Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
NAVAL Gun Factory
Statement Regarding Employees
in National Guard.
DRAFT OF AMENDMENT
Commandant- Of Washington Navy
Yard Submits Views.
AN APPEAL TO SENATOR HALE
Says Commanding General Of Militia
Can Order Employees to Any
Duty Anywhere.
AN APPEAL TO SENATOR HALE


then have them paid out Of our appro-
priations."
The Secretary of the Navy has sent q
draft OF an amendment Of the law designed
to remedy this condition I'd Senator Hale
chairman Of the Senate commsttee on naval
affairs.
The text Of Capt Leutze's letter follows:
IT would respectfully ask tho department
II some change can not be recommended to
Congress in the laws governing the pay
ment for time OF employees of this navy
yard for the performance of duty In the Ma
tional Guard or Naval Militia Of the DIS
trict Of Columbia.
TAT present II seems whenever the conn
manding ofilcer Of the District militia seea
at he can order men from our shops to al
most any duty here or elsewhere, no mat
ter how injurious to the naval gun factory
and its work. and then have them paid out
Of our appropriations. In other words, the
commanding officer Of the District Militia
has greater control OF these employees than
the Secretary Of the Navy. the chief Of the
bureau OF ordnance or the coGnmAndant %
this navy yard and station.
II believe this to be detrimental to our
discipline and also not to the best inter-
ests Of the government. Whereas I rea-
lie the necessity for q well-organixed and
regulated militia and believe in the perform
ance Of strictly military duty. when such ID
required. there are many instances in my
Judgment in which members Of the militia
are called out from here for the perform
ance Of some trivial duty or excuse.
Duty at Rifle Range.
ION September 20. 1905. In accordance
with orders No. 10, paragraph 3, from the
headquarters Of the District OF Columbia
militia, two high-class machinists were Or
dered for duty at the rifle range for four
days. I am informed that they were used
al markers, telephone men. etc. 1t seems
to me that first and second-ciass machinists
should not be called upon to perform duty
that ordinary laborers or small boys could
have done.
Then again men are ordered from here
to go out to the rifle range to shoot for
prizes and also to the rife range at Sea
Girt, N. J.. for the same purpose. We had
one man ordered to duty in the Police Court
Cor one day In connection with case Of
destruction Of armory property. 1 would
also call attention to the fact that on No
venber 10 I received an order dated Mo-
vember Is for certain employees Zone drafts
man and three machfnists) to go on a prac-
tice cruise for two and a half days on the
the order was issued seven days after the
duty was ordered. The persons concerned,
one craftsman and three machinists, were
ordered out from this place by telephone
(the message came to the Office and passes
were given the mem. understand that the
practice cruise In question consisted In the
Oneida conveying down the Potomac the
o. 8: s. mayhower, the latter vessel having
the President on board.
II would invite attention to the follow
For the~regular encampment and prac-
tice cruise we paid out a. 235 40. When the
blacksmith, were called out OF the forge
shop, thus Gripping this shop and we were
compelled to take in new men through the
labor board for temporary employment.
- 40 Aorf a M
they do not add to the efficiency Of the
shop, but on tho contrary detract there
from.
Some Of the Orders.
In addition to the regular encampment
and practice cruise the following duties
were ordered for the entire national guard
by its commanding oflcer at an expense
to US OF 81. 430.21: Inspection, small arm
target practice. review by President, par
ticipation in Spanish War Vet
/9rans' parade and rifle matches Also the
following individual duties were ordered:
A. b. Weir, duty at rife range. four days.
1874: Thomas 8. O'Halloran, duty at
Police Court one day at $2.ss: ]. H. Mitten-
dorf, Bayard John, e. D. Waller and Philip
On a. aaty .aoh Tse1e
also several details made before and after
encampment to look after packing and
shipment OF camp equipage.. preparation of
camp site, etc. The total expense for
militia headquarters to the gun factory for
this year to date Is 5,71O48.
In conclusion I would state that have
no desire to retard military education.
study and practice on the part of our civil
ian soldiers and sailors, but I do consider
It not consistent with good policy to have q
law existing which allows such unlimited
authority in the hands Of persons not con-
nected with the government service to or
der out those who are employed in the
several departments Of the government
and particularly the gun factory, without
reference as to the Importance Of their
presence and requirement at their usual
places Of employment. There should be
some limitation of such authority, such as
the sanction of the President or the Sec
rotary of War or some other competent
person who L. q responsible government Of
fetal, and only in cases of emergency, such
as riot or insurrection. should any such au
District Of Columbia not responsible to the
government Of the United States. I am Of
the opinion that In the state militias such
authority, and that such q condition with
out some check as seems to exist in the
District Of Columbia would not be allowed.
compensation Is allowed to those not in
government service for the entire year and
to those in government service their usual
compensation as s employees ., while on mill
under the Dick bill all hands get regular
army pay when ordered into camp. etc, in
accordance with the provisions of said
act"
Secretary Of the Navy Acts.
Tho Secretary Of the Navy. in his letter
to Senator Hale asking that the law be
amended to meet the case, says:
ut il by no means the desire of the de-
partment to impose any obstacle to the de-