National Republican., 1885-10-01
A PLEA FOR THE NAVY YARD.
The Knights of Labor Urge Secretary
whitney TO RopaIr the swntara Here.


The executive committee Of d. A. 6d, X.
Of L., called on Secretary Whitney yester-
day and presented the following petition;
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY No. GO, KSIGurs OF LABOR,
NAsnihGroN, u. G., Sept ~, iss6.-liON, WI
a. MniTEEY, Secretary of the Navy-SiR This
assembly, representing thirty labor orginlA.
tions, has directed us in behalf of the naval
artisans Of the District of Columbia, to ask you
10 direct thnt the contemplated repairs to the
United States ship Swatsrd no made NJ the
Washington navy yard. The practical sii'pen.
sion Of business In the navy yard some two
years nro has caused much hardship among
the yard mechanics aud II Is an urgent neces.
s!iy that conipes MS to ask that this amount OF
relief he extended TO them.
We make our request withgrcat freedom
because we believe the best interests Of the
government will be snhscrved by hnving the
rCpnirs inndC here. The Washington navy
yard has splendid and complete equipment,
and every convenience exists for this work.
The capacity of our mechanics X not cNccllcd
III amy navy yard IN this country. The rate Of
wnges here is more favorable to the govern
mCnt than elsewhere.
The superior effectiveness Of this yard has
Len proved by experience ltswork has been
thorough and satisfactory, It's record is free
from scandals such rs have disCrediteh other
yards and IL has no charges of extravngdnce,
Incompetent management, bad workmlnSliip,
or political chClnery ngaiust It,
II the Swntnra Is repaired here IL can be dOno
under the supervision of the Navy Department,
and the good service rendered for the money
tory Of the MOhcGn. In Wow of the ample
facilities OF our navy yard In the matter of ma
chincry, mechanics, aud NIL other essentials,we
nrc unable to rcprcss the belief that the con-
sidcrntions of public utility which ought to
have kept ~ IN null activity, were forced to give
way TO considerations OF partisan advantages
when other yards were continued In preference
to ours.
We have no votes with which to bribo or
menace the administration, and, In view OF
the cumulative evidence that this adninistrl-
M tho nnblfr M
we should have neither occasion nor inclinl.
tiOn TO support our plea In that manner oven II
legally qualified. We may be rardoned, how
| picion and false charge OF political inaheuver-
| Ing which are sure to be raised against the
| Navy Department II the swntara Is repaired
| elsewhere, cannot be conceived nor uttered
by the most violent partisan II the work Is
| done here
The swaiara should be repaired at the Wash.
| ington navy yard, because OF its ample faCili.
| tics, and By tho naval nttlsans Of the District
| of Columbia and Alexandria, because of their
| capabilities, good record, necessstous c1lti-
tion, and the past unjust determinations
We ask you to use the sources Of iufor nation
| at your command to verify our assertion that
the public interests require the work 70 be
| done nt this navy yard, and TO 20 order. Very
respectfully,
| J. W. CoNSiDISE, EDWIN NJ BLAKE,
TnoNAs r RYAN. o"''' r. p. TMoMAs. To''
Committee
Mr.. Whitney received the committee
courteously, and said that the Swatari
would not be repaired within twelve
months certainly not within six months,
and therefore there was no hurry He said
that he was In favor Of, and would recon.
mend to Congress, the consolidation and
concentration of the various branches OF
navy yard work. He wanted the ordnance
and equipment divisions provided fol
more extensively Mt the Washington yard