Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23
N E W REGULATIONS
They Affect the Employment of
Labor at the Navy Yards.
CHANGES. Of IMPORTANCE MADE
They Relate to-. Discharges and Re-
Employment.
IMPORTANCE MADE
NOTICES TO BE GIVEN

n OTI c p s TO '.e7,,. B E GIVEN
Secretary Herbert has made number of
important changes in the regulations gov
ernng the employment of labor at the gov
eminent navy. yards. The revised regula-
tons were promulgated by the department
today. They have special application to
the Washington navy yard, and will prove
mighty interesting reading" to the large
force of mechanics and other laborers now
employed there, as well as to the much
larger labor element who have aspirations
in that direction. The revision is a result
Of a thorough study of all the questions
involved by Mr.. Peters, chief of the APP
pointment division, and Lieut.. Knapp of
the navy, who was selected for the duty
because of his acknowledged edministra-
tive ability ---'
When REDUCTIONS Occur.
The old regulations provided that when a
reduction of the force at any navy yard be-
came necessary those whose services
were of the least value should be first dis
pensed with, and that OF the discharged en-
ployes those whose services were 'satisfac-
tory should be given preference for re-em-
ployment in the order Of their registration
when the force was again increased. When
this rule was adopted it was expected that
those only who were thoroughly competent
and Whose-servieeS were desirable would
be given satisfactory discharges but in
practice it was found that the heads of de-
partments as a rule gave practically all
"orkmen ''satisfactory' discharges. which
entitled them to re-register as preferred ap-
plicants. The result was unsatisfactory
For example, reduction of 100 of the least
efficient men is made on the LIST of July, and
practically all of them given Satisfactory
W haU INN Hot aix,
re-register. Another discharge of 100 men
is made on the LIST of September following,
no increase of the force having been made
in the meantime. Now, all the men dis
charged on the 1st of September are also
given Satisfactory" discharges, and all are
in the Judgment of the head of the depart
ment, If the rules are carried out in the
proper spirit in this particular, superior to
those discharged on the LIST of July. On the
1st of October it becomes necessary to in
crease the force by 100 men. The inferior
men discharged on the LIST of July, because
of their prior discharge and registration,
would he employed, and the superior men,
who were the last to be discharged, because
of their superiority, would not be given work
until another increase of the force is made
The giving of satisfactory" discharges to
workmen who were not entitled to such, and
not the rules, caused this state of affairs.
However, to retain the most efficient force
in the yard when the work is decreasing
and to get the most efficient men when the
work is increasing, the Secretary has pro-
vided in the new regulations that when an
emploSe is discharged he must be graded by
the head Of the department in workmanship
and conduct as excellent good" or
poor. II he is graded excellent" he is
given preference for unemployment. If he
is graded good" he is allowed to re-register
but is not given preference for re-employ-
ment merely because he has worked in a
navy yard. If he is graded as poor he is
precluded from registration for one year.
To Lessen Clerical Work.
Blank forms of uniform and convenient
size have been provided, which will greatly
lessen clerical work and facilitate official
action in carrying out the provisions of
the new regulations. The details of the
entire system have been simplified, and
cannot hereafter with any degree of pro-
Iriety enter q plea of unintentional mis-
construction or ignorance
In order to impress upon worlsmen at
navy yards the particular provisions of the
revised regulations which affect them, the
following notice, signed by the Secretary
CT the Navy, will be given TO all laborers
and mechanics in navy yards and to those
who are hereafter employed
Notice to LnbOrcrs.
At the time of employment you will be
graded Professionally, and within two weeks
given final rating by the head Of the de-
partment.
pend upon the, needs of the service and the
character of your conduct and work as de-
termined by the head of the department.
If you are discharged for carelessness, in
dolence, intemperance, INSTRUMENTATION or a
cause of like character, you will be eX-
cluded from registration for six months.
If when discharged your workmanship or
conduct is marked poor you will be ex-
cluded from registration for one year.
If your workmanship and conduct are
graded as excellent you may be fur
Laughed for ten days. instead of being dis
charged, when temporary reduction of
the force Is made.
You have not the right to be absent dur
ing working hours without the permission
of the head of department.
If you absent yourself for six successive
musters, unless you have been suspended
furloughed or granted leave, you will be
discharged.
If for any cause other than sickness you
are obliged to be- absent six or more mus
tiers, you should apply for leave to the head
of department, and If yeu do not receive
written notice that such leave is granted
you should return to work before you have
been absent six successive muSterS.
If sickness causes you to be absent six or
more successive musters, when you recover
and are fitted for work you may, in the dis
erection of the labor board, be certified for
unemployment by presenting to said board
PHYSICIANS certificate that you have been
continuously ill and untitled for work. In
case. the. services of an additional man In
your trade not needed at the time of
such application for re-employment.th the head
Of department will consider the value of the
services" of all employed, including your
self, and will discharge for lack of work
the person whose services are, in his judy
ment, of the least value to the government.
If you should be discharged for being alb
sent six successive musters, and If such alb
sence was not due to continuous Illness,
you will be excluded from registration for
six months. ~
Every person upon discharge will be
given a discharge card. stating the cause
of his discharge and the character of his
conduct and work.
A DISCHARGED person, will be given such
further informa ton as he may desire by
applying 1.-THE office of the labor board.
Transfers of Real Estate.
Deeds In fee have been filed as follows: