The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-30
100
ME- n I D
OSE
JOBS
Gradual Reduction in Force %
Planned, Says commandant,
For Lack Of Funds.

The first official step Of Rear
Admiral Benjamin F. Ferguson,
new commandment of the Navy
Yard, will be to permanent lay off
about 100 men.
Admiral Ferguson said this
afternoon that the new wage scale
compels a reduction in force.
Says Fund Is Limited.
Our appropriation is limited"
said Admiral Ferguson, land we
find that we cannot continue the
same number of men at work with
the increased pay
The exact number to be laid off
and the shops affected are ufi-
known at this time, Admiral Fergu-
son said.
1.-THE lay off will come gradually
next week. he said. There viii be
at least 100 men dropped"
Admiral Ferguson today assumed
Capt. j. II. Dayton. Guns of the
yard fired salute as the new COM
mandant took office today.
The effect of the 10 per cent il1-
crease in wages granted workers in
the Washington Navy Yard will de-
pend entirely upon the administra-
ton of the award by the local Off
Gals, labor spokesman said today.
Depends on Ratings.
The Departmental Board report
ignores the recommendation Of the
local board that the second and
third class ratings for machinists
and other crafts be revived. The
navy yard officials have the au.
thority to put these ratings into
effect if they desire to do so.
The practical effect of reducing
workers to the second and third
class ratings would be to decrease
their pay 5 cents per hour pelow
the new standard rate in one case
and 10 cents in the other. II anv
considerable number of craftsmen
were thus reduced it would nullify
entirely the effects of the wage in
crease.
The Washington navy yard ma.
chinists eight months ago were all
advanced to the first class, a num-
Der of those who were not entitled
to this rating in the opinion of
officials being discharged. At that
time the second and third class
ratings were abolished.
See Revival Unlikely.
The local board apparently favors
reviving them, and there is no def
mite information as to whether the
plan will be carried out. It Is gen.
orally assumed that it will not be,
in view of the fact that all of the
machinists now employed at the
navy yard have enjoyed a first-class
rating for a number of months.
The award of the departmental
board settles the navy yard wage
question for another fiscal year at
least. Accurate estimates as to
what the local increases actually
will mean in dollars and cents cam
not be made until the-new wage
scales actually are put into effect
and the policy Of the navy yard ad.
m1nistration revealed.
Compromise Seen.
The Naval Departmental Board
findings, made public by the Navy
Department, seem to be q compro-
mise which will satisfy labor and all
the interests involved. All crafts
have received increases-averaging
san group, IL per cent for the lower
grades Of clerical, technical and
drafting groups, and 10 per cent for
the higher trades. 80 gg
The Washington Navy Yard ma
chinists are increased from 73 cents
per hour to 80 cents. They had
asked for So cents. The local board
award had granted them 7S cents.
Boilermakers are to receive 80
cents an hour; patternmakers, 30
cents; blacksmith helpers, 81 cents;
and common labor. 80 cents.
Yard Scales Vary.
Rates at the navy yards outside
vary from these scales
and are based upon local conditions
to the cost of living and
the rate of wages paid by private
for similar work. Divers
will receive $1.86 per hour through
out the service, and masons and
plasterers, $1.12. Sea-going pilots
and tugmasters at New York and
Norfolk are given $4,000 a year, and
at other yards, $4,000 to $2,70O.