The Washington times., 1907-01-11
GREAT WRONG
DONE WIDOWS,
ENTRIKEN SAYS
Appeals to Newberry to
Restore to Unfortunate
Work at Navy
Yard.

BY direction OF Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy Newberry. the Ordnance Blu
reau OF the Navy Department has taken
up the matter Of the discharge OF over
nifty widows and daughters Of war vet
Grams at the Washington Navy Yard
b. p. Entriken. District commander Of
the G. A. r, after laying the situation
IN all its details before Mr.. Newberry.
has secured from that OFFICIAL a prom
Use that prompt steps shall be taken 20
restore the work 10 the women IL II is
found to be practicable. Mr.. Newberry
stated that II any injustice had been
done the aged widows. many OF whom
have been rendered destitute through
the loss or work. IL was entirely unin-
territorial and done strictly in the in
terests of the Government as it was
found that the work could be done
cheaper at the yards nearer the am
munition depOts. and with saving Of
transportation expenses.
Congress May Interfere.
Representative Dawson. OF Iowa. a
member OF the House Committee on Ma
val Affairs. upon being appealed 10 by
Commander Entriken. has agreed to lay
the situation before the members OF
that committee. II the Navy Depart
ment does not return 10 the Washington
Navy Yard the work of making ammu-
milton bags, on which the women We're
engaged in their own homes, II is likely
that a Congressional resolution will be
introduced looking 10 this end.
"a serious injustice has been done
these women said Commander Entri-
ken today. Il don't think IL has been
al Int J.. = -
the same / am convinced that Assis-
tant Secretary Newberry and the other
Navy Department officials VIII return
the work 10 Washington and give u 70
these women, IL such a step does not
appear 20 be entirely impracticable
Many OF them have personally appealed
70 me To take the matter up with the
Navy Department. with Congress, ana
even the President. Besides seeing Mr..
Newberry. i have laid the matter be-
fore members Of the House Committee on
Naval Affairs. ] shall await results
through these sources, and II satsfac-
tory action is not brought about ! shall
then appeal 10 the President"
Women in Relief Corps.
All or the women belong TO some
auxiliary order OF the G. A. r. or Army
and Navy Union, most OF them being
members OF the WOmen's Relief Corps.
The subject was first brought up in
meeting before the members OF the
Union Veterans Legion recently, a
committee was appointed 70 lay the
matter before Commander Entriken, Pc
titiOning him 10 lay their appeal before
the President The commander replied
that he preferred 10 take IL up through
the regular channels and appeal 20 the
White House only as a last resort
BY special request or some OF the
women. Commander Entrlken made a
talk at the meeting OF Grant Circle. @.
A r, last Tuesday night. His nor
travail of the alleged wrongs OF the
women resulted In considerable indigna-
ton on the part OF many OF the old
veterans some OF whom are Ia the
Government employ themselves.
At that meeting Commander Entriken
cited the case Of a widow OF a Spanish
war veteran, whose husband was slain
ia hattie She has four little children a.
support and she was entirely dependent
upon the Work OF making ammunition
bags, which she did at her own home
She is now in destitute circumstance
and is surviving the rigOFs OF winter
only by the kindly attention Of sym
pathetic neighbOrs
The case Of the women viii be pre-
scented at other G. A. r and Army and
Navy Union meetings within the next
few days