The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-28
UNCLE SAN sHoULD BUILD SHIPS.
Sentiment Of n Mass Meeting OF Navy Yard
Employees Last Evening.

The EMPLOYEES Of the Navy Yard In Brooklyn
ma, at Wayerley Hall last night to adopt reso-
lutions and 10 lieten to speeches calling on the
Government to order the construction OF SHIPS
In Government yards. They did not desire
that oil the warships contem plated by Con-
gress should be built In Government
yards. but that IA many as they
could handle should fall to their lot, arguing
that better work would be done and hat
the Government would save money. Judge
Gerard b. Van wart presided. Letters ap-
Proving the project. promising support hhd
regrettin2 their absence. were received from
Congrr-smen McLellaud. May and Clayton.
and senator Depew. c. J. Rlordan ond Town
send Scudler.
The follow NC resolution was adopted:
Wh,rsas, The Government has under considers
ton the Luilding u twelve ~gunboats and six cruis'
es aud
Wh.r,a,, The amount Of repair work Is insufficient
steadily to employ the workmen In the New York
Navy Yard.
R,,olrsd, That 20 request all members OF Congress
10 use thor influence ana vote I, have the gunbpats
and cruisers above referred to constructed III the
several navy yards by tie d%oysrrmsu', as expert
en-, has pro, en thai all vessels built y the dovern'
mont alc better CONSTRUCTED and with less expense
than when done by contractors.
The Navy Yard employees also Endorsed a
resolution adopted hy the California Legis!a-
ture m Jan. ~. 1902. asking Congress to pro-
vide for the construction OF a fair proportion OF
the vessels contem plated In the present Naval
Appropriations bill! In Government yards and
for the building Of at least ono OF them In the
Mare Island Navy Yard Of California,
Representative Fitzgerald considered the
Navy Yard In Brook yn to be a. well equipped
as any in the world FOR constructing war
vessels. It's effectiveness IN repairing
disabled AMI injured warships was amply
proved during tho Sranish wa. He was
not AN extremist who thought that the
mcnt should own all plants for produce
ing What It needed, he saul, but he was sure
tina, the Governments yards were able to
turn out as s"od vessels, nouS az any Pm IN
Government yard In the country working to
their lul capacity to rtotide a new American
Navy, He recommended that the Navy Yard
employees appointcommittees to make a house.
to-house canvass in Brookiyn 70 secure sigma
lures to petitions to be sent 20 congressman
Rrpr.ssntatiNe briggs ,eulog ized American
mechanics and assured his hearers that
Brooklyn's five Congressman would stand 70.
ge,her IN pushing the project to a successful
George Fl. Warner. business agent Of the
International association OF hachinlsts, critI-
ciscd private shipyards. Their methods
and output He declared that private
shipyards were unable to turn out
vessels possessing any other merit than
y, ,ng fas' enough to earn speed bonuses, Alter
! that was done It wjs necessary for 'he
Government navy yards to over aul them and
put them in seaworthy c1nd ton. he said.
He was 10 tive that the Government yards
had the hest docking facilities md ~" most
modern tools in the country. while the civil
service ru., : assured II higher grade ~ machin-
' lists and mechanics than he private yards
Io-sesSrt. The movement in which. tho men
d, before him were Interested was one ~ moment
to laboring men all over the country. and
h. was us .9s,S as rs 'ss TSPrs' OF ieno o.
them so. The organ zation. besides being
wiling to tack the pro ect Of construction OF
var vessels in G~oNernment yards, was
an "aight.hour day" on oil Govern.
ment work, even that done L" private var :
and by private concerns Under such cond,,-
tons he was convinced that the navy yards
could turn out more anu better work thah the
private concerns.
William :. Cornell smoke OF tho construction
Of tho Maine and Texas by Government
emrloyeeS and recalled tn time Whsn
and Cincinnati. when no private conrern,
wou d contract for them in view Of the $40 OF
the appropriatons made Tor their con ~trnstlon.
They had been built b" said within The
u manner that domestic AMI foreign critics ha!
united in praising them He urged that = fund
be raised TO send n couple ol wcll.vststi men
to Washington 70 ilnnress the importance OF
the project upon Congressman.
RepreseEtative briggs did not think this
would be ~ wise I plan az 10 have p%'titions 10
Congress placed In every grocery store, BUTCHER
shop and other business place In brooklyn.
wber e they might he signed by citizens who
believed that he prolect would be OF advantage
TO the borough.