Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-11-05
MIR. RIxEY.

To the Editor of the Alexandris Gazette.
Dear Sir. Your editorial of Saturday
urging The voters TO support the Hon.
Joo. F. Rixey, should have especial
weight with the one hundred voters in
our city employed at the naval gun
factory in the Washington navy yard.
On account of the prominent position
occupied by Mr.. Rixey in the House of
Representatives DE has for years been a
member of one of its most important
committee; viz, the committee on naval
affairs. During this time he has been
able to do great deal to advance legis-
lalion desired by his own constituents
as well as measures of national importance.
Among the former was the bill to paw
time and half time for all time in excess
of eight hours per day performed by
mechanics of the Washington navy yard
during the Spanish American war. The
passage OF This bill was the cause Of
thousands of dollars being paid to mechan-
les of our city and despite the fact
that a number Of men in this campaign
are seeking credit among this working
men for the passage OF this act the fact
remains that the favorable report on this
bill was written and the bill called up
and passed through the House of Repre-.
sentatives by the Hon. Jno. f. Rixey.
The bill granting fifteen days annual
leave to mechanics employed in the navy
yards, arsenals and stations found in Mr..
Rixey most ardent supporter. The effect
OF this law gave to the mechanics of our
city in the Washington yard leave of
absence that could be used by them for a
rest during the summer or utilized 10
case of sickness. At another time some
years ago when Capt E. @. H. LeuIze
superintendent of the Washington navy
yard, in order to avoid Il large discharge
in that yard requested permission of Sec
rotary Long to furlough the men for
periods of four days, Mr.. Rixey went
to the Navy Department and made per.
soual appeal that the department would
comply with the request. 1t was granted
and a number of our citizens received a
furlough instead of discharge. AT the
last session Mr.. Rixey made strong
fight to secure an appropriation to build
a new iron, brass aud steel foundry IN
the Washington yard. This building had
been urged by the officials OF the yard
and the NAVY Departments and wss badly
needed to take the place Of the old foun-
dry now in the yard aud as was shown
by Mr.. Rixey 10 a speech in the House
thousands of dollars could be saved
yearly aud the work facilitated by
providing this building. On account
OF the opposition of the steel inter-
ests of Pennsylvania this bill fall
ed, but Mr.. Rlxey intends TO renew
the fight this session. As to the
measures of national importance passed
upon by the naval committee. No men,
Der deserves greater credit than Mr..
Rixey does that the government IS able
10 buy the armor plate for its battleshlps
at reasonable price. He has persistently
fought the steel trust that furnished the
navy with armor and has been abe to
assist in reducing the price SO that a
vast sum of money has been saved to the
country. He has also assisted in secur-
ing legislation placing our navy yards in
position to build their own ships in case
of necessity and if he could have been
successful in his efforts to have the
CONNECTICUT" built at Norfolk, where
the wages are nearer equal to the wages
paid at Newport News, this vessel would
have been constructed possibly cheaper
than her sister ship, the Louisiana"
Mr.. Rixey has always shown an iu-
terest 10 the mecbaics of the Washing
ton yard and devoted all his eneigies 10
their behalf and has always taken pride
in stating that he was proud of the
friendship of the working men of his
district. Unlike number of Legislators
this is no fulsome praise on his part, but
has been proven by years of sterling
devotion. Although on account of i'll
health he has not been able to see bis |
constituents personally, trust the en-
ployees of the navy yard will remember
his acts and repay him on Tuesday by
vote to continue his good work.