The Osceola times., 1885-05-23
WhITNEY'S WAY,


Ne Proposes to Run the Construction De-
ciples-His Explanation Of the Recent
Discharges Of Foremen Bosses-The Re-
organization to Begin July 1st.
NEW YORK, May l7-Mr. VIM. c. Whit
sey, Secretary Of the Navy, has been in
New York for several days engaged on
special work connected with his depart
ment. A reporter called on him at his
residence on Fllty-seventh street and OBJ
tanned from him the following statement
In regard to the recent wholesale dis
charge Of foremen bosses from the con-
siruction department at the navy yard.
1t will be seen from Mr.. Whitney's re.
marks that the dismissal of these men is
the first move In system Of reorganiza-
tion and reform that he intends to carry
out In the entire Naval Department.
"You ask me-" said the Secretary,
"what special significance is to be at
tached to the removal OF these foremen
bosses. will tell you; 1t means that I
intend to introduce q new system into the
Navy Department, and I propose that 1t
shall be conducted on business principles
In the future. had not been In charge
OF the department many weeks before
discovered that its business was being
conducted in a most remarkable manner;
that money was recklessly spent and
that men were paid for work that was
never done. In fact that the whole sys-
tenn was rotten. You may imagine how
bad 1t was when tell you that wooden
ship of 1900 tons displacement that
x-as latalv Auiehad At the Maro vaio nd
Navy Yard cost the Government over
$3.50, 900. 1t 10 not worth e2 for prac-
tical war purposes, and 1t could be built
to- day for $3.50, 900. This 10 only single
instance of many that l could name,
and some of them are ten times worse
than this.
"when / came to examine the way In
which the different navy yards through
out the country were conducted, l found
that q lax and unbusiness. like system
prevailed. One Of the first things that
| attracted my attention was the way In
which the work was divided up. found
that each navy yard had q number Of diff
ferent departments for doing the same
work, aud that there were altogether
too many OF these so.called foreman
bosses. The payroll in the yards
was In this way unnecessarily In.
| creased, and an extravaganza prevailed
In the Government ship yards that no
| private ship yard would tolerate for an
instant 1t has been the custom In the
| construction department every year to
| reduce the force about this time, but al
though the workmen were discharged,
the bosses were retained. This year the
bosses went with the men. l thought
just as well to let them 60 now as on the
LIST OF July, when hope to begin the
work OF reorganization.
~ intend to visit the principal private
ship yards Of the country and make a
careful inspection OF their methods oi
doing business. shall then decide upon
the best system to adopt for the Govern.
ment yards. As yet have come to nc
definite conclusion, but 1t seems to me
that the business can be greatly simplified
and conducted more economically by
uniting their different departments. For
instance, all the work In q navy yard
could come under the head Of construc.
tion and repairs; also all the
work could be donci by the
yards and docks department In
q few weeks l shall probably issue q cir
cular to the heads OF the different de.
partmcnts In the navy yards, giving them
plan Of the new system. will say
here that, as rule, have found that the
heads Of my bureau are willing to coop
crate with me in a system Of reorganiza.
tion and reform. Some OF them, az
might be expected, stood out on their
dignity and said they were opposed to In
novations, but hope, and most certainly
expect, shat they will all fall In line when
the time comes to act"
ADO you intend TO replace oil those
discharged foremen bosses with new men
on the first OF Julyf"
"Under the naval regulations there is,
! believe, rule that board Of appoint.
ment shall MI all places OF this kind with
capable men, when the needs Of the SER
vice require it, and all future appoint
ments Of foremen will be made In this
/