Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-09
PRESIDENTS ORDER
AWAITED BY NAVY
Executive Word to Proceed
Needed Before Cruisers
Can Be Started.

Before work can proceed. President
Hoover will have to give the word 70
20 ahead with the construction OF the
three new light cruisers to be built In
Government Navy Yards, the author
lied submarines Va and V-9 and the
new small aircraft carrier, 1t was stated
yesterday at the Navy Department. Mod
ernization of the three battleships. U. s.
Mississippi, New Mexico and Idaho is
likewise waiting on the Chief Executive,
1t was explained, for the Navy Depa-s,
ment's recommendation that this be
done was returned by the Budget Bureau
to the department, where 1t now rests,
the naval authorities being powerless to
initiate action, it was explained.
This was done, it was thought, in
view Of the proceedings at London, de-
signed to limit naval armament. At
present, the Navy Department Is with
out legal authorization to proceed with
the modernization of these three vessels
and 1t will be necessary for the Navy to
seek this authority from the Senate
and House naval committees and later
to go before the House appropriations
committee to obtain money to proceed
with the work.
Would Alleviate Situation.
Should President Hoover authorize
the construction that Congress has al
mean that the Washington Navy Yard
would be benefited and the threatened
curtailment at the Navy Gun Factory
there would be alleviated.
About 148 men were placed on a 30
day furlough ON Monday from the foun-
dry and pattern makers force, and on
May IL and Is, May "A and May 81,
there will be total of about $50 work.
ers released from the naval gun factory.
fS11tc Alaak ,.rtx, Id II
about 400 Will be released on 30-day
flrloughs, enabling them to remain on
the civil service list and be transferred
to other branches of the Government
service, II they can find openings, the
official asserted. This method, rather
than an outright discharge, 1t was ex-
planned, permits these men to hold the
status in rating and remain on the
eligible Government pay roll.
The number of 400 men, to be re-
leased from the naval gun factory this
month, may be reduced from 20 to Is
per cent, Washington Navy Yard
authorities explained today, as many of
these men may be able to find employ
ment at the Bureau of Standards or
the Government Printing Office, and
about dozen are being transferred
to the Naval Air Station at Anacostia,
or the Naval Research Laboratory at
Many Transferred.
An effort is being made to transfer
men, where possible, to other jobs In
the Washington Navy Yard, the on
Gals said. The 260 men yet to be fur
Laughed represent workers in the ma
chine shop, sheet metal workers, help
ers and laborers. Some Of the men
being placed on the 30-day furlough
status have leave with pay coming to
them. it was pointed out, and the fur
Tough permits them to be brought back
into active status without delay, but
officials at the Navy Department con-
coded that this is remote possibility.
The Washington Navy Yard will soon
get the job of refining the guns of the
u S. Mississippi, which will be brought
up from Norfolk, Va, on big barges.
This job will stay somewhat the per-
sonnet curtailment program at the local
yard. officials said. This is entirely
separate from the modernization
program, however.