 20 ad-
minister this patronage for the benefit OF par
ticuhr memb rs. In most cases this pressure