Evening star., 1921-08-19

democratic government. he said. and it
was anything but fair.
efficiency marks should be devised. and
should include provision for giving
credit to men of long service. Under
the present system a man with thirty
years service is just as likely to be
service. Members Of the shops COM
mittees should also be given preference
when discharges are made necessary.
Capt Robson read a. recent order
promulgated by the Navy Department
at the direction of Secretary DENLY
in which commandants were directed
to do everything to enhance the spirit
of both naval men and civilian en-
ployes. and said this was the first
time that civilian employees had ever
been included In such an order.
Cut Overhead Charge.
In refutation of the charges made
several times during the course of
the hearings that the planning di-
visions involved an excessive over
the mechanical forces. E. c. Cleaver.
representing the planners and esti-
matters of the Washington navy yard.
cited figures to show that the plan
ming division had cut the overhead
charge at the local yard from 159
are in a position. he said, to detect
waste and to correct it quickly.
w. F. Ruckert, planner at the
Washington yard, said that the plan
ners and the workmen were cooper
ating thoroughly there, and there was
no ground for any charges of sus-
picion between them and the work
men.
Capt. Robson, however, thought
that the planners, who are men taken
from the various trades to plan and
estimate jobs on their particular lines,
should be required to go back to their
benches three months out of each
year. This would serve to wipe out
some of the suspicious of the planning
divisions that have cropped up in the
various yards. He thought that their
pay should be based on the trades
they represent, while the planners
thought that it should be based on
similar work on the outside.
Rewards for Saving Plans.
Reward for navy yard employees who
suggest workable plans for saving the
time increasing the efficiency should
be provided for, Capt. James K. Rob-
ison, told the labor men at the hear
ing. He said that he would try to de-
wise some plan whereby an employe
could be financially rewarded for
efficiency of the government ma
chinery.
Representatives of the building
trades protested against any reduc-
ton of wages at this time, and Lu-
ther C. Steward of the National Fed
Grafton of Federal Employees also
protested against any reduction in
pay or lengthening of the hours of
clerks in the navy yards. He said
that the reduction of forces to date
already had put increased work on
the clerks left, but Capt. Robson
pointed out to him that this was not
a logical statement, as the mechanical
forces In the yard also had been re-
duced, thus reducing the amount OF
paper work.
Painters Present Plea.
The painters appeared and sought
to acquaint the board with the Inn
portance Of their work during the
war by keeping ships from being
sunk.
"I take 1t you mean this camouf1age.'
said Capt. Robson. THAT just kept
a lot Of people from getting nervous
T. Gerern, representing the wood
workers, suggested that the boards
opinion might be affected by public
opinion demanding reductions. to
which Capt. Robson replied that he
did not intend to give consideration
in reaching conclusion, to any
opinion but his own.
Capt. Robson pointed out that ne
had examined a number OF pay rolls
of firms this year, and comparison
with those of last year showed con-
siderable decrease in wages.