New-York tribune., 1883-06-07
THE REPORT ON THE PINTA.
NAVAL BOARD SAYS THE ExpENDrTUREs WERE
EXCESSIVE.

NAVAL BOARD SAYS THE EXPENDITURES WERE
EXCESSIVE
fny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
W.surNGrON. June 6.-The reports from
fhe board appointed by Commandant Mayo VI 'iie W.
folk Navy Yard, to investigate the charso9 MAJ w -,
Co.rress,nan Dszendorf, have been forwarueo W '
snvton Tho Secretary Of the Navy VIII compe'e US "
~ -s ,.sa ., ,he,p and take action. The reports are
- ~ kind 10 satisfy the Secretary that DIS drecuohs
h.v baen carried ont. In other words, tnere VIII
soubtiess be another investigation, THIS Tune ny "a na'
rcurt of inquiry and the nsyyyard OFFICIALS wiz pioD
h, be made to realize that their superior omcer ~
earnest II is evident that 1t was full time Tor
tborouc investigation Of the affairs OF the Neriok navy
ward and that in making public accusations against s
.naco,eut Mr. Dezendorf rendered valuable public
ssryice.
Among his charges was one TO the enect Una. tno
,ndjtures for repairs upon the tug Pnta had oeeh
rss;ye The Secretary of the Navy convened Doaro VI
which Captain r. W. Meade was appointed presinen' 10
investigate this charge The report OF this board mas
bern submitted TO the Secretary, who has permitted
TrrpuSr correspondent to examine an abstract OF IL
Mr. Dezendors charges relation to the Pinfa are fuy
sutned In respect to the charge OF extravaganza Tue
board finds that the total expenditures 1or repairs anu
eoupment By the Bureaus OF CONSTRUCTION steam En-
.sneerinc and Equipment amounting to s$106,221 55
vixen compared with the prime cost OF the vessel nj
time when labor and material were high is excessive
IN. exnendtures were also excessive as compared with
c-v IKE repars made upou like vessel the Palos, In
1s79-'sO which amounted to $7S2O1 81 which Itself
WAS 20 per cent of whatlt should nave oeen
The excessive expenditure the Pinta Is due TO the
Bureaus Of Construction aud Steam Engineerlng tne
Rurcau of Equipment having expended only SlOo72 81
sr,o Bureau OF Construction expended $47,olO 20.
fo< labor on the Pnta. which, the board remarks Is
vrry large n comparison with the amount OF work per-
formed amounting to 1852 working days at the high
ruse Of S5 per day and greater number IL less was
pssds The excessive expenditure does not seem to be
cosdned to any one period but to have existed under
Constructor webb's supervision we'll under Con-
structor arpey. The repairs were begun under the
instructions of Chief Constructor Easily and continued
seeeeed r Easby Chief of the Bureau OF Constrro
c and ar yaTnsT ne nn MnrcS H. 1883 when
tia latter adm onshed OF the excessive hiouI. "
chs @d H psSner
wilson seems have taken no other steps 10 prevent
thu excessive expenaiitnre nor @oeS ne 'ee' "
ks to the urseaworthiness of the Pinta, the board
foand that the repairs nsore nsa wben % She was
worthy as most vessels OF similar construction: Inc
s.cellent VOYAGE to China where she has cruised
ever since and at times encountered very severe
been made to discover whether not a vessel on which
large amount of money was being expenan Moulu III
ys,narv D iss3 Of the service for which she in
tended The experiments made 10 discover the saoIy
10 suppose that she seaworhy than other
lie vessels which, although not intended for deep sea
work have succeeded by good seaanship and careful
lsndling, IN making voyages.
Ono other finding OF the board which involves 1nes-
lion respecting the professional skill Judgment OF an
oacer is withheld from publication until he sha nave
been afforded an opportunity 10 submit any explanation
Whc he may desire TO offer. From these statements II
As apparent that there will be plenty OF work Tor court
o, inquiry and the reputation OF several officers Is
Involved. ,.
Yet found metO examine carefully the charges ana spec
&cations against Cormandapt Mayo and Constructor
ysrney which were filed by Mr.. Dezendorf yesterday
and an abstract Of which was published 10 IE iKiBUSE
attention. He is OF the opinion that the matters should
t be investigated by court Of inquiry, after which
there may be trials by court martial Ii necessary