The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-09
POLITICS In NAVY YARDS
TRAoY's PLAN o SECURE BETTER
WORKBIEN.

he Proposes TO Relieve the Toilers -
the Collar Of the Ward Bosses-Fi-
ness to % the Test for Securing En-.
ployment - Boston Gave Him thu
Idea.
Boston, MASS, April S-The largest
political gathering Of the kind ever held in
Boston for years attended the first dinner OF
the republican clubs OF Massachusetts, to.
night. Secretary Tracy was the guest OF
honor and the principal speaker. From bis
speech the following extract is made:
One last point in naval affairs remains TO bs
considered, the question Of the employment Of
labor at the navy yards. For ffty years this
has been the one eeak spot in the naval ad-
ministration. Whatever party Is In control OF
powerless TO exclude political influence In the
employment Of navy yard labor
COLLAR OF THE WARD BOSSES.
It is not enough, apparently, that mechanics
and workmen in the government shops should
be republicans or democrats; they must wear
the collar OF the ward bosses who run The local
political machine The practice is q source Of
Generalization TO any party that attempts 10
use It, destructive 20 the government service.
ana debauchinR local aud national politics 10
is Hu ulcer of the naval administrative
system, and propose 70 cut il out. My atten,
ton has been directed for some time past 70
for the selection OF laborers employed upon
city works. have caused an exhaustive study
TO be made OF that system by which you have
largely succeeded IN eliminating politics from
municipal labor, and believe that by an ex.
tension and modification OF 1t, the same re,
suits can be made reasonably certain in the
government yards.
DETAILS or HTs SCHEME.
The details Of the system which propose 70
adopt are now being prepared, and In a short
time will be In full operation. Its essential
features. as applied TO the navy yards, are:
l. The appointment at rach yard OF q reg,
employment in the department Of
required on the principle Of
"hrst come, first served" preference
only being given 70 those who
have had experience in the class oi
work for which they apply; to those who
have served In the army or the navy; to thos9
who have families TO support, and, where ali
other considerations are equal to those posses.
sing superior physical qualifications.
SKILLED LABOR.
2 The registration of all applicants for posi-.
tions OF skilled labor who can give evidence OF
experiences at their trade, to be certified in tho
order OF their application under the same rules
OF preference, and their employment on trial
for period Of probation after the necessary
test OF pronciency, to be ultimately graded of
discharged according to their merits; and,
3. The selection Of foremen upon competitive
examination, so conducted as TO bring out theis
fitness and qualifications for the positions they
seek. open to all comers who can show the
requisite experience.
MAKE UP OF THE BOARDS.
The boards will consist OF the officers of the
navy engaged in conducting the work of the
yard. ! propose In carrying out this syss
tenn, 50 TO regulate it that three ends shall
be secured
First, free and open competition; second, EN-,
ployment upon the grounds OF merit, TO be de-
termined by non-partisan experts engaged In
and responsible for the work. and, third, abso-
lutte publicity Of every detail. And having be-
gun In the way have indicated, do not pro,
pose to stop until the principle OF
efficiency. aud worth is the only test OF
such q system will be IN the interest not only oe
the work, but Of the workingmen; that it eau
be carried out so that 1t viii remove not only
all machine politics from the navy yards, bus
all suspicion OF machine politics. that the
economy aud eficieucy OF the work will be pro-
NOTED, while the community will be sure that the
navy yard IN Its midst instead OF being focus
of political intrigue, Is the place of employ,
ment of a body of independent and self-
respecting workingmen, whose only road to
promotion lies in good work. and in whom
slackness, Incidence or bad habits will surely
lead to discharge.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Whether the present civil service law is the
best that could be devised TO improve the civil
service of the country do not know But this
do know from personal observation in mY de-
partment, that the persons appointed under
this system are unquestionably more
efficient as a whole than those
selected under any system of pure patronage;
and know further that no republican charged
with the responsibility Of administering one OF
the great executive departments OF the govern
ment can be true 70 himself to the faith Of the
Republican party, or to the people Of this great
nation, whose servant he is II he fails to employ
any and all means within his power 10 elevate,
purify and render more efficient the civil service
OF the country.
COKE MEN TO BE IMPORTED.