Evening star., 1898-11-01

~. he.
Party had conference with Secretary Long
on the subject of the conditions under which
members OF those crafts who have been
employed IN the Washington navy yard
Nachinists' Complaint.
The machinists stated that they had been
worked by order of Capt. Penaleton. Tn,
oihcer in charge. in shifts OF twelve hours
instead of eight. as provided ny The ma
uonal eight-hour law and that they had
received no extra compensation for the over
time. 1t was further stated that sa,..,aI
hluhths ago the employees were paid extra
yohpehsalon of ~ per cent for overtime.
guy guy that at the subsequent pay day this cN-
IRA sum was deducted from the mems
wages. and they have until past two weeks
ptth iofced To work twelve hours. although
being PAID only for the straight time
me hlachlnlsts also contan1ed that one
OF lhe regulations OF the navy ward which
provides that where men work In RELAYS
from am. To pm. all time worked in
excess OF these fourteen hours shall Do
P,ud Tor at 30 per cont additional over the
0suldF rates, mas not been complied With.
MS extra compensation has. thoy claiI ed.
peen paid in all the other navy yards IN
the country. 1t was still further main
famed that the conditions under which the
men worked here violated law and were
against the protest of large majority cf
the workmen. 1t was stated that Of the
I'"p mechanics employed in the various
SIlopS' anu VINO were worked In twelNe-lour
shifts but 200 requested that :h-y slould
be so employed. When the order to work
overtime shifts was promulgated, the ma
1orlty OF the men petitipned n" department
to revoke the order hut 10 attention was
paid To their request.
A Mr.. Peters, who is Amployed as a clerk
in the navy yard, told Secretary Long that
the men lsSl volunteered to work the extra
hours. and one of the committee replied
that Captain Pendleton informed him
that any man who did not desire to work
on those conditions could leave the yard.
At this point Secretary Long said 1T was
very important that Captain Pendleton lie
heard relative to what the mach:nlsts de-
sired, The Secretary was requested to or
der that the ~ per cent extra compcnsa-
uon for overtime be paid to those earning
II.
Grievances of the BrickIayers
The complaint OF the bricklayers was
similar to that OF the machinists They
complained that a large number OF the
craft were employed on the constructio Of
machine shop in the navy yard. and were
worked four hours overtime daily and re-
ceived no extra compensation therefor A
member Of the bricklayers' committee in
formed Secretary Long that after full in
NesuSauon by a competent committee the
concluSlOH was reached that overtime work
was not required. as there was no emer-
Sency which neceSSitated violation Of The
etght-hour law. The Secretary was further
requested 20 order the men to he paid the
additional ~ per cent for work done over
tune, and that in future the days work he
limited to eight hours and in case of emer-
eency. when il was necessary To work in
excess of these hours. the workmen 1e paid
the % per cent extra which is paid by con-
tractors on private work in the city.
Secretary Long said that he would take
the matter under advist ment and inform
the committees of his decision in the prem.
ises at an early day.