The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-15
MAYOR and
AIDES LOSE
/. U, S. FIGHT
Jordan Confirms Schriv.
er's Report of Retention
Of 1000 Men June 30.


tbe. Rock Island arsenal will be laid
off June 30. leaving about two thou
sand employees to man the plant and
the Savanna proving grounds.
Mayor Harry NJ. Schriver return
ed from Washington. d. C.. Friday
night after spending two weeks with
adelegat.on from Rock Island in an
effort 10 avert the big layoff and
the removal OF arsenal departments.
This morning the mayor an
nounced that he had been told by
Congressman W. j. Graham of Hi
nols and Harry Hull of Iowa that
they had been informed in Wash
ngton recently by Colonel Harry
B. Jordan, commandant Of the arse
nal, that $500 employees would be
laid of June 80.
Colonel Jordan was called today
in reference 10 the mayors state
ment. and announced that he had
\ given Congressman Graham and
Hull an estimate OF the number of
employees that he believed would be
maintained al the arsenal after
June 30
1T has been stated on numerous
occasions that fewer employees
would be kept at the arsenal after
The end of the fiscal year. The fiscal
year ends June 80. and while l am
not in the position to give an au-
lhoritative statement Of the exact
number Of employees that will be
kept | can give as an estimate that
about two thousand will be the
number
The colonel said that there are
pov 1890 employees in service at
The arsenal In case only 1000 are
retained $500 employees will be cut
Oh the payroll.
Departments Being Removed.
The fight staged by Mayor
Schriyer and his delegation in
Washington 10 avert the layof and
the removal OF departments was
lost The harness department and
the divisions OF the carpentry and
equipment departments which hing
cd on the harness department are
10 be removed TO Jeffersonyiile. Ind.
The amendment that was tackled
On the annual fortifcations bill in
,he senate by Senator William S.
henyon OF Iowa. in an effort TO tie
W funds. in that bill or any pre-
Vous bill. could be used by Secre-
ary OF War Newton D. Baker in
carrying out the removals, was di-
Vorced from the bill in the confer
ence committee after a strenuous
hsht by the Rock Island delegation.
Custom Puzzles Mayor.
Mayor Schriver said that a prec-
edent as old as the government was
upset by the delegation. when it
'orced its way before the conferees.
nc presented evidence in opposi-
uon 10 the stand of army officials.
IL was said that in the past no
one mas been allowed TO go before
conference committee on any mat
W. In this case Mayor Scnriver
.aa MS delegation managed to carry
aeir Eight before. session of the
wmmlttes. when war department
yucials attempted to contradict
Meir statements
Inc conference committee was
wmposed Of Senators Smoot of
vaa' Chairman OF the senate group:
HNenyon OF Iowa and Overman of
s'n sur'n Carolina and Congressman
I senp OF Virginia. chairman Of the
rouse group; French OF Idaho and
"sah OF Massachusetts. The en-
Me senate group was for the
rlehament and also Congressman
s,eneh and Eagan. Congressman
ssWp was against the amendment,
y" ~. due to some peculiar custom
wa ne' members OF either house should
ruoS their chairman. Congressmen
.Nnch and Eagan went over to the
"e oi Congressman Slemp when il
., 'oahd that he could not be won
M" me mayor said. In view Of
ne senate group. TO avoid fur
friction. also voted TO cast out
NJ; N.Y. amendment As the result OF
~s action all hope to save the ar
"'di intact vas lost.
Sold Storage Plants.
az a further result the harness
cartment and portions Of the
naIy and equipment depart
M s VIII go to Jacksonville. Ind.
A., .le machine gun plant al
Ro.a Raester. \. Y. will come TO the
r ~ Island arsenal. all for cold
'sse purposes.
sis isIns this statement the mayor
n ,r nat be had the word OF Sec
~! BAKER and General Rice. The
s,.els statement was made in an
New with the delegation and
'attefs before the conference
Raker Obdsrzte,
ne delegation lef, Rock Island
as seeks ago. arriving in Wash
"a al , O'Clock Monday morn.
~. Isy :, and al noon OF the
oAy vent into conference with
n.ly Baker for an hour /,
aunnE this conference that the
py SAID tha; the equipments
10 10 oe stored He asserted ths,
A 80 made Up his mind to move