Evening star., 1923-03-22
Lack of Appropriation Causes
Layoffs at D. C. Navy Yard
and Alexandria.
WORKERS LOYAL IN WAR
ARE DENIED Retirement
Some Lack Only Few Years of
Age Limit-Seek Other
Positions.

The government torpedo manufac-
| turing plants at the Washington navy
yard and Alexandria, Va, will be per-
manently closed about July 1, when
their present contracts expire. it was
learned from authoritative sources
today. More than 500 men who are
employed at the two factories will be
thrown out Of work unless unforeseen
contracts are awarded other federal
made for them.
A deplorable lack Of funds is blamed
by Navy officers for the closing of
these two big manufacturing plants
around Washington. The recent Con-
gress, it is said, appropriated only
$450.000 for the construction of new
torpedoes and the repair of old ones.
AS a result the Navy Department has
found 1t impossible to maintain plants
for this work in Washington and
Alexandria, as we'll as Newport, r. I.
Seek Jobs for Machinists.
In the future all torpedo work will
be done at the latter northern base
and it is said the small sum allotted
to such work will even necessitate
sharp cut in the personnel of that
factory. At least a third Of the men
employed there are to be discharged
and the faint hope of local workers
that they might be transferred to
that station has been definitely crush
ed.
The Navy Department. and particu
larly the officers at the navy yard.
are bending every effort to find places
for at least a few of the 500 machin-
lists and assistants employed here
and at Alexandria. But those in
position to know conditions are not
very sanguine. At the present time
the personnel of the gun factory at
the navy yard is filed and only new
contracts will enable the government
to employ additional men there.
Standing squarely in the way of
such a move is the arms treaty be-
tween the United States. Great Brit
ain, Japan and France, which was ne
gotiated here last year. Some Navy
officers had hoped the department
would arrange for raising some OF
made il necessary to employ addi-
tional men in the gun factory. 1t is
understood now. however. that the
United States cannot well under
take such a step without violating
its treaty obligations. The officers
hope. however. that work for the
torpedo factory men VIII be found
before July !.
ly anxious to keep these men on it's
pay rolls not only because they are
picked for their ability as machin-
lists, but because many of them have
been in the employ of the govern
ment twenty-five or thirty years
They started as helpers. when they
were very young, and have not yet
reached the retirement age. although
they have served enough time in the
governments employ to entitle them
to retirement. Some are within a
few years of retirement. but they
will lose the chance for retirement
benefits If they are discharged.
Were Loyal in War Time.
Selection Of Newport as the torpedo
manufacturing center was absolutely
essential, officers declared. Not only
is it the Navy's submarine base, but
facilities in the northern port are
better than those of Washington anu
Alexandria. The latter plant Will be
the hardest hit Of the two that are to
be closed. 1t employs in the neigh
borhood of 400 men. whereas the
Washington navy yard now has only
127 men in it's torpedo factory.
ITS pretty tough" was the charac-
teristic reply of one navy yard work
er when told the news. I'VE heard
rumors of it some time ago. The
worst part of it all Is that most Of
these men have been working here
practically all their lives and had al
most reached the retirement age.
When private plants were paying 81
a day for machinistS during the war
we Stuck-for less than 81 day
because we thought we had a life
time job. This is what we ges for
passing up good money. It's pretty
tough; that's all / can say"