New-York tribune., 1895-07-11
NAVY YARD SURPRISES
REPUBLICAN, MASTER WORKMEN WILL
NOT SUBMIT TO DISRATING
EMPLOYEES NAMED IN SECRETARY HERBERT S
LETTER RESIGN THEIR PLACEs-POLITICs
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOVEMENT
A SUDDEN CHANGE OF MIND

LETTER RESIGN THEIR PLACEs-POILTICs
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOVEMENT
SUDDEN CHANGE OF MIND.
Surprises came thick and fast in the Brooklyn
| Navy Yard yesterday, and extended from the
ranks OF the laborers to the heads Of the depart
ments. The publication Of Secretary Herbert's
letter to Commodore Sicard citing instances
where Civil Service regulations had been violated
caused comment which would have made the
ears OF Secretary Herbert tingle had he heard IT,
and might possibly have caused him to change
his mind again in reference to the disposition OF
officers presumed to be under the ban of official
displeasure. These officers were disposed to be
as silent yesterday as they had been on other
days since the investigation began but the men
were not at all backward in expressing their
feelings. and much TO the astonshment OF the
officials this expression took the form OF
abrupt refusal to accept the verdict of the Secre-
tary. accompanied by their designations from the
service.
James A. Flood, the foreman plumber, who was
slated for discharge at the close of work. sent in
his resignation in the afternoon. and his action
was followed by John Riddle. quarterman
plumber James Kelly. William Kelly. James
Molloy John Kane and Thomas Buchanan first
class plumbers. William H. Todd. master ship
filter (ouside): Munson W. LOCKER master ship
filter Qnsidc): Jonn ID. Post, lcad!ngman ship
"tter. and James f. Dorsey. leadingman ship
filter. who were reduced to hrst-cass shiptitters
and debarred from promOtion-Todd FOR three
months and the others for twelve months-re-
fused 10 accept the lower rating and sent In
their designations. to take effect Immediately.
and 1t is more thar likely that number Of the
workmen in their gangs will follow their lead in
a few days
QUEER POLITICAL COINCIDENCE.
lust how far politics G verncd the selection Of
the whom official wrath Eel may be
judged from the fact that of the shiphtters and
plumbers mentioned all but one are Republicans
while of the remaining TWO heads Of ship-work-
| ing gangs Kerrigan anu Smith. who handled
men under precisely the same conditions As did
the others neither was mentioned in the letter
Both are good solid Democrats. Kerrean
| being a brother Of James 4. Kerrigan. the VII
| loughby-s, Grooklyn) auctoneer whose rooms
| Boss Mclaughlin has made famous as the
Democratic headquarters oi Kings County.
on the other side John u. Post who
lives at No. 595 Hasey-st.. is prominent
member Of the Twenty fifth Ward Republican
Association and the otherT named with him have
always taken a more less active part In local
| politics This "d,vision oi the spoils' was not
| thoroughly understood until yesterday. and the
| surprise caused by II was added to by visit 10
the yard in the afternoon by Congressman VIII
.aru Suzer. Of the XIth District Of New-York
! which was reported to be IN the interest OF some
constituent cunning fer A job.
CASE OF OFFICIAL HEARTLEsSNEss
Secretary Herbert, in his remarks on the ad-
ninsfration Of the Bureau OF Civii Engineering
by Captain Asserson. laid special stress on
! the case Of j Rostett. who had been Transferred
! from the grade of laborer To- that OF second
class carpenters helper. There is a story be-
! hind the employment II Rosiett In the yard
which II is more than likely the Secretary had
/ no: heard as il is difficult To believe that even
! extreme partisanship could have overlooked IL
had IL been known When on thar awful day IN
| March, 1883 In Apia Harbor. American sailors
! performed deeds OF gallantry with which the
| whole world rang. and with the sinking Wanda
liza in full view the tars OF the Trenton gave three
rousing cheers as the English cruiser Callop-
swept by into the whirl Of the tempest Rosteit
Was ono ~ the men whose voices cheerei their
/ diving shpmatfr After the Trenton went down.
/ Kostctt with both legs broken in the wreck. was
taken ashore and in due time arrived in the
1 United States. helpless. III time his wounds
haaled and as he had been discharged. and was
! unable 70 do heavy manual labor, ne appealed tn
MS captain on the Trenton Norman II. fdrquhaT
.hen n, the head OF the Bureau Of Yards ana
/ Docks for assistance. The facts were made known
/ 10 Captain Asserson, and Kosiett was put on me
rolls OF the yard as labOrer. when u" WoIh IN
which he was engaged was tied up ny zee 0nr-
/ inc ,he severe weather Of last winter he was
iaid off but as his pay had been small. he had
been unable save nucn, and he made an aI,-
neal for some inside work 20 tide over the spell
/ of enforced Idleness. Then came the correspond
ence quoted In the Secretarys letter. and Ros-
tett was put to work with the carpenters as
secOnl-class helper. mat being place n" t'uu
FIJI To the entire satisfaction Of the yards oMceiF
and giving precisely the same pay ne had re-
| ceiyed as laborer. although nOminally an ad-
vance in grade.
When a wave OF economy struck the yard the
pay Of men in hts grade was reduced ana az
The chief OF the Bureau was unable 10 DO any
hing more for him without violating the rules.
| he leri The service and for dSng practically the
same work for which he was receiving 81 20 a
dav in the ward he Is now receiving rs a DAY from
a private firm OF builders.
SHADE OF DISAPPOINTMENT
| That the orders Of the Secretary cover only the
| transfer OF Naval Constructor Fernald and Civil
| r,,,,eor Asserson to the Norfolk Yard and the
assignment OF Francis r. Bowles and Anecito g.
! Nenocal to their respective places Is Inc cause
=, eone disappoint ment to the friends Of the OF
| 0cers as their rignt Of appeal u cou' ma VA
| ie taken away and there Is nothing eit ioT 'hehi
! ,o do except obey orders. Many people VINO under
stand ne devious ways of naval pOltlcs ieei t"al
| the two bureau chiefs would not only clear incm-
selves but turn the tables on lhc,i oPpo",r Pp,, rss
! and accusers II the matter could be brought
| before a fair and impartial tribunal Ihey po.h'
| IN The ant-climax brought about by the a,,ie
,arv's order and ask the pertinent pucs'o'' ~"
| long has IL been the custom to place an ol'i'r'
entity of maladministratiOn IN an lWpoi'''l' ~"
reau in one ward in charge o' the corresponding
huream in another yard OF almost equal inlpor-
| tancc?
n,rrr rpnu 1UEIK HOMES BY FLOODS