New-York tribune., 1908-10-05
POLITICS In NAVY YARD
WORkMEN ILL At EASE
Labor Unions Interested IN Expected
ChGngeS-4ctigaty on Drgdock.

orders instructions from the Navy De-
nartment regarding the discussion Of political
matters and labor conditions are naturally
oheved b. the officers of the various bureaus in
the navy yard across the East River but the
rank and file of the employees are not inclined to
csns3er them binding. Just now there are NUT
.erincs Of discomfort among the men, and in
sorpe cases veled threats from their leaders, the
6iscontent being based on the belief that the So
-slI.5 ''anaigsmation scheme" is held UP only
temporarily.
II IS pointed out that while as a business prin-
csne the consolidation OF various forces is all
right and a good thing. the special conditions
under which navy yard employees work the diff
se-ent grade OF work and the special technical
knowledge demanded in many instances should
receive the consideration to which they are en-
,s,led and which they receive in outside estab-
Yshrnents. and there are intimations that these
noin;s viii be forcibly brought to the attention
Of the powers that be when the necessity arises.
II is also shcwn that while under present con-
ditions Of work and the demand for repairs
vessels within reach OF the yard are not such as
20 make changes already accomplished particu-
larly irksome and Improbable, when the work
On the Florida begins, which 1t is expected Will
he soon. and the feet comes home. in February
next the weakness of the system of closing
down some shops and putting all the men of
certain trade in building will be made ap-
parent in a painful and costly manner. One
strong point is made that, except in few cases.
the buildings are inadequate as to size as well
as equipment. and that it is hardly fair to ex-
pect building erected forty years ago to meet
the requirements Of a wooden navy 10 accom-
r1odste sufficient men 10 handle the work of the
present constantly increasing fleet.
Again. the mixing OF different branches Of the
same trade. abolishing differences which are
recognized as correct outside the yard walls.
sDd placing the men on the same pay level when
7be ;1rions and outside contractors agree on a
difference are having had effect, and the whole
situation Is causing no little uneasiness- among
those who are interested in navy yard affairs
and the governments work. for while the men
are governed by comparatively strict rules they
sre in no sense enlisted men and are not ruled
b. the navy regulations.
ACTIVITY ON BIG DOCK
The contractors who are building the big dry
dock. No J. have seen great light. This is
shown by the increased activity in the big hole
in the ground The whole available force is
81 work sinking z line of heavy and long sheet
eriling along the best hank of the excavation,
sHd the earth. which q fortnight ago came slid
ing in toward the deep parts of the cut, is being
shoveiled into place for the big scoops to carry
swav There is no excavating being done the
contractors no7 expending their energies in eg-
forts 10 prevent further damage and. if possible,
save a portion Of the work already done
The advice Of Professor Burr, Of Columbia
University who was called in consultation, has
beer taken. il being in effect that it would be
better for the company 20 spend the money on
the dock now than on lawyers fees later on
r,-vdoclz No > was pumped out on Saturday
1o-I- Ifcpp1
has been stopped. or at least has ceased flowing.
there are hopes that il will be available for
service but there IS no saying with any degree
cr assurance. The Tribune has received g let
tor from reader referring to the statement
that 4 big increase In the cost of thu new dock
was planned for. in connection with facing II
with granite instead Of concrete. and closing
.gith the statement: NO modern engineer
would recommend granite for such work in
stead of concrete" In reply it may he said
,bst gf tho writer of that letter would take
walk around the coping of Drydock No :,
uhicb was faced with concrete at government
expense only = few years ago. and note the
s7ellirgs sud cracks. some Of which affect
even the coping itself. which mark the surface
of the concrete, both at the head Of the dock
along the sides and near the caisson, he would
probably alter his opinion TO the advisable
sly of using concrete as face on a work OF so
much Importance and cost as the new dock
NOTES OF INTEREST.
A feature Of the navy yard which Is attract
irg considera bic attention is the daily band
concert. given under the leadership Of Band
master Rheinhold Schultz, who has brought the
hand up 70 high point Of excellence The
leader Is graduate Of the Kaiser's Band, OF
Berlin and was one Of Gilmore's leading cCTnet-
lists. AT allowance has recently been made him
for new music. and after giving one day TO the
receiving ship Hancock and one day TO the
Naval Hospital. he divides up the rest Of the
week between the bandstand at the cornman-
dant's quarters and the one on the green back
= Officers Row" making feature Of ma
uens! DAYS which are proving a treat 10 music
lovers As admission to the yard is free and
there are no forn1anties TO be observed. he hopes
Il have larger audiences.
The question OF the color Of naval vessels is
likely Ia he settled soon, as the ten different
shades Of gray made up and tested by the con-
s'r1ction and repair people have been forwarded
70 the department for selection, with full date
a. 10 their wearing qualities.
This is the first day of registration. Polls are