New-York tribune., 1872-10-12
GRANTS NAVY-YARDS.
THE BROOKLYN YARD.

FICIEYCY REGULATED BY POLITICAL STAND
IEG-TllE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DECIDED
BY THE NEED OF GRANT MAJORITIEs.
TO the Bdttor OF The TrfbHne.
SIR: am machinist in the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. My standing workman is such that am not
In any way under obligations to tho political ring when
at present controls the Yard and will not sacrhce
my opinions for my position. emboldened to speak
at whatever cost n behalf OF others who are not rs
independent as myse though they despse the present
anarchy the less have passed the better part OF
twenty years at the bench and lathe and possess, In
addition to this experience, respect for my trade
led therefore, TO address you this letter n" less ny
the disrespect shown TO worthy and efficient mechanics
than from my personal contempt for the Grant apso
lutism which rules this yard
Men are not employed paid with reference to the
labor which they perform at their bench The en-
poye is now judged upon his availability for Influencing
votes at the primaries election day. AS THIS last
qualification cannot be numbered among the questions
put the candidate in the ordinary formaty OF en-
gagement, q system Of circumlocut0n IA resOrted 70
which quite eectual in subectng the employe to
the servlty OF the party In power. The applicant
must at once enroll his name with an Administration
organization. either in New-York or Brooklyn, after
which he undergoes the most searching nquison as TO
his loyalty to the dominant party and It's agents-from
the magnate at the White House down TO the antor OF
the club OF this organization he must be member In
good standing and must agree TO pay into its treasury
from eight to ten cents every dollar which he receives
from his snecure In other words he must humble him
seu far boio- that Of honest and ind"-
pendent mechanic In order TO obtain situation As
consequence therefore. the Government Is paying out
the peoples money and allowing short hours to many In
ferior workmen who pride themselves upon the work
performed not the shops but in the rendezvous OF
oafers IN their several wards where they labor hard to
coin votes for their party OF tho men who are at the
head OF these ward orGanzatons-especially In new
York; need not speak; suffice it to remark that the
worknon there become associated with the worst des
peradoes OF the Jimmy O'Bren gang.
THE GREAT GENERALS GRATITUDE
Under the first Napoleon the manned sodiery were as
Tar as possible provided for in the French arnores and
arenas But they not required for poilcai use,
and their appointment was prompted by the graudeo OF
the nation Our Great General has forgotten his poor
crippes. They are many OF them. grinding organs or
selling shoesrng in the streets The cause OF their re-
lection did not lie In the facts that they lacked willing
ness TO earn living They could have filed with credit
the numerous positions Of messengers, copyists OF ae-
countans These situations in many instances given
TO strong abe-boded men who could earn living in
any kind OF unskied labor And for good reason what
is to be expected Of cripple at the primariesl He Is
worth nothing as party tool. His very wounds render
him unfit electoreerng purposes although he might
work prontaby in the Yard. Nearly all the disabled
veterans once employed in the Yard have been sent
away Yet our Great General Is not ungrateful. He
only dispensed with their services because they did not
sympathize with the two-term policy.
PERSONAL RIGHTS MUST BE SACRIFICED
few Grst-cass mechanics, who were employed during
the war when their services required still maintain
their places the Yard by thorough identification with
the Grant clubs before mentioned. have myself heard
one OF these men cay that he attended all the primaries,
paid his percentage voted he was told-whether he
knew the candidates notand submitted in every re-
spect to the guidance Of the officers OF his Ward orga-
zation OF the men who retained him In the Yard Some
admit without hesitation that they are Illuminating
themselves contrary their ideas of American citizen
ship.
This NayyYard is at present controlled and manipu-
lated in the interest OF the Administration by Sam Mad
dox and John j. OBrien-the latter the late private
secretary OF Tom Murphy Maddox Is especially earnest
in the cause Of the Great General who always rewards
his friends" He acts political warden, and makes
every available use OF the positions and snecures In the
Yard OBrien on the other hand, is Jealous laborer in
the New-York Grant clubs. These two men make II
their business ascertain that every man VINO Is taken
INTO the Yard brings the recommendation Oh MS "alu
Committee. II, by any chance, man be mustered Ill
for his good character mechanic or aborer the faet
that he comes without the Endorsement OF a Grant
orcanization ia discovered in less than a week.
candesne committee single spies, chosen from these
ward organizations visit the Yard and mark the name as
il is called at the morning or afternoon muster Inc
rolls are searched and the absence Of the new epoye
duly reported TO one OF the politicians In charge"
potcians They dare not approach theexccuuye OIL
GER as he instructed by Vice-Admral Rowan, Com
mandant OF the Yard, In accordance with an eNphcv
regulation OF the Department mot to allow any political
influences to IN any way direct lis actions Ihey ac-
co,nplish their work, however, no less surely Inc
civilian officers who virtually control the appointment
and removal OF the men, are from the nature Of their
Offices forced to maintain half tacit half diplomatic
intercourse both with the Naval officers and the poll
cians although they their true feay to the latter,
rather than the former The character OF the oDuOxous
workman is assailed, and is in nine cases out OF every
ten followed by his immediate dismissal. IL, however,
as honpens In rare instances he is sustained by nuen-
al and honorable friends and cannot be dlsOdged Dy
malicious falsehood, more subtle power-seen only by
it, eGects-begins TO work out the workman's ruin HIS
tools disappear. He is greeted on every hand with In
sutng epithets. The foreman heaps upon him eonln-
uous abuse, and his reputation as workman Is soon
blackened among his fellow mechanics The report rem
dered by his to the Chief OF the Department In
which he is employed at once puts period to his en-
gagement lie is discharged as an incompetent work
man and his place Is filed by OF the chosen.
la the event Of an order having been received from the
Secretary Of the Navy for the general discharge OF men
of which there danger until after the Presdenta
electio-the muserrols closely scrutnzed by Mad
dox and Brlen each OF whom keeps copy in his Office
or has messenger to inspect Them The questions are
then asked OF doubtful name "Who is this mans
backeri VINO put or B on. and by what authority y
All those whose political influence Is weak are stricken
off until the proper scale Of reduction Is reached Tho
most powerful and influential bulies are frequently re-
tanned to enjoy their light and unnecessary work. re-
gardless Of suffering families.
The Administration has created many Offices, and APP
polnted TO III them many supeInumerary clerks who are
Maid for work which is performed Nearly all OF
them are bitterly opposed to the Eight-hour system
which prevails in the Yard but does not In the least
effect them One OF these snecurss, who Is loud In his
prse OF our Great General has occupied his leisure
= i,ir for n Rrooklyn daily several sophistical let