Evening star., 1922-02-10
UNIONS TO APPEAL
T0PRES|DENTOvER
NAVY YARD LAY0FF
U. S. Letting Out Private
Contracts, Yet Drops Own
Men, 1t Is Charged.
$500, 900, 900 IN SUCH
WORK NOW BEING DONE
All Could Be Handled at Yard, Is
Claim-Gompers and Others Ar.
range to See Mr.. Denby.

Direct appeal to the President and
to the Secretary of the Navy by in
ternational officials of the unions to
which the 1850 men who were dropped
from the rolls of the navy yard yes
terday are affiliated is planned as a
measure for relief of the situation
created by the cut in force
president William H. Johnston Of
the International Association of Ma
chlnists announced today he would
write to President Harding within
the next forty-eight hours and lay
before him data which is now being
collected by members of his organiza-
tion regarding the contract work
which he says the government is let
ting out to private concerns while it
Is discharging its own employees.
Private Concerns Do Work.
From representatives of District a
OF the International Association of
Machinists it was learned today that
estimates were being compiled by
them which thus far show that $780,
ooo,ooo IN contract work has been ap-
portioned by the government to pri-
vate concerns doing virtually the
same work that the government navy
yards throughout the country could do.
force is busy reviewing and
anaiyzing statistics of the govern
cleaning from these sources statistics
supporting their repeated claims that
II the government would give to its
own shops the work which is being
farmed OUT to private industries the
navy yards throughout the country
would IN
least three years. 1t takes about
$100, 100000 worth of work per year
to keep the force 100 per cent en-
ployed. 1t is estimated by officials of
District A, which has jurisdiction
over government yards, arsenaIs and
shop employees, and the contracts al
ready estimated to have been Harmed
OUT are said to be treble what would
be necessary to keep the yards going.
Navy Department officials declined
sued furloughing employees of va
| rious navy yards throughout the
. country. but intimated thar an ON
cial statement on this matter might
be issued later on. 1t was unof11cially
understood that naval officers held
the view that the removal of en-
ployes from the navy yards is
natural consequence of the agree
ments resulting from the conference
on the limitation of ornaments and
furlough orders are necessary.
See Expenses Increased.
No protest is made by the unions
against the cutting down of offensive
armament. Their plea consists in the
fact that submarines, and defensive
armament must continue to be manu-
factured and that the layoff of gov
ernment employees will hamper and
increase the expenses of that program.
The disruption Of the force, 1t was
stated, probably would mean the ex-
penditure of at least s250.000 through
out the country in reorganization
steps and this sum was declared to
be a direct loss, caused by what was
termed false economy"
President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor, Presi-
dent Johnston of the Machinists.
Chairman ]. O'Connell of the metal
trades department of the federation,
President Janson of the Columbia
Lodge Of Machinists. N. P. Alias Of
number of other officials have ar
ranged an interview with Secretary
of Navy DENLY Wednesday.
The navy yard now has about $3.50
workmen. Consideration is being
given at the navy yard today to
declined to make an announcement
beforehand. however.
You're furloughed until June 30"
was the greeting that surprised the
Scarcely one of the entire force until
the long line of furlough men had
| passed out knew whether they had
escaped the layoff ticket The men
| were aligned by the numbers on
the pay roll whether they would con-
tinue at work or take furlough.
They'd walk up to the window OF
| the clerk. He would ask their num-
ber. And after looking up card
| index he'd say:
In biting sarcasm he'd occasionally
receive the reply:
| 'Thank, you," or much obliged"
| Many of the men-scores of them
started their careers in the wash.
| ington navy yard. That's what MT
| so many of them so hard.
Gave Thirty Years Service.
| Take the case of f. H. Bailey of
the gun shop of 1926 18th street south
east. Next August he would have
completed thirty years in the service
| of Uncle Sam at the Washington navy
yard He started Int in there hon when anS ns
served his apprenticeship there. He
4 went to work as usual, yesterday
morning, and at 1o:15 whistle blew.
! The line marched up TO the WINDOW.
whats your NUMBER" he was
| asked.
"It's 1881" he replied.
you're furloughed till June 80
without pay" was the rejoinder.
He didn't go home for several
! hours. He had a wife and two chill
dren to break the news to, and the
| first of the month. with its bills ana
house rent, was not SO far of.
/ Then there was William Flood.
more than sixty-three years old. and
an employe of the navy yard for
! forty-two years. He spent the best
part of his youth and his energy in
| the navy yard. 1t was exactly q
! year and seven days yesterday until
| he would reach retirement age, ana
| he was looking forward comfortably
| to the return which Uncle Sam would
I give him for faithful service.
| The message he got yesterday was:
"You're furloughed until June 80"
without pay, of course.
And the question he is asking to-
day Is: 80. a
lob now, at my age? I've given mp
the best part of my life to the gov
| ernment. And now. at my age.
neopIe don't want me. They want
4 Younger men, quicker, keener-tne
same sort of machinist that. was
/ in the days of my younger years.
! Other Pftiful Cases.
i There are many others. Samuel
i Miller was one of them. He was
Isixty-two years old and had peen