Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-13
| the following spirited memor andum, issued
| by Acting Secretary Roosevelt:

the following spirited memoI andum, issued
by Acting Secretary Roosevelt
The department fully sustains the con-
illusions of Commander Davis to the
charges against Mr.. Bowles. In so far as
they relate to alleged political discrimina-
ton, or the appointment of outsiders and
the retention of unworthy in preference to
worthy meE, these charges are not only
diSproved but are SHOWN to rest upon moth
ing more substantial than malicious
frivolous gossip, or else upon the belief of
the less competent workmen that they. and
not their superior officers, the prope.
judges of their efficiency. The attention of
Constructor Bowles will be especially called
to that part of Commander Davis report
warning him as to being sometimes over
harsh, and following too implicitly the rec
concentrations of leading men and quarter
men: but il is evident that the real reason
for the attacks upon Mr.. Bowles is to be
found, not in the fact that he has done bad
ly, but that he has done well.
Compliments Mr.. BowIes.
HE has shown great energy and ca
pacity in handling men: he has paid heed
solely to the needs of he government work.
and has sought to esia 5ish high standard
of efficiency among the laborers In the
yard; he has absolutely disregarded all
political considerations in appointing and
employing men, and the opposition to him
evidently arises mainly from the fact that
under him for the first time ii has been
impossible to procure he reinstatement or
retention of men guilty of misconduct who
possessed political influence. The evil of
occasional harshness in Iiscipline is trivial
compared with the evil Of allowing men to
shirk, or be guilty Of other misconduct,
provided they have political ind uence; and
it is because Of his refusal to permit this
that Mr.. Bowles is attacked.
THE standard of work in the Brooklyn
navy yard has been very appreciably raised
under Constructor Bowles. The complaints
against him have now twice been investi-
gated, once by me personally, ard once at
great length by Commander Davis. The
widest latitude has been given to every
one who had any accusation whatsoever TO
make, and it is evident that there is no
foundation whatever for these charges.
There can be no possible excuse for any
further investigation, and the case will not
again be reopened.
No Grounds for Complaint.
"As regards the charges made by the
veterans, 1t appears that there is no
ground whatsoever for complaint against
Mr.. Bowles, and the testimony of the wit
nesses produced tells very strongly in his
favor, and incidentally shows that under
the labor board scrupulous heed is paid to
the rights of veterans. But in the depart
ment of yards and docks 1t does appear
that Mr.. Reed, veteran. was discharged
when Mr.. Menocal admits that he was as
good as the three non-veterans who were
retained. Mr.. Reed will, accordingly. be
Teinstated, not because he has any legal
claim, for he has none, but because il is
the policy of the department, where men
are equally good to retain the veterans in
case 1t is necessary to make discharge.
The legal rights of the veterans have
not only been carefully preserved by the
Navy Department, but in its labor regula-
tions it has gone very far beyond what the
law requires in giving preference to veter-
ans, having, indeed gone to the very verge
OF the line which divides inetficieney from
efficiency in the effort to do all that is pos
sible for the soldiers and sailors of the
late war. In appointments from the lists
the veterans are given an absolute pref
ence, and when discharged, if they have
behaved well-even though less well than
the others-they are still given preference.
Past the Prime of Life.
I'm consequence, the department at times
has serious difficulty in getting it's work
dcre, for some Of the divisions are SO
crowded with veterans, now for the most
part elderly men past their prime of life,
that the work is in constant danger of de-
terioration. All that saves the work from
deteriora alton is strict obedience on the
part of the head of the division or bureau
to the departments orders that in making
discharges the men who do inefficient work
shall invariably be discharged first. The
sole test is the efficiency of the mans
work. To introduce any other test-to
make, for instance, an allowance on behalf
Of veteran for inefficient work-would
speedily produce the most damaging effect
upon the department and would mean the
liability Of causing, at any time, some great
structural weakness or defect in the ships
Of war; to which the nations honor is in
trusted. Such a course is not to be con-
templated for moment, and will not be
urged by any patriotic man.
Rules Laid Down.
I'm giving preference to veterans in en-
ployment so completely as We now give it,
We have gone to the very verge of what
the conditions of good administration will
permit. In making discharges, it is abso-
lutely necessary that they be made strictly
In accordance with the-degree of efficiency
of the workmen. Where men are of equal |
efficiency, the veteran will be retained.
Where there is difference in efficiency, the |
most efficient man will be retained: and |
the efficiency must be determined not by !
statements of interested parties but by the |
dliberate judgment of the officers who are |
responsible for the work done. and whose |
interest guarantees that, though they may |
occasionally make errors, on the whole |
they will undoubtedly retain the men most |
capable OF doing that work"