New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-01
BY CUSHING STETSON.

President Wilson's administration Mt
Washington with the full tolerance of
Secretary of the Navy Daniels and
actively carried on under instructions
of Franklin d. Roosevelt, Assistant
Secretary of the department, has de-
moralizcd the New York Navy Yard.
Since the yard has thus been trans
formed into one Of the pastures for
favorites OF Democratic leaders partl-
SanShip of the rankest sort has taken
the place of efficiency.
This yard. for the first time in it's
history. is dominated by politics" said
one of the navy officers on duty there.
Although the yard is one Of the
governments most important plants,
responsible for work upon which the
safety Of the nation depends, politics.
/ instead of experience and faithful ser
vice, has become the test not only for
/ promotion, but also of whether "A man
! shall even hold his job, supposedly
guaranteed to him during satisfactory
| services by the civil service laws.
| To carry this out, the fundamental
| principles of the civil service laws have
| been subvarted. One method to re-
move the protection Of their rules from
a worker against whom there IL no
charge is to abolish his job. Another
effective way is TO offer the man picked
out for the sacrifice an undesirable
transfer or the alternative OF re-
signing. Sometimes the transfer
offered is 10 post at distant point
v hich il is impossible for him TO ac-
/ ccpt.
Republicans Sacrificed.
| Instances of both these methods are
/ furnished in the recent cases OF James
/ w. Wells. assistant to the OUTSIDE
Superintendent Of the yard, and "A man
named Irwin. tho inside superintendent.
Both were Republicans. both had uh-
blcmishcd records through many years,
and were picked out for sacrIhce at
tho behest of local Democratic poltl-
clans eager 20 take care OF their OWL
Wells was summarily dismissed al
ter twenty-eight years OF talthiui ser,
vice. The preteXt was the aooHtioh
Of his Office on the ground OF econ
omv. Irwin was transferred TO bos-
tary Roosevelt of the Navy had Saiu'
81 will get Irwin" and he did.
The Tribune here presents, after
weeks of investigation, the full story
, Of those two cases, showing that they
we're not for economy or efficiency, but
wore notifies Of the unadulterated wal a
variety. And herewith are presente
also the documents in the case. SHOW
ING the hand OF Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy Roosevelt carrying out the
game Of the Democratic machine.
shortly after the present ruler OF
the Navy Department came into power
Roosevets private secretary Mr.
Hove. visited the New York Navy
Ward He asked the commandant Tor
an officer as his guide through the
shops. But as soon as he got out OF
tho commandments Office he showed ms
hand He wanted a man named Brown
He did not know Browns initials, Dut
after further parley the othcer bIougnI
him 70 shop in which MT brow"
was superintendent.
Men Fear for Jobs.
Mr.. Howe and Mr. Brown we're intro
/ duccd. ana then Mr.. Howe to d the navy
officer he would not need MN any
| further. This was the first VISIT OF VIZ
/ Howe to the navy yard. and from 'nat
visit rumors began 10 fly through the
shops. One of them was that HOVE
was after nine uperintendehts: VI
the first time in the history OF these
. shops men began TO fear LOT 'he'r
Jobs for political reasons. ,, H.
Wells was one who was got ne
was appointed apprentice JOINER III me
Rrooilyn yard February d. 1881 D!
! steady work and a regular series Vi
promotions through administration
after administration ne became ass ~
ont IN tho outside superintendent De-
ccmber p, 1912. =,
In this lob he had supervision OF al!
work carried on in the yard outSI"e
tho shons including alterations and re-
nairs on ships of the Atlantic fleet dur
inc the docking period. The position
was one of the greatest responslDll
nv. hut. as M Wells puts 1t, he had
grown up in the shops from boy.
No bad mark had ever been Iodgeo
against him. His efficiency average as
a result of examinations taken Tor pro-
motion, was SO per cent. 81.
Nevertheless, on October o last, win
out the slightest warning. he was as
charged from the service he had oeeh
in with honor for many years. me
letter of dismissal, signed by FRANKLIN
ID. Roosevelt. vas as follows:
Faithful Worker Ousted.
Subject: Termination of services.
1.-THE department has decided 10
abolish the position Of assistant to out
side superintendent at 50 10 per dlem
Hull Division, Navy Yard, New YORK
Your services as such VIII therefore DC
discontinued upon the expiration OF
any leave with pay that may De que
you"
Wells was dumfounded. Thinking
possibly charges had been filed against
him without his knowledge, he immedl'
ately consulted his superior, the con
struction officer OF the navy yard. ms
official EXPRESSED himself as completely
i'm the dark as 10 what was going on
and advised him TO consult the com
mandapt.
Captain Gleaves. the commandant
although nominally responsible ioi
everything that happened IN the yard
could only EXPRESS his astonishment a,
the Secretary's action. lie expressed
his sympathy for Wells. but said he
was powerless to help him under the
circumstances.
Still thinking there must be mis-
take, Wells went TO Washington. lie
had considerable difficulty in getting to
see the Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy; but he had letters from a pow
crful New York newspaper, and hnaliy
broke through the barriers Of official
dom. He asked Mr. Roosevelt why he
had been dismissed.
The answer was that the position ne
held was abolished for reasons OF econ
omy. and that the commandant and con
struction officer had both agreed that
the Office could be spared. But Mr.
Wells promptly spiked that statement
lie told Mr. Roosevelt he had spoken TO