Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-21
Has Been Magnided Beyond
Its Actual Importance.
NO SERIOUS PROBLEM
CAPT. SEWELL TO GET MORE MEN
AS HE DID THE STRIKERS.
If Civil Service Commission Cannot
Furnish Them Then Depart
ment Can Step In.

me OTlClalS OIL the war DepaT al
though net wishing to be quoted in the
matter at present. do not hesitate to say
that the so-called labor trouble at the
Washington barracks has been magnf1ed
way beyond it's actual importance. AS enc
high official expressed it, it Is a feeble at
tempt to make mountain out of a mole
hill and to introduce a serious problem IN
a situation where it does not actually exist
1t was agreed by all officials at the depart
ment approached on the subject that the
question is to be determined in the first
instance by Capt. Sewell. the officer in
charge. He is responsible for the execution
of the construction work assigned to him
and is not expected to call on his superiorS
for assistance except in contingency
where he finds it impossible for him to pro-
coed with the work.
No Contingency Has Arisen.
1t is held in the present instance that no
contingency has arisen. A portion of the
men employed by Capt. Sewell On certain
work have gone on strike because of their
objection to another man employed in Tie
sd me class of work, but who was secured
by Capt. Sewell in the same manner as
were the striking men, that is, by certiiica-
ton from the civil service commission. IL
is held at the department that in case
Capt. Sewell desires additional men 1t Is
his duty to apply to the civil service conf
mission for them. If he cannot secure the
men and the work in progress is interrupt-
ed, ii will then be his duty to report the
matter to his superior officer for lnstruc-
Iions The present case, it is stated az the
department. has not yet reached that stage,
and there Is no question presented for the
action of the department
The officials made 1t clear that they Will
rot be brought into the dispute with the
labor union unless it shall be forced upon
them by labor organization. The asser-
ton Is broadly made that certain elements
are trying to make political capital out OF
this incident with a view. as one official
expressed it, of putting the PresldenE IN,
hole
The fact that strike had occurred at the
Washington barracks reservation was
brought to the attention of Gen. Mackenzie,
chief Of engineers this morning in 4 report
rIade by Capt. Sewell The report will not
be made public but the statement is otti-
cially made that it is a mere recital of the
facts In the case as already published IN
the newspapers.
Gen. Mackenzie's Views.
Gen. Mackenzie's views of the situation
are expressed in the following statement.
which, he explained. was all that lie cared
to say on the subject at this time:
The matter of the so-called strike of
bricklayers at Washington barracks is be-
ing given a prominence, in my opinion, not
1uStlfled by the facts.
'All employees in mechanical trades and
skilled labor are secured by the govern
ment under civil service rules and regula-
tons. and when vacancies occur such va
cancies are to be filled under civil service
rules.
I'm the present instance, 1T is understood.
twenty-five bricklayers have quit work.
The only thing to be done in the matter is
for the officer In charge to secure substi-
tutes, as required by civil service law. as
in the case of any other vacancy. and II
such not be obtained to report the
facts to his superior and await instruc-
tons.
'Of course if workmen can not be obtain
ed in the manner provided by law the work
will have to be suspended.
Confers With Capt. Sewell.
Capt. Sewell was summoned to the War
Department this afternoon for conference
with Gen. Mackenzie and was instructed
along the lines indicated in the authorized
statement, that is, he will endeavor to Sc
cure men to take the places of the strikers
and in case he fails in that he will await
specific instructions from the chief of en-
SineerS.
In answer to the direct inquiry Cen
Mackenzie said that the matter had not
been referred TO the War Department. and
that so far he was aware there was no
probability of it's reference to the Prcsi-
dent. except in the unlooked-for contin-
gency of a permanent interruption of the
government work.
Cen Oliver, acting secretary of war, said
that the question had not been presented
to him, and from what he. read in the pa
pers he saw no reason why it should. it
being question for settlement by the en-
gineer department.
The lone Colored bricklayer was at work
on the walls at Washington barracks to-
day. He may, however, have company
SOON as number of applications for work
have been filed
There are still persistent rumors of a
proposed strike at the Washington navy
yard. where two colored brickIavers ars
employed.
The trouble at the navy yard is said to
De the result of interference on the part of
number of workmen who were DISCHARGED
some time ago, when the force was re-
duced by order.