Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-16
NAVY YARD LABOR.
What Secretary Tracy Claims for His
New System of Employment.

New System of Employment.
The circular just issued by Secretary
Tracy in regard to navy yard appoint
ments accords with the general system
established by him ON this subject, which
has had results so remarkable.
Mr.. Tracy has officially declared that
of all the changes In organization he has
made during the last four years the most
important is the one relating to labor in
the navy yards.
The accuracy of adjustment needed i'll
putting the parts together is of the high
est Importance. Mr.. Tracy found that
system of labor, and in the spring of last
year he accordingly declared vacant all
foremanships at all the yards. At the
same time he appointed board of off
GERS, three Of whom had long experience
in directing shop work, to examine ap-
plicants for places. Of course the pre-
vious incumbents were welcome to ap-
ply for selection with the rest.
One feature was that of refusing to go
into examinations on general school
learning, but to make the test purely
practical, having reference to the mans
knowledge of his own trade and his fit
ness for the place. Absolutely no gen
eral educational qualification was ex-
acted except ability to make the reports,
estimates and calculations needed for
his particular business. In his recent
review of the results thus obtained by
appointing in every instance the man
-, lnI hxyf hn ri oo
for the place, Mr.. Tracy shows that the
work has steadily improved at the yards.
The captain of the yard and two officers
of technical departments register and
classify all applications for work, and
when men are required the applications
are taken up in the order of their regis
try.
There is law relating to priority for
war veterans and also fixed rule of pri-
ority for men who have already had navy
yard experience. But even in these two
classes the order of registration is fol-
lowed, and no man can be taken up out
of turn for political or other reasons
When the workman at the top of the
waiting list is notified and reports, the
head of the department to which he is
assigned is compelled to give him fair
and impartial trial and grade him ac-
cording to his skill. If found incompe-
tent, the officer must, in rejecting him,
notify the board and state the reasons for
rejection, which thus become matter of
record. Then the board supplies the next
name on the list, and so on.
Commodore Erben, in reporting on the
working of the system at the Brooklyn
navy yard, finds the only Objectionable
point to be that 1t is sometimes difficult
to reach registered men by postal card
without delays, owing to changes Of res
idence. But that is minor matter, and
the navy yard does not want to encour-
age men to hang about, wasting their
time for days, weeks or months till
their turn may come. AS to the advan-
tages, he testifies that in the first place
there is now no favoritism whatever in
hiring men. If an incompetent man ap-
plies, his unfitness will show itself on
trial, and then another man is called for,
and so on until a first class workman is
secured. The foremen are no longer
bothered by outsiders to give places to
friends, as 1t is known that they have no
such power, and hence they are more in
dependent of their men and can main
tain better discipline. AS for the men
themselves, when once permanently
passed on their merits they 90 about
their work without anxiety, knowing
that their places are secure while the
job lasts, and that they have chance for
advancement Finally the cost of all
work done in the yard during the year is
said to have been reduced by the system
about 25 per cent.
These new rules have now been in OPP
Grafton, it appears, for fifteen months,
covering presidential canvass, 1.-THE first
within the memory of the present gen.
Grafton in which the yards have not been
used as a political machine" The law
requiring that no extra workmen should
be taken on within sixty days of the
election was carried out in spirit and in
letter, and not workman was employed
beyond the normal number. The pres
ent circular continues the principle Of
getting good men and holding ON to
them when they are secured, by allow.
ing good foremen and quartermen to
drop grade if practicable, rather than
be subjected to full discharge where a
reduction of the working force has been
ordered.
Mr.. Tracy has suggested that the sys-
TEN should be made permanent by suit
able legislation, but in any case it is
likely enough to be continued by admin
istratiye authority on its intrinsic merits.
Man versus Machine.
For some time there have been slinht