The evening times., 1895-09-20
WORK UNDER IRON RULES
Navy Yard Employees Deprived Of
Many Legal Privileges.
THEY SEEK THEIR RIGHTS
Deprived OF Pay on Holidays Under
Certain Conditions-Labor Day an
Insfance-Tag System and Its In
Justice-They Want Leave and
Other Privileges Under the Law.

lnSfance-I0G system ana Its In.
Justice-They Want Leave and
Other Privileges Under the Law.
The employees of the Washington Navy
Yard feel that they have a number of
grievances, 80 manifesuy unjust in char
acter, and of such long duration, notwith-
standing repeated but uDavailing protests,
that quiet forbearaDce has ceased to be a
virtue.
Connected with this branch of the Gov
erDment service are between 90O and
1000 men, SO far as possible under civil
service regulations, and apparently en-
titled to all the privileges enjoyed by
those who perform duty in the various
| executive Departments, or the colateralbu-
| reaus.
But instead Of being given such recogni-
| ton as would place them on footing Of
| equality they claim that they are virtually
| reduced TO n condition OF serfdon, treated
| with the utmost harshDess and compelled
| TO sacrifice their seif-respect in order to
retain their positions, at the same time
| dignities not ordinarily extended to men.
| Taskmasters and overseers, OF all Of
| ficial degrees, have been accustomed to
misuse these employees without hindrance,
| and the formal orders issued by such
| high official as the Secretary. OF the Navy
are said to be utterly disregarded by the
subordiDates presumably charged with
their enforcement.
They have long since ceased TO demonstrate
against being refused annual leave, time
| allowance for illness or the same holiday
that is given other governmental employees
when the departments are closed in honor OF
some distinguished officials death.
DEDUCTED FOR HOLIDAYS.
But these men assuredly do have griev-
ance In being compelled 10 suffer deduc=
ion OF compensation for legal holidays,
especially when such action is in open
violation of a plain law. Even this treat
ment was accepted without remonstrance
so long as the officials in immediate con-
troll OF the navy yard assumed the responsi-
biiity for it, but when Secretary Herbert
himself became a party to IL a general feel
ing prevailed that the climax had been
reached.
Up Ia the latter part of last month there
had never been posted at the navy yard
an order from the Secretary OF the Navy
| defining the conditions under which re-
| muneration would be withheld for legal
| holiday. A couple of days prior TO Labor
| Day an order was posted, sigred by Sec
| etary Herbert, announcing that those who
| did not WORK the day preceding the holiday
would not be paid for the holiday. Thisordcr
has never been omitted. but minor Of
| fetal has heretofore invariably assumed
the responsibility for it.
| heeXplanati ton has often been made that
| these orders are issued for the sole purpose
OF preventing a few bibulous workmen from
| beginning their libations a day in advance.
| This excuse does not come as near holding
| water as a seine. because, as matter OF
plain fact, those desiring to utilize the
| holiday for purposes ofdebaucbery ca n work
| the preceding day ard then remainaway for
| two and half days without losing penny
| by deduction for the holiday.
| In this connection the statement must be
made that in the Navy Yard. although it is
4 boastei that civil service regulations prevail
| there, three consecutive days absence,
| without regard to the extenuating cir
| cumstances constitute q dismissal without
| notification or hearing.
| Each man has a tag bearing his number,
and 1t is necessary for him to deposit it
twice q day as a matter of record. He can
remain away for two days and half and
return without suffering. but the other half
day would lose him bis position.
| JNpENEFCT SYSTEM
The antiquated system ofkeeping record
of time leaves an opening by which those
l al haa hai iax-iI yaaSf half
way around the stump. A man can Come to
work on the day preceding holiday, turn
in his tag in the morning, and remain away
4 in the afternoon withouHl deduction in his
compensation.
| The naval Officers In charge of the
yard are given thirty days leave OF alb
sence and all tue other time perQuistes
that appertain to other departments OF
the government. They are independent and
feel 1t.
| The employees Of the Navy Yard have
hoped that Secretary Herbert was the
! victim of misinformation in becoming
party to their oppression. His signature
was formally affixed to the notice posted,
| but the document was taken down before
| an opportunity could be had OF copying 1t
| verbatim. The Times reporter made a
copy of ii at the Navy Department and
Chief Clerk Micou seemed to offer every
| facility for prosecuting the search and
obtaining the information.
| He said the Secretary had issued no
order in regard TO Labor Day except the
| usual one applicable TO the Department.
| 1t would be without precedent, he said,
| for the Secretary to send such an order
| to the Navy Yard, as it would be issued
| by the commandant. He could not find
| in his letter press books copy of any
| communication to tue Navy Yard officials
| bearing on this subject.
The fact remains, however, that an or
der was posted in the navy yard notify
| ing all employees that their holiday cnmpen-
sation would be lost if they were absent the
| preceding day.
| Herbert should be ignorant of the fact that
an act of Congress gives all employees of
| the Government, no matter where engaged,
a holiday with compensation. They are
| entitled to thei salaries by law so long as
their names are carried on the rolls.
PETTY RULES AND ORDERS.
The employees of the navy yard are en-
| tirely given over to the abuses and incivili-
| ties of petty officials. All the rules, or
| ders and regulations governing the men are
| made at the yard by these subordinates,
| and none have originated at the Depart
| nent except that referring to Labor Day.
| These rules are not only made without
rapard tn La ~ Int in defiance of the Sec