The Washington times., 1922-02-11
Unjust, Unseemly Haste
in Gun Fact0ryFu
BY BILL PRICE.

There is probably no other instance on record in
the history Of the United States Government where
old and trustworthy employees were furloughed with
such unjust and spectacular haste as that exhibited
at the Washington gun factory Here were more
than 800 skilled workers, Of them having put
In thirty or forty years in loyal and efficient service
to Uncle Sam, who went to work at the usual hour.
Like a bolt Of lightning they are furloughed, going
home bewildered doubtless bitter.
1t may be taken for granted that no order of
President HARDING for the carrying out of the
limitations agreement ever contemplated any such
precipitate action AS private employer the Presi
dent would have given notice to men women whose
services he might not have needed 1t is customary
throughout executive departments of the Gov
eminent that those who to lose their positions
shall have advance notice that they may seek other
employment and arrange their affairs to meet the
shock.
Somebody has Numbered in this case and it is not
the President In furthering his program Of sincere
action by the United States in carrying out the
terms of the fourpower treaty he would not have
deemed it necessary to impress foreign governments
in such striking manner
No question of shortage of appropriations is in
volved If there had been, the furloughed employees
would have had official intimation or notice. The
appropriations from which the workers in the gun
factory and various navy yards paid were made
to last until the end of this fiscal year, June 80.
Notices of few days week would have been in
keeping with the relations that should exist between
employer and employe-relations the scrupulous
keeping of which the United States Government
should be the first to set an example.
Granting that it was the duty of the Government
the executive branch understands it, to at once
stop work all capital ships and all guns for CAPT
tai ships, it does not justify furloughing without
warning. Even paying the employees few days for
doing odd jobs would have been far better than
knocking them off their feet" 1t would be in
teresting to know if Japan or England followed
such tactics.
The President and Congress should insist on all
the facts and inform the country whether the sin
cerity of the United States would have been ques-
toned had the justice of few days. notice been
given those who have Loyalty served their Govern
ment for many years.
grave question may arise as to the constitution
atty of the executive branch Of the Government
setting aside, hating, legislative act without
Congress having approved such action. Congress
made appropriations for navy yards and construction
of war ships. Its act is suspended, despite
the fact that there has yet been any ratification
by Congress of the fourpower treaty by which it is
proposed to stop the building of capital ships
There may be hopeful significance in the fact that
employees were "furloughed'' and not dismissed out
right. The man out of job may not grasp the dis
tinction, but there should be one. We shall hope
that already executive orders have gone forth for
survey of the gun factory to determine whether the
vast machinery and the skilled workers may be put
to valuable peace-time for the Government,
saving it large in the manufacture of ma
chinery and articles bought from private manufac-
turers.
The President, Congress and Director DAWES,
of the Budget Bureau, may have the matter under
consideration now 1t is problem that can not be
solved in few days even a few weeks, but it
can be solved in beneficial manner to the Govern