The Washington herald., 1922-02-11
Senate Amendment Gives
More Chs,ces for
Estimates.
UNION LEADERS
PREPARE APPEAL
Will Ask President to
Grant Relief From
Furlough Order.

AS union leaders prepared a ma
wide appeal to the public yes
terday for rehef from the order to
''fui Tough" skilled m :hanics in gov-
erhment shipyards, steps were taken
in the Senate TO check any assign
ment of snip work to independent
companies.
Hopes OF a direct appeal to Presi-
dent Harding are held by union
chieftains, who plan to enlist SYM
pathy Of the nation through a pub
Iicity campaign.
In the Senate, Senator Lodge in
troduced an amendment aimed to
curtaIl release of contracts for ship
repair work to Independent firms.
This Is seen as q direct move to hold
all government snip work within gov
eminent plants.
Gives Navy Yards n Chance.
The amendment provides that the
navy yards of the government be
given an opportunity to submit es-
Inmates for repair work on all ships
in government docks for work to ex-
ceed $1,000 in cost.
A conference between Secretary of
the Navy DENLY and Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor; William II. John
son. president 9: the Machinists' As
sociation: Chairman ]. O'Connell. Of
the Metal Tra5es Department: Presi-
dent Janson. of the Columbia Lodge
OF Machinists. and N. p. Atlas, of
Machinists District. ~. has been ar
ranged for Wednesday.
In addition to the 135 skilled
workrnen released from the wash
irgton Navy Yard. II Is estimated
that 1,600 skilled workmen in other
government yards will be made
idle by the order which took effect
Thursday morning, .a.-,.z =
Expected sumefent Notice.
officers OF the international Asse-
citation Of Machinists last night said
they had received reports confirm
ing previous rumors of reductions
at government yards in Boston,
Portsmouth, N. H.: Brooklyn Navy
Yard, Norfolk. Newport News. San
Francisco. Puget Sound and Mare
Island. Cal.
While IT was contemplated reduc-
tions in Navy Yard personnel would
follow the arms conference, II was
thought the men would be given
sufficient notice TO enable them to
find employment elsewhere.
THE thing that hurts" said WILL
lam II. johnson. president of the In
ternational Association of Machin-
lists. "is that the men had absolute
ly no warning that they would be
dismissed. I do not know of an in
stance under private employment
that compares with the ruthlessness
of this order"
Objects to EARNING Out"
That the move is unsound eco
nomically and that it but adds to
business depression, was the opin-
ion of other union officials. The
mechanics association estimates
that besides the construction work
eliminated by the conference there
is sufficient work to keep the gov
ernment yards working normally
for a period of three years il the
Navy Department would do its own
work instead of farming out" to
private corporations.
1t is pointed out that the United
States Shipping Board Is contract.
ing with private concerns for work
that could be done in government,
yards. Work on Ae steamship Le-
viathan, which the Boston Navy
yard is capable Of doing. is to be
let to a private corporation. Mt Is
said.
"Our naval construction has not
been entirely stopped" said Presi-
dent Johnson. I'VE still have a
legitimate building program which
would keep the government yards
busy II 1t were, not contracted with
private individuals"
Suggests Remedial Steps.
As a remedy to the present sit
uation, Mr.. johnson proposed the
following steps:
Speed up our '1egitimate" build
ing program. .s.
Have as much Of the governments
work done in its own yards as pos
sible. ,..,
Reduce navy yard personnel grad
ually over an extended period in or
der that the men may find other
employment.
Unless some measures are adopted
to meet the unemployment caused
by Thursdays order, widespread
yuffering will result, Il was said
Figures complied by the Interna-
tional Association Of Machinists re.
veal that of it's membership of over
100000 skilled machinists, 60 pei
cent are now without employment
This ratio has been increasing for
several months, IL was stated. Off
cial advice to local machinists is tc
stay in Washington rather than dis.
sipate their funds travelling in
search of employment. The asso.
ciation knows of no district where
there are no idle mechanics.
The Washington navy yard EN-.
ployed the largest number o,
skilled mechanics In the United
States, according to statements o.
union officials, who said: "of tn,
men furloughed' by the washing.
ton yard, every man Is an American
citizen and most Of them have fam
HES. They make up a substantial
part Of the buying public Of tn,
city, their weekly payroll being Ii
the neighborhood of $4,000. A
large number of employees are en-.
gagged in the purchase or homes OF
the monthly payment plan. and II
Is expected that many will be com.
PEELED to sell: at loss unless gov.
ernment officials reconsider theil
action"