Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-09
SECRETARY TRACY's ADDRESS.
He Talks of the Navy to the Republican CIul
of Massachusetts.

He Talks of the Navy to the Republican Club
of Massachusetts.
The largest political gathering in Boston for
years the first dinner Of the Republican Club
Of Massachusetts, was held in Music Hall last
evening. President Roger wolcott sat at the
middle of the head table. On his right were
Secretary B. F. Tracy, who had recovered suf-
fciently to be present; Lieutenant Governor
VIM II. Halle. Hon. Alonson W. Beard Hon.
Joseph II. Walker. Speaker W. W. Barrett.
Congressman Elijah A Morse. ex-Gov. Oliver
Ames and Secretary J. o. wardweI Of the re-
publican state committee. On his left sat SEN
htor Nelson ". Aldrich of Rhode Island, ex-
Gov. j. Q. A. Bracket Postmaster Thomas n
Hart, Congressman Henry Cabot Lodge Presi-
dent Henry II. SPrague Of the Massachusetts,
senate, Congressman F. T. Greenhalge Chair
man ]. D. Burdette Of the republican state
committee and Gen. n. p. Banks.
SECRETARY TRACY GREETED WITH CHEERS.
When President wolcott introduced Score
tary Tracy the latter greeted by rising snd
cheering.
After expressing his thanks for the welcome
extended him, Secretary Tracy paid high
tribute to the republican party and the present
administration He recognized as the under
lying power OF the latter the clear intelligence.
the Arm will and the high conscientiousness of
the diplomatic triumph OF the Secretary of
State. saving that in the latest question arising
in our foreign relations. where a single error
might have produced grave results, the course
promptly adopted by the State Department has
been followed by wave Of public sentiment In
every capital of Europe in CONNIE ndation of
the tone and temper with which this govern
ment las met the occasion. He spoke of the
great work of Secretary Window in the Treas
ury Department and made feeling allusion to
the last scene in his life He described the
good work accomplished in all the other de-
partments of the government and defended the
Fhty-nrst Congress against the charge of ex-
travagance. The Secretary then gave detailed
account of the work in which the Navy Depart
meEt Is at present engaged and concluded as
follows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT WORK.
The last point in naval affairs remains to be
considered-the question of the employment
of labor at the navy yards. For fifty years
this has been the one weak spot in naval adj
ministration- Whatever the party in control
Of the government il seems hitherto to have
been powerless to exclude political influence in
the employment Of navy yard labor. 1t Is not
enough, apparently, that the mechanics and
vorkmer 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 a source of
Generalization to any party that attempts to
use il, destructive to the government service
Is an ulcer on the naval administrative system,
and propose 10 cut il out.
NV attention has been directed for some
time past To the system adopted here. in the
city of Boston, for the selection of laborers
employed upon the city work. / have caused
exhaustive study to be made of that system
by which you have largely succeeded in elimi-
mating politics from municipal labor, and be-
heve that by an extension and modification of
il the same result can be made reasonably GER
trim In the government navy yards.
The details of the system which propose
to 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:
FIRST The appointment at each yard Of a
registration board to register all applicants for
employment in the department of unskiled
labor, to be selected as required on the princi-
pie of first come, first served preference
only given to those who have had experience
in the class OF work for which they apply; to
those who have served in the army or navy, to
those who have families to support. and, where
all other considerations are equal, to those pos
sessing superior physical qualifications
Second. The registration of all applicants for
positions of skilled labor, who give evil
dence Of experience at their trade, to be certi-
fed in the order Of their application under the
same rules of preference. and their employ
ment on trial for period of probation after the
necessary test of efficiency. to be ultimately
graded or discharged, according to their
merits. and
n
competitive examination, conducted as to
bring sout their fitness and qualifications for
the position they seek, open to all Corners who
can show the requisite experiences The boards
will consist of otricers OF the navy engaged in
conducting the work of the yard.
Il propose in carrying out this new system
to regulate it that three ends shall be Sc
cured First, free ana open competitions; sec
ond. employment upon grounds of merit--tO be
determined 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. l do not pro-
and worth is the only tsst OF navy-yard en-
whether the presenteivil 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 department, that the persons appointed
under this system are unquestionably more
efficient rs a whole than those selected under
any syst m o. pure patronage, and know fur
Their thai no republican charged with the re-
sponsibpity Of administering one of the great
executive departments Of the government can
be trusfo himself, TO the faith of the repub-
hcan pa ty or to the people of this great ma
ton, whose servant he is, if he fails to employ
any and ali means within his power to elevate.
purify and render more efficient the civil SER
vice Of the country"
SECRETARY BLArSE's NAME APPLAuDED.
Secretary Tracy was warmly applluded
throughout his speech and his aliusion to Sec
Rotary Blaine was the signal for loud applause.
SENATOR ALDRIcH ON SILVER
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island was the
second speaker. He said, with reference to
silver:
Every democratic Senator but four voted
for free silver and that party in the House was
substantially unit in its favor. We have a
President who has the courage of his convic-
TONS and would have stood between the demo-
cratic party sLd financial destruction. One
democrat, who has been President, has written
letter on that subject, but 1t remains to be
seen whether the man Is more powerful than
the whole organization. If reelected he could
not faii to carry out It's requests"
The senator's speech was chiefly devoted to
arguments IN favor Of the policy OF protection.
Gen Stewart l. Woodford also discussed the
tariff.
Andrew Carnegie Arrested.
A few hours after the arrival of Andrew Car
negie in Pittsburg on Monday afternoon he was
served with a warrant by a deputy sheriff from