National Republican., 1883-10-29
A FLASH IN THE PAN.
The Charges Against Norfolk Navy Yard
officials DisseCted,
Secretary Chambers Letter to commo-
dore Mayo in Relation Thereto.
Dezendorf Fails 70 Produce Proof to Support His
Reckless Allegations.
Plain Talk About the Repairs on the
pintn.

pintn,
Tho secretary of the navy has addressed
he following communication to Commodore
W. X. Mayo, commanding the naval station
ut Norfolk. Va.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, d. O.,
Oct "a, 1653-Sir The department has con-
sidered tho various charges made by Mr.. j. Il.
Dezendorf against the recent management Of
the Norfolk navy yard, under your command.
These charges are contained in his COM
munication to the department dated May ii,
1888, inclosing letters, dated May 7, to the
chiefs of the bureaus of equipment and
recruiting and construction and repair; in a
second communication dated May 2l in re-
ply to the departments letter Of May IL, and
in formal charges and specifications against
yourself and Naval Constructor Varney In
closed in third communication OF June a,
1888. He has demanded that courts-martial
be organized to try the officers whom he has
accused. This should not be granted unless
the charges appear to be sufficiently serious,
specific, and we'll founded to require the
officers to bo put to trial in such formal pro-
ceedings.
The specific charges and the replies thereto
are as follows:
CHARGES AGAINST THE coMMANDANT
1. That about the time of the November cleo.
tion in 1889 and the May election in 1888, he
ployes leaves of absence with pay to devote them-
selves to electioneering.
REPLY.-That by a iottor of Secretary Thomp.
son, of Oct. q, 1877, and of Secretary Hunt, Of
July 49, 1881, leaves Of absence for one week in
twelve months with pay were authorized for GER
tain per diem employees, such as writers, fore =
men, and leading laborers and that only such
leaves were granted.
g. That In May, 1883, he employed Iittleton
Owens aud Jordan Thompson as laborers when
their services were not REQUIRED.
REpLY.-That he only employed and paid the
n QNpnr N no
to his best Judgment.
8. That between April a and May. "a, 1883, he
buttons within the yard for political purposes.
REPH.-That he did not at that time know Mr..
Hodges, orknow or hear OF any such solicitations;
and that he mas since ascertained that Mr.. Hodges
did not make any such collections.
The above charges do not appear to the
department to require trial by court martial.
The leaves of absence were properly granted
under the letters of Secretary Thompson and
Secretary Hunt, although it may be doubted
whether the letters accord with the statute.
But equitably one weeks absence only in
one year, with pay, is far from unreasonable.
1t seems that Owens and Thompson were
paid only for the days on which they actually
worked. The department is satisfied that
Mr.. Hodges collected no moneys from govern
ment employees within the yard or in any
manner in violation of law.
The charges against Naval Constructor Var
ney, and his replies are as follows
l. Allowing L. d. Holloman q per diem en-
ploye, pay for full time when he was away elec-
REPLY.-That Holloman belonged to class OF
laborers who are not obliged to answer to roll call.
AND whose work requires that they shall have the
privilege of the gate; that he obtained leave of
his privilege without Mt yeney,s knowledge,
Time Clerk Manning for keeping Hollomans name
on the pay roll while he was absent.
s tREPLY.-That he did not know of Hollomans
0. Discharging shipkeepers Lookins. ,Harring-
ton and Albert, who had been union soldiers, on
RRPLY.-That they were discharged because
their services were not needed, and not by him
SELF but by the oommandant, and that no dis
charges we're made for political reasons
4. Dischargng three oolored men-Holloman,
Brooks and Conick-for political reasons;
REPLY.-That they were not discharged by him.
g. Permitting Thomas NJ Hodges and James L..
Fuller to collect, contributions from employees.
REpLY.-That he had no knowledge whatever of
Hodges or Fuller soliciting or collecting contribu-
tions of any kind In the navy yard.
, Permiigg S E9remah Maao 9akes Master Ship
tween April II and May "a 1888.
sences except as allowed under the departments
order, or on the days when they were checked out
sR a9d ddS N g snf M ff ss
days with pay; Fitzpatrick, six days with pay, two
T. Using his official position and authority for
partisan political purposes. by making appoint
Inents and discharges depend upon the support
ofhe Malone readjuster coalition party.
n hPLY.-That he has endeavored TO select men
according to their qualifications and for the best
Interests of the government.
8. Making political speech at q noon roll call
OF employees in September or October, 1882, and
thus Interfering with the exercise of the free right
REPLY.-That he never to his knowledge de-
liycred speech at roll call.
0. Employing, at tho request of Senator Malone,
workmen In the navy yard, within sixty days of
the congressional election, held Nov6, 1882.
REpLY.-That the force was not increased
within sixty days before the election.
10. Approving in December, 1882, bill for de-
fective timber, not properly Inspected and meas
ured.
REPIY.--That no inspected the timber and found
II good, and that 1t was also inspected by Naval
Constructor Mallett and Timber Inspector White,
who certified that 1t was of good qualisy and ac-
cording to contract before he approved the bill.
II. lncompetency, ineficiency, and maladmin-
isiraton; extravagantly repairing the Pinta.
REPLY.-His record as a constructor and his tes-
timonials; that the Pinta was half completed when
he took charge, and that the large cost due to
causes beyond his control.
Unless more evidence than the department
has yot received is furnished from n reliable
and responsible accuser, no court martial will
be ordered upon the foregoing charges against
Naval Constructor Varney. OF the truthful
ness and suilicency of most of his replies tho
department is satisfied, and it is disposed to ac-
cept rs truthful all his denials. They are
direct and specific and more than overcome
the heated assertions made by Mr. Dezendorf.
No charge about the falsity of which there is
any doubt is of gravity sufficient to require
trial by court martial.
While thus deciding not to organize courts
martial upon tho charges preferred by Mr..
Dezendorf, the department. takes occasion TO
state that, in its opinion, the Norfolk navy
yard has not been conducted with due
economy and efficiency The case of the
Pinta appears to be discreditable; her ropairs
were costly, and yet those on her engines
were left dangerously incomplete, and Chief
Engineer Williamson will be tried for culpa-
BILE ineficiency. While you remain in com
mand of the station you win be held rigidly
responsible for more quiet, orderly, economi-
cal, and effective administration in all the
branches of thepublic service there performed.
Very respectfully
w. Il. CHANDLER, Secretary.
Commodore w. X, MAYO, commanding naval
station, Norfolk, Va.
Three Valuable Dogs Poisoned.