New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-15

nOund DIaIe FcVCIMWOH T.-t -.
our guns but the weakness Of the armor WIZ" Tba a
hitherto constituted England's main reliance Inc All
steel plate although not entirely aDon the recon-
mendatton Of the Department, Congress s ~
voted 81 100000 for the purchase S o. that has led
to revolution in theory and pracuce Oh 'ie o'''0'
In ordnance as well as in armor we have steadily
gained ground. The completion and development Oh
the Washington gun foundry sST Int IN It's
As remarkable Illustration OF TINS lsct We Si n0n
guns for which the Government eT6 s5 p1u With
in the last year have domestcaed IN tne ohl. S
states the manfactare OF the S tbe most
description known OF armorpiercing pr0ecte; bod
of these indispensable requisites TO the ecehcy VI
Not the least among the important steps in recent
naval progress Is one foE w9S P0so has for
some time been convinced OF the abs0ute necessity
Of providing reserve force to meet e Ws o o so Snc
Navy in time of emergency and to stand ID the Samc
relation 10 II that the militia bears To- the army mas
sachusetts has been the first state 70 pass slaue
authorizing naval militia The flrst naval 1att@Ion
was mustered in year ago, and ITS progress mas been
watched from Washington Win the closest aere ,Ss
in recommending that an appropriation be made 6y
Congress to provide arms for the naval militia is
that the movement thus begun In MASSACHUSETTS, VIII
be the beginning of fully organized and equipped
naval militia on the shores of the lakes and In every
sea-coast state Of the Unon-a result hardly second
In importance to any reform that could be accomplished
In the naval organization
one last point in naval affairs remains to be con-
sderedthc question Of the employment Of labor ut the
Navy Yards. For fifty years this has been the one
weak spot In naval administration. Whatever the
party in control Of the Government 1t 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 worknen
I'm the Government shops should be Republicans or
Democrats; they must the collar of the ward
bosses who run the local political machine The
practice is Of Generalization to any party
that attempts to IT, destructive to the Government
service and debsuching local and national politics.
1t is an ulcer on the naval administrative system, and
propose to cut 1t out.
NY attention has been directed for some time past to
the system adopted here in the city OF Boston for the
selection of Iaborers employed upon the city work
have caused an exhaustive study to be made OF that
system by which you have largely succeeded IN elm
mating politics from municipal labor, and bellcVe
that by an extension and mobilization Of 1t the same
result can be made reasonably certain in the govern
ment of the Navy yards.
The details of the system which propose to ADOPT
are now being prepared and in short time VIII be
in full operation Its essential features, as applied 10
the Navy yards, First the appointment at each
ward of registration board to register al appncahts
Tor employment in the dePartebhe UI If Ts
come first served preference only beng gwen 10
ho who have mad eX perience In the class Of work for
which they apply; to those who nave served III Cle
Army or Nayy: 10 those who have families to sup
mort and where all other considerations are equal 70
those possessing superior ply seal H % Of
end the REGISTRATION Of all applicants LOT psctS %
skilled labor who can give evidence Oh eApeitccc aV
their trade 10 be certified in the order OF their ap
plication under the same rules OF preference ana Ien
employment on trial for period OF PROBATION aitr
the necessary test OF proficiency, TO De uIIlihtVei
graded discharged according to their merits %
cexnHipatSon so conducted as to bring out their fit
ness and qualifications for the places they seek open
| 10 ali comers who can show the requisite experience
The boards will consist OF officers OF the NAVY ehesou
| n conducting the work of the yard - l..
propose, In carrying out this new system, So W
regulate IL that three ends shall be secured nst vs
| and open competition. second, employ neli uPVn
grounds OF merit to be determined by n0n-pafusan e-
neris engaged i'm and responsible for the work; and
third absolute publicity in every detall. ana having
beeIn I'm the way have indicated, do not propose 70
stop until the principle OF emcleiicy ana NVIta - wy ~
univ test of Navy yard employment 0n satisfied that
such system VIII be in the interest not only OF te
work but of the wOrIingnnen that ii can be earned
ont 50 that II will not only all machine pohGcs
politics that the economy and efficiency OF the worh
| will be promoted. while the community VIII De sure
that Navy yard in its midst instead OF being FOCUS
Of pOlitical intrigue t. the place or employment OF
body OF independent and sefreSpectinS worllngmen,
whose only r ad 10 promotion lies In good work. ana
in whom sacness, Incidence or bad habits VIII surely
| lead to discharge. . 3, -, -.
that could be dcvlsc 20 improve the Civil Service OF
! the country I do not know. But this do Know nom
personal observation In my own Department: mat me
more efficient as a whole than those selected under
| any svstcm of pure patronage; and | know nrther
that no Republican charged with the Responsibility OF
administering one Of the great Executive Dep
0t the Republican party, or 10 the people OF Us Scdt
Nation whose servant he is, II he falls TO employ any
and all within his power 10 elevate, puIliy ana
render efficient the Civil Service Of the country