Evening star., 1941-01-12
Turnover Of 10000
On Fort Meade Job,
Quarfermaster Saws
Majority Of Workmen
Fired for incompetence,
Maj. Noxon Asserts

Mai. J. A. Noxon, construction
quartermaster at Fort George G..
Meade, Md, estimated yesterday
there had been " minimum labor
turnover" of 10000 men since the
project began October l and the
majority was dismissed for in
competence.
"A few quit and got other jobs"
he said, "but the majority of the
men let go didn't measure up to
the standards required"
Nearly $500 were dismissed dur
ing the last two weeks, he said,
but they were men who were either
too lazy to product or who were
physically or mentally incapable of
producing"
Maj. NoXon declared his estimate
Of 10000 for the turnover in per-
sonnel was very conservative and
he guessed" the figure would be
higher. About 16,30O men are now
employed there.
Reception Center Not Included.
His estimate did not include the
labor turnover in the reception CEN
ter, which is practically complete
and which received 800 selecteeS
yesterday. The men on that project,
separate one from that under con-
structlon for housing the 29th Divi-
sion National Guard, have almost
completed work and are being dis
missed.
Other construction officers who
have had wide experience said the
labor turnover did not surprise them,
although it was far in excess of that
which would be found on a civilian
project of comparable size. They
said that large number of un-
skilled unemployed men had been
attracted by the high wages and
that the enormous amount of Gov
ernment construction within $50
miles from Washington had drained
the supply of skilled craftsmen.
The officers intimated that the
number of men dismissed would in
crease, rather than decrease. al
though the project is expected to
be so per cent completed by Mon
day night
About half the 10000 men who
were dismissed or resigned were
skilled workers, chiefly carpenters,
the officers said. Most of those who
might be dismissed in the near
future are rough carpenters" and
laborers. Blu in their place will be
hired large numbers of finish car
penters," men who are sufficiently
skilled to handle doors and windows
and prepare the interior of the
cantonment.
No Delay for goth Division.
Although the cantonment is half
nnlshed, Maj. Noxon declared he
anticipated no delay in induction
OF the 29th Division, which is ten
tatlvely scheduled for February 3.
The so per cent completion will
permit housing and feeding of the
Guardsmen, but there might be a
oelay IN filling out the organiza-
tions with selectees. About half
the division will be selectees.
Signs at the employment, Office
at the fort indicated the Govern
ment had taken over the lob of
checking" workers at the Job. Un-
I'll recently this job had been the
contractors.
All men employed by the Con-
solidated Engineering Co., contrac-
tor for the cantonment but not the
reception center, were compelled
70 obtain a union work permit be-
lore being employed Carpenters
were asked to pledge s55 initiation
lee before the permit was issued.
Fees were paid in weekly install
mentS.
A three-day test period was ar
ranged for new carpenters, and their
dismissal followed if they were found
incompetent. No union fees were
collected from those men, union Of
f1cials said.