Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-03
WANT JOBS RESTORED
NAVY Yard MaChiniStS Will Az.
peal to President.
WORK ENOUGH ON HAND
But Unemployment Would Mean
More Discharges Later.
STRONG PRESSURE ON CONGRESS
Appropriation for More Battleships
Would Bring About Reinstate-
ment Of Dismissed Men.

Exerting every effort looking to the re-
| instatement Of the no discharged en-
ployes Of the Washington navy yard. Of
ficials of the International Association OF
Machinists will appeal to President Taft
the Secretary of the Navy and to Con
gress
It is understood that there is work
enough on hand to warrant the re-em-
ployment Of the men. but this same
source Of information asserts that to dc
so would be Ito rob Peter to pay Paul.
The reinstatement Of the men. it Is said
would mean the dismissal of more thar
double the number a few months hence.
With Congress providing for but two
battleships q year, the Washington navy
yard can maintain, it is declared, only a
| force Of approximately $500 men, and
| there are now $500 employed there
| Should Congress appropriate the money
for more than two battleships. then the
gun factory could maintain a force Of
1900 men or more. The Washington navy
yard gets only about one-fifth Of the gov
eminent battleship work.
1t is said further that there are several
| senators and representatives who are al
ways active In their opposition to giving
any large amount of the battleship work
to the naval gun factory here. They are
reported as saying that to give an unequal
amount of the work to the Washington
| navy yard would mean the throwing out
Of employment of many men in the home
states. Hence their opposition.
Look to President Taft.
The contracts for the armament of the
battleships appropriated for by the las
session Of Congress have not yet beer
awarded. It is said the Navy Depart
ment is now figuring on them. Leading
| workmen believe that President Taft ma,
decide to give enough of the prospective
work to the Washington navy yard te
bring about the reinstatement of the mer
dismissed Wednesday.
Off1cials of Columbia Naval Lodge are
very reticent about what plans they are
making for the prevention of any further
discharges but 1t was stated today thai
they were satisfied that no more mer
| would be dropped. It has always beer
the policy of this lodge to keep yer,
stiff upper lip in regard to its dealings
| with the government, and the single time
that the matter has been mentioned or
! the floor of the Central Labor Union i
| was with the greatest show Of optimism
Lodge, said at the navy yard that he hat
done everything possible to insure thu
| jobs OF the men now at work there, blu
beyond that he would say nothing. VIVA
taken is not even known at the Contra
Labor Union.
Not Asked to Interfere.
An official of the central body said to
day:
I'VE have not been asked to interfere II
any way in this matter. and, of course
we will do nothing until the proper tim
comes, II at all. We recognize the prin
ciple of trade autonomy which allow
each body to fight its own battles. Co
lumbia Naval Lodge has always been
| strong organization. and 1 believe 1t ha
| the matter in hand as completely as cal
be. As for the plans that have been mad
for the prevention Of any further dis
| charges l am unable to do anything NOR
than guess what the lodge has done o
could do. All I can think of is that Sl
organization might influence the prope
people to furnish the yard with worl
! enough for all hands"
| The Chamber of Commerce will prob
ably take some action on the matter o
the DISCHARGES at the April Is meeting
according to a statement by the secre
| tary today.