The morning times., 1895-11-13
MEN NOT TREATED FAIRLY
History Of Wage Reduction at
Brooklyn Navy Yard.
MR.. ROBERT ASHES STORY
Some of the Best workmen Dismissed
for No Other Cause Than That of
Being Personally Disliked by Master
Machinist Howatt-Secretary Her
bert Advised of Condition of Things.

Mr.. Robert Ashe, member of the general
executive board of the International AS
sociation of Machinists, who was dele
gated to come here and lay the facts con-
cerning the reduction OF wages in The Brook
lyn Navy Yard last summer, tefore secre-
tary Herbert, said last evening that he Rad
a long conference with the Secretary at his
private residence, and the Secretary promis-
ed 10 institute al once a thorough investi-
CATION.
Tie folio owing statements. he claims, are
supported by affidavits now i'll the pos
session OF the Secretary Of the Navy. Nr.
Ashc said:
Our story begins with the reduction
of wages in the Brooklyn Navy Yard last
summer, which reductions was between
. and 20 per cent The members of the
/. \. NJ. protested against that reduction,
and as a result of their protest two of the
classes were advanced, but not TO their
own rating.
1t had long been supposed that fraud
and corruption had existed i'll the admins
tration OF affairs, in the steam engineering
department at the Brooklyn yard, and the
members of the /. A. NJ. laid themselves
out to investigate whether the supposed
corruption and fraud did actually exist
there.
CHARGES ESPREFERRED.
AS a result OF their Investigation charges
have been preferred against Samuel l..
p. Ayers, late chief engineer OF certifying
TO fraudulent pay-rolls during the years
lS92-'93'94, and part OF 1895. Similar
charges are made against John Hunt, late
chief OF the steam engineering depart
ment. 1t is also charged that james +.
Howatt. master mechanic OF the 3. l. Ce-
partment, was carried on the pay-folls for
lie ,,-fsb hnt
rendering service. II is also charged that
Howatthas been in the habit ofusingGoveTn-
ment labor and appropriGting government
materials to his personal use, and Tor The
use of others, also with having placed
his son, Joseph II. Howatt, in the steam
engineering department as maChinlst at
machinists wages without his having Iad
any former knowledge of the trade; also
with having placedhis nephew. +. j. Howatt.
who was formerly a bookbinder, in a
machinists position, without his having
had any former knowledge OF the trade 10
which he was assigned.
VIM. Miller. quarteTInaster machinlst;
James Hare. master pattern-ina Eer; Gallup
& Brown, painters, and Passed Assistant
Engineer Hall are charged with receiving
nav when absent from duty, ana with
approprating Government property and
labor 10 their own private uses.
This practically is the story in the treat
ment OF the workingmen. The conduct or
Howatt and Miller has been simply
scandalous. Men were constantly QUIZ
dozrd and subjected to insulting language
of the most scandalous character.
BEST WORKMEN DISMISSED.
AS showing the auimus OF Master Me-
chanic Howatt, when the discharge OF
men at the Brooklyn yard occurred ON the
4th thnrt y-cight machlnists were involved
In This number were contained the best
workueu employed there, all OF whom had
worked in the yard for periods oi from
four TO fifteen years, first-ciass men in
every respect, both as workmen and cltl-
Zeus, with whose work no fault had pre-
yiously been found. About thirty of that
number are members OF the l. A M, not
one of whom was given such rating
as would entitle him under the rules gov
erning discharges 10 register for reappoint-
ment: and when they applied TO re-regis-
Ter they were told by the officer in charge
of registration that they could not do 50,
and that they were ''blacklis,ed."
When a committee of the discharged
workmen waited on Mr.. Howatt To learn
why they could not get rating that
would entitle them TO register, the fol-
lowing is a sample of the interview that
took place:
Committeeman desire to know why
l have been debarred from registration
at the labor bureau?
HOwATT'S REASONS.
Mr. Howatt-Tbats not what you want
10 know. You want to know why you
were discharged. You were discharged
for no fault of your own, but for lack OF
work funds and material. The reason
why YOU were not allowed to register at
the labor bureau is you have shown in-
difference.
Committeeman should like to know
if the fact of my belonging to an organ
| ization that protested against the cutting
of wages bears any weight in this matter!
Mr. Howatt-I don't care if you are n
Protestant; l don't care il you are a
Catholic; / don't care if you are a Re-
publican, or If you are a Democrat; 1
don't care what you are. If there are any
other questions you desire Ia ask that Will
not enter into personal argument j will
answer you.
Committeeman-That is all. Goud-day.
This man has worked in the yard over
five years, during four of which he was
rated as first-class machinist, no fault
having been found.
In conclusion Mr.. Ashe declared that If
the Navy Department did not move in the
matter within a reasonable time the Off
cials of the l. A. NJ. would institute GRIM
inal proceedings against the parties charged
under section 5439, Revised Statutes OF
the United States.
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