Evening star., 1905-07-31
FAVOREDBYSECRETARY
APPROVES MOVEMENT FOR Re-
LIEF OF NAVY YARD EMPLOYEES.

The thousands OF employees of the WASH
ington navy yard are much pleased with
the tenor Of a communication recently writ
ten by Charles J. Bonaparte. Secretary of
the Navy, to Senator Thomas 8. Martin OF
Virginia. In this communication Secretary
Bonaparte expresses his approval OF the ef-
forts that are being made to secure some
provision for the relief OF those workmen
who are injured while at work in the navy
yards.
1t is said that Mr.. Louis Mangialetto OF
Portsmouth has interested himself in the
matter, and after considerable correspond
ence with Senator Thomas 8. Martin, Mr..
Mangialetto has received the following as
surance from the senator Of his intention to
carry the matter to a successful conclusion,
and, together with departmental assurance
that section of the next report Of the
Navy Department will bear UPON the sub
ject:
Senator Martins Letter.
MY almost continual absence from my
headquarters has prevented an earlier re-
ply to your letter of the 18th instant in re-
gard to the matter of provision for work.
men injured In the discharge Of duty in the
government navy yards.
II have received letter from Mr.. Bona
parte, the new Secretary Of the Navy in
regard to this matter, which l inclose for
your information. 1 will take this matter
up next winter and see If something can
not he done to change. the present very un-
satisfactory conditions in regard to this
class of workmen.
Thanking you for your kind expressions
of interest in my political welfare and for
whatever assistance you may be able to
render me, I am" etc.
secretary's Reply.
The reply Of Secretary Bonaparte to Sen
ator Martin is dated Navy Department,
Washington. D. c.. and follows:
Your letter of the 9th ultimo has been
called to my attention since my assumption
of the office of Secretary of the Navy. l
agree with you fully that some provision
should be made for the relief of those who
may be injured while al work in navy yards
through no fault or negligence Of their
own. AS you have been advised, this mat
ter has been called to the attention of Con-
gress by Hon. William H. Moody, when Sec
retary of the Navy, and have directed that
the subject shall be included in the annual
report OF the department. On the point Of
surgical and hospital treatment, find that
the medical officers OF the navy who are
always attached to navy yards afford first
aid and emergency treatment in every case.
SO that 1t cannot be said that the employees
are entirely without surgical aid. When
ever an accident occurs the necessary at
tention is given to It, and where a navy
ambulance is available the injured person
Is removed to his home or to civilian hos
pital. There is however, no provision for
the treatment Of civilian employees in the
naval hospitals, and I am advised by fhe
bureau of medicine and surgery that the
accommodations at the naval hospitals are
not sufficient even for the proper treatment
Of the enlisted men of the navy, so that
they would be unable to meet any calls for
the treatment Of civilian employees There
Is no existing provision {, law which would
permit the admission Of civilian employees
to naval hospitals. even II accommodations
could be provided"
Present Conditions
The matter Of providing assistance for
mechanics who are injured while perform
ing their duties at the navy yards has been
agitated for some time At present the
workmen who are injured In the navy are
provided with medical attention gratuitous-
ly during the time Immediately following
their injury and before their removal from
the limits Of the navy yard to their home
a hospital
The efforts toward securing provision for
workmen injured in this way have been d.
rected toward securing, If possible, medical
attention by the government after they are
removed from the navy yards and hos