Evening star., 1897-02-11
.WoRkINGMEN COMPLAIN
Not Satisfied With the System in Force in
the Navy Yard.
Regulations Said to BE Harsh-ln
justice Alleged in the Rating
Of Mechanics.


pioyed there for some time on the extensive
building repairs made during the last year.
He said: THE regulations In the Wash
iLgton navy yard, as they apply to me-
charles Of my craft, are an attempt at civil
service which is neither civil nor service
able. While the mechanic and skilled Ia
borer who applies for employment is not
subjected to a civil service examination,
rules and regulations are imposed which
have not the merit OF civil service.
''At present the revised navy yard order
No. 26. which was issued by Secretary
Herbert May 1, 1896, contains the instruc-
tions to applicants for employment, and
they are the only conditions under which
an applicant can procure work when his
services are desired.
The order commits the employment of
mechanics and laborers to a board, consist
ing OF three commissioned officers on duty
at the station, which is designated the
beard of labor employment An appl-
cant is required to register with this board,
which will furnish him with prescribed
blank forms, upon which applications must
be made. The three necessary forms,
winch must be properly filled and filed
with the board are: An application or form
IL, character certificate or form 10, and
a trade certificate or form 20.
In making application for employment
the applicant is required to state the date
OF his birth, the city or town of his actual
residence, his post office address, if he is a
citizen of the United States and If nat
uraiized. if he ever served in the army,
navy or marine service of the United
States, where last employed, in what ca
pacity, and how long.
These questions constitute form II,
which, after being signed, must be sworn
TO by the applicant before a notary in the
office, to whom must be paid the usual fee
of % cents. The applicant is then weighed,
his height ascertained, and his complexion
noted, all of which is duly recorded.
uyh al, Lx .lNl ~,
the application, is a character certificate
which must be signed by former employer
or other person. They are required to GER
tify that they have known the applicant
Tor stated period; that he is able-bodied,
OF good character, and of sober and in
dustrious habits and that in those re-
spects he is qualified for employment in the
navy yard. The person who signs this GER
tificate is notified that he may be called
upon to furnish further information con-
cerning his knowledge of the applicant.
Form 20 which is trade certificate
when properly filled, would read follows:
:" To the Board of Labor Employment,
Navy Yard. Washington, D. c.:
Il hereby certify that have known John
Jones, living at Washington. ID. c., for ten
class carpenter for five years: that he is
able-bodied, of good character, and of sober
and Industrious habits, and in every respect
qualified for employment a first-class
carpenter.
This form, after being signed by
former employer, with those of II and 10,
after being filed, places the applicant on
the list of elgibles for one year, and the
name of each applicant registered is GER
titled for employment in the order of regis
tration, preference being given veterans.
Then those not veterans who have given
satisfaction in the navy yard work, and
who present certificates or discharge cards
from the head of the department under
whom they served, showing that their
workmanship was excellent and conduct
not less than good
Rated by the Qunrtermna.
notwithstanding these regulations, under
which the applicant is registered as first
class workman, upon the voucher of some
reputable employer, and the further fact
that the applicant commands the highest
rate OF wages paid to those of his craft on
first-claSs private construction he Is rated
by the quarterman. and his wages scaled
in accordance with the classification of the
workman. The quarterman, who has 10
knowledge of building construction, is the
absolute judge of the qualifications of the
mechanic, and there is no appeal from his
decision. 1t is stated that during the con-
struction of the molding shop. which was
completed short time ago, that of force
Of twenty-five bricklayers employed, two
thirds Of them were rated as second class
and paid reduced wages.
This was regarded as being unjust, as
many of these mechanics were generally
considered by competent employers as first
class workmen, and had been paid the
highest rate of wages. Another very in
consistent feature was the certification of
the quarterman, who is also inspector, that
the work in every respect is constructed
in a first-class manner, and yet the work.
man is listed as a second or third-rat me-
chanic. AT the discretion of the quarter
man the rating of the workman may be
advanced, after the first pay day, after
which full wages will be paid, he may
remain claSsed an inferior mechanic
so long he is employed in the yard,
though there Is no marked difference either
in the quality or quantity of his work when
compared with that of the workman who
is entered as first class
while admit that q code of reg,lla-
tions Is necessary, and that they should be
impartfally enforced, we assert that some
are marsh and unnecessary. An employe,
so far as the business end of the yard is
concerned, loses his individuality as John
Smith and is known only by number
which Is stamped on brass tag, which is
are arranged on a board each morning, and
the employe Is required to lift his tag
twice day, before am. and 1890 p.m.
and deposit 1t in sealed box. This box,
after the ringing of the bell, is opened and
the tags are credited to the time of the
employe. Promptly at the hours stated the
tag board Is folded and locked, thus Sc
curely inclosing all unified tags, and an
main for half day, or until the next
muster
IF in the record of tags 1t is ascertained
that an employe has been absent six mus
tiers, or six days, he is summarIly dis
charged. and no excuse, save that of a
physicians certificate. will be accepted
If the employe does not place his tag at
1880 he is required to work without nav.
as 1t is marked against him as an absent
muster. The physicians certificates. Of
course, must be acceptable to the Iieuten-
ant commanding. who in several Instances
has refused to accept the certificates when
written by pencil, and the empIcye was
required to lose time to procure certificate
written In ink.
Placed on the Blacklist.
"A discharge for infraction of the rules
of the yard or the report of the quarter
man for any real or fancied cause places
the employe on the blacklist and he is pre-
cluded from employment, on government
work and his ineligibility can only be re-
moved by special dispensation granted by
the commandment of the yard in which the
employe was last listed.
Those who are in favor with the an
thorities In charge on the completion OF a
job are furloughed and given q card which
certifies that he Is registered as moor
I good or excellent. The poor cannot regis.
I ter within one year after furlorgh If good
he can register within six morths. and ii
| excellent he Is carried on the roll jndefi.
| nitely and the first to be employed when
the services Of mechanics of his craft are
L