The Washington times., 1922-06-30
To
Be GIVEN
b|CSLASH
Reduction in Appropriation
Accountable for Pend
ing Lay-offs.

Officials of the Washington
navy yard are going over their
personnel lists today, prepara-
tory to q reduction in the force
on Monday, so the yard may be
financed within the limit allowed
by the reduction in naval ap-
preparations to take effect with
the new fiscal year.
No Wholesale Discharges.
There will be no discharges. A
small percentage Of the 4,2OO now
employed will be indefinitely fur.
loughed, without pay, according TO
an unofficial announcement from
the munitions building this morn.
,ssThis status will allow the men re.
leased to- continue under the pension
privilege, in event they are re-en-
pioyed within six months. They can
enter the service again without
going through civil service.
The reduction Is in accordance
with plans announced by Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt
about a month ago, when he de.
clared all the 'deadwood" or inef.
ficient personnel in the navy yard
service throughout the country
would, be reduced. It was estimated
the reduction would affect between
10 and 20 per cent Of those employed.
1t was said this morning TINT
about $4,000 navy yard \employes
have been released over the country
in the past year. Those let go were
mainly "deadwood." and as a result
very little efficiency Is said to he no.
ticed in the yards.
The Washington yard force Was
lessened by 1900 last February.
when summary discharges and fur.
loughs were ordered. The contem.
plated reduction would affect from
500 to 1000 men.
Efficiency Claimed.
This move Is purely in the in
terest OF efficiency" Roosevelt de.
clared. "The whole plan has not
been worked out, but 1t has been
found that in most of our naval es-
tablishments there Is a definite per
centage Of discharges and resigna-
tions by incapacitated workers dur
ing the year. 1t Is our intention TO
weed out this ineffective group at n
time when rev appropriations are
available.
Secretary Roosevelt referred in
quiries to a statement by him early
In June. foreshadowing the reduc'
ton move.
There Is to be no sudden separa.
ton Of a part of the civilian per.
sonnel. In all cases where dis
charges are found necessary. the
workers will be treated with con.
sideration."
News Of the forthcoming cut
spread like wildfire through the al.
ready depleted yard this morning.
There was no official information 10
be gained, nor were any notices OF
the proposed action posted. Many
reports affirmed that the yard WAS
to be closed down entirely.
Captain Dayton, commIndant
secuted the idea that there was to be
a cessation OF work at the big plant
He declared that there were fur.
loushs prospective for Monday"
ficials Of the yard and the depart.
ment are to hold a conference this
Afternoon, Captain Defrees, Iroduc.
ton inspector. said.
N. p. Atlas, president Of District
No. ~, International Association Of
Machinists. was in a tranquil mood
over the possible reductions In force.
He was informed by Navy Depart.
ment officials, he said, that It was
entirely possible no men would be
let out or furloughed. This IL be-
cause OF clause inserted in the
naval appropriations by the
Senate. making certai hms voted
for yard work durbw .the fiscal
year 1922 available "a Stompletion
Of work In 1923. ~ % My, such
sums would be tu 80 lack into
the Treasury. BY tn NsS arrange
ment, labor on speech ySbs would
20 ahead without the \ Ncurrence Of
iay-off interval between the ex.
piration OF the old fiscal year and
the authorizing OF appropriations for
the new.
Officials. Atlas said he 10 a..
sured. are proceeding with all pos
sible consideration for the yard
~orEara