The Washington times., 1922-02-09
FURL0l)CH
IS. RESULT
Of FARLEY.
Twenty Percent Reduction In
Armament Forces in Entire
Nation Ordered.
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
The decisions OF the Washington
conference, reducing naval arma-
ment, began to produce concrete
results today, when an order went
forth from the Navy Department
to reduce the working personnel Of
navy yards generally Throughout
the country 20 per cent.
Other yards will be similarly re-
duced, it WAS said, and I'm some in
stances the yards probably will be
closed altogether.
In fulfiilment of the first step
in the limitation of armament in
the. United States, as a result of
the conference, just finished, 1880
machinists from the Washington
navy yard were furloughed this
morning until June 80, without
pay.
Laid OFF without Notice.
Action of the Government Off
cials in dismissing the men from
their benches without previous no
tice was severely criticised by Rob
ert Z. Janson, president Of the To-
cal association Of machinists, speak
ing in behalf of the navy yard en-
ployes.
The order to quit was passed
around this morning shortly after
the men had reported for work. No
intimation of the drastic cut was
made last night, it is said by union
officials.
The men were officially fur.
Laughed at $3.50 o'clock this morn
ing, with the understanding that
they would be retained on the rolls
Of the Navy Yard, without pay.
discussing the wholesale suspension.
it was stated by Navy Yard officials.
will represent a saving of $1,000
a day to the Government, or ap-
proximately 20 per cent of the en-
tire payroll Of the local yard.
Comes as Shock to Workers.
THE action of the Government
officials came as a sudden shock to
our men," declared Mr.. Janson in
discussing the wholesale suspension.
I'VE knew and expected that
some action would be taken by the
Government as q result of the con-
ference agreement to stop work on
armament, but neither the men,
nor even their superiors were aware
OF the Governments intention to
suspend the men without even an
hours warning.
When the men reported off duty
last night nothing was said by their
foremen or the officials which would
indicate that the forces were to be
summary discharged this morning
without notice. a half hour after
their arrival" Mr.. Janson said.
THE action of the Government
in furloughing this large number
OF men will, of course, as is probably
intended, result in the men seeking
and securing employment in other
fields, which will mean a serious loss
TO the Government in losing the
services of the highly trained and
specialized machinists on armament
work.
Holds Action Unfair.
aside from lost to the Govern.
ment there will be actual suffering
among the men and their families
as a result of the Governments &C.
ton.
Certainly the Government in it's
desire to set a fair example for other
large employers cannot cite their
own action as fairness to the Govern
ment's own employees, when the men
have been dismissed without so mucn
as an hours notice"
Charges were made by the officers
OF the local Navy Yard Machinist's
Union that navy yard officials had
informed the men that there would
be no one discharged or laid off
without reasonable" notice.
THE officials assured us that they
would try to give us as much notice
as possible, in order that the men
might secure other employment
either temporary or permanent-in
other vocations," Janson said.
What action, il any the local Ma
chinists' union will take in the mat
ter, the officials stated this morn.
ing they could not say, but declared
they would continue their efforts
to have all Government work posi-.
BILE brought to Washington and hand