Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-03
NAVY YARD MEN MAD
Punished for Quitting Their
Posts Saturday.
MANY ARE LAID OFF
BREACH OF DISCIPLINE.
Appeal to Be Made to the President
j. for Saturday Halt
Holiday.
MANY ARE LAID OFF
ACT1ON CALLED "A SERIUUS
BREACH OF DISCIPLINE.

More than two-thirds of the mechanics
helpers and laborers employed in the
washington navy yard are being disci-
pinned today. Their pennance began as
the yard bells sounded for noon. The al
legged offense for which many of Uncle
Sans gun foundry workers are being pun
ished was committed Saturday afternoon
Believing the Presidents order of last year
granting them a Saturday half-holiday was
still in effect they vacated the yard at
noon on that day.
I'VE waited until 1870 o'clock Satur-
day, said one of the mechanics to a Star
reporter. for a renewal of the executive
order to be sent to the yard. When it did
not arrive by that time we concluded that
the order of last year was still in effect
especially after We had received a tele-
phone me ssaSe from the government print
ing office announcing that the force here
went out on half holiday at noon.
Inc oh1cers say ii was a fragrant viola
ton OF the rules and regulations of the
yard for the men to desert their work in
such numbers without permission and the
inevitable consequences must be punish
meht OF some sort Some of the men were
required to lose the last half of today
Others were given one day Of enforced holi-
DAY and in a few instances the punishment
was two days "lay-off.'
p" hch q Guar TepOTleT visited the navy
yard this afternoon the workmen were
gathered about in groups angrily discussing
what they termed unjust treatment. The
several foremen had just enforced the dis
cipline by dismissing the men from duty
until Wednesday morning. with an admin
tion not to repeat the offense on pain of
more serious consequences.
'Dey can't lay US Off today an den make
us lose tomorrow, declared a colored la
borer of the yards and docks division.
Yes. dey kim said another, "dey kin
fire u.s.
1t appears that the clerks and craftsmen
were the only employees of the yard that
did not leave their employment Saturday
There are about 400 of these in the yard
and one of them informed a Star reporter
this afternoon that it Is their purpose to
hold a meeting and appeal to President
Roosevelt for justice.
I'VE all in the classified service" said
a clerk. land we believe we should have
Saturday half holiday as well as those in
the same service who shove quilts in the
uptown departments. Let me recite an
anomaly: Clerks who are carried on the
navy yard pay rolls. but are assigned to
duty in the Navy Department. not only get
the Saturday half day. but they are also
given thirty days annual leave, while we
get but fifteen days. l believe when the
President becomes cognizant of these things
he will right them.
1t Is also said the machinists helpers and
laborers will hold meetings and make ap-
peals for the half holiday. The machin-
lists claim they should receive the same
treatment the printers at the govern
ment printing office and that they will ask
for it.
Question Of Pay.
An official of the navy yard said yes
terday that 1t is very doubtful whether
the mechanics and helpers will get the
half holiday with pay this summer, as they
had last year. year ago, when the sub
ject came up. the controller of the treas
ury said there was no law made by which
the mechanics and helpers. who are paid
by the hour, could be paid for time not en-
rIoyed. but the decision was modified TO
the extent that the mechanics and helpers
could receive pay by an executive order.
and the President accordingly issued such
an order.
About five weeks ago the half holiday
question came up among the employees of
the navy yard and the matter. IT Is said
was brought to the attention of the Presi-
dent, but thus far nothing has been heard
from him on the subject
Attention was called to the fact that the
mechanics and helpers employed in the
other navy yards of the country do not
have any half day off Saturday during
the months of July and August although
they come under the jurisdiction and con-
troll of the Navy Department.