The Washington times., 1914-03-31
NACH|N|STS' HEAD
HITS NAVY CONTRACTS
w. H. Johnson Says System and
Inadequate Equipment Caus-
ed Discharges of Men.

The present system of letting con-
tracts for big gun manufacture and
the inadequate equipment of the Wash
ington navy yard for work Incidental
TO this manufacture, were declared to-
day to be the greatest evils IN the
Washington navy yard by w II. john
ston, president of the International As
sociation Of Machnists, which IS en-
deavoriug TO place the 109 men recent
ly given two weeks notice ut the local
ward. He also sees the possibility of
further dismissals.
The small work upon which the
skilled mechanics have been employed
for several years and which, 1t is de-
clared, they had every expectation OF
depending upon Tor the future here, to
The extent that they have become prop
eTty owners, is at present let out by
contract to outside firms.
Because of the fact that the Wash
tnSton yard is farther inland and that
fewer large Government ships are
taken care OF here. the station Is re-
Sarded as q gun factory. Mechanics
here are led to expect perTnansnt en-
plo--ment. il is stated. other navy yards
have fuctuating forces Of men at work
on account Of the repairs necessary to
ships ordered in. Here it is different,
declares Mr.. Johnston, and the men
thrown out IF work at present nay
ho followed by others ri any time.
Lets Out Contracts.
The fact that the Government has let
nut contracts. for the big guns instead
OF handling the proposition here, is at
tributed as the real cause for laying
off the 100 men at the Washington yard
The smaller work that goes with the
manufacture of the big guns. il is de-
clared, could be ably handled here,
we're accommodations Increased for the
larger work.
The greatest evil at the Washington
yard at present" declared w. II. John
ston this morning. lis the fact that
these big guns which We believe should
be manufactured by the Government at
the naval gun factory. are let out by
contract. thereby shutting the men out
of employment. The small work on the
breech mechanism, which goes with the
manufacture of the big guns, is also let
with the manufacture of the larger
guns, and is the reason for turning off
the men.
We are doing all we can to place
The log men thrown out of work, and
in the next three weeks firms in other
cities Will take them, in groups of twos
and threes. Here in Washington this
work has been looked upon as perman-
cnt BY reason of the fact that the
Washington yard has been known as a
-un factory instead of a navy yard
proper In other navy yards the men
expect to be laid off when work is
slack and accept their work with this
understanding.
J. p Conlon. vice president of the
International Association of Machinists.
here, is directly in touch with the navy
yard men.
Arrangements arc being made
throughout the country to take care
Of the men from the Washington navy
yard. who care to seek employment in
other Cities declared Mr. Conlon to-
day.
All Are Specialists.
I'VE are in correspondence with firm:
now and will place nearly all the mer
turned off within two weeks. In foul
weeks all the men will be provided
with work
The men who received notice are OF
the highest type of mach'nists that
the country can afford. They are Sc
lected for their special line of work
and will have no difficulty in making
GOOD in other cities.
eft is not an easy matter at this time