New-York tribune., 1883-06-08
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD CONTENTION.
COMMODORE MAYO's REPoRrs-wRATH AID
THREATS OF MAHONE's MEN.


WASHINGTON. juno 1.-THE reports of Commo-
dore Mayo, Commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
in reply to the charges made by ex-Congressman
Dezendorf, which were published IN THE TRIBUNE
of May IA, have been received by the Secretary OF
the Navy. An officer of the Department is now en-
gagged In making careful analysis of tho reports
and comparing them with the charges; and the 70
suits will be laid before the Secretary for such action
he may think proper. There Ia the best reason to
believe that he will order a court OF inquiry. A
careful reading of the answers made by Commodore
Mayo shows them to be evasive, incomplete and
unsatisfactory.
Replying to charges that three foremen IN the
Bureau of Construction had been absent doing
political work while drawing pay from the Gov
ernment Commodore Mayo says that under an
order issued by Secretary Hunt in 1881 forcmen
are allowed one weeks leave of absence, with pay,
each year, and that prior to May that period had
not been exceeded in either of the eases charged.
The Commodore had no right to stop his investiga-
tion at May z, for the order was received by him
nearly two weeks later-twO weeks in which, Mr..
Dezendorf charged, the abuses were unusually fla
grant. The Commodore denies that any man at
any time has been borne upon the rolls
of the Construction Department or paid
for any services which he did nos
render The order of Admiral Nichols, Chief of the
Bureau of Yards and Docks required Commodore
Mayo to convene board of officers to make the iu-
vestigation as to that department of the yard,
which was done, but Mayo In his instructions di-
rccted the board TO conne its nvest cations to the
period between May and May IL.
In his letter transmitting with his approval tho
report of the board, Commodore Mayo says: Il
have the honor TO explain why the board was con-
fined in the investigation between May and May
H. 1t was necessary for me to limit the period.
Aud since Mr. Dezendorfs vagaries were plainly
refcrable to the canvass of the county elections
May was taken as the commencement OF the cam
vass by the Coationists the party complained Of
and May IL as the date of Mr. DezendorPs letter
conveying the COMPLAINTS Admiral Nichols COM
ments on this as follows in his indorsement
forwarding the report to the Secretary OF tho
Navy: 'The limitation of the inquiry
between the dates of May l and III does not meet
the requirements of the bureau In Its order OF Nay
49, viz: TO make a thorough and exhaustive in-
vestgation.' Neither does it appear that sufficient
notice was given to Mr. Dezendorf to present any
charges" Commodore Mayo writes that two men
Littleton Owens and Jordan Thompson-were em-
ployed by his order, dated April so, as special
laborers IN the Bureau of Equipment; that at the
date of May 10 they had not appeared. nor had
they been paid for services not rendered
Some of Senator Mahonc's friends are exceedingly
indignant because the Secretary of the Navy has
taken any notice whatever of Mr. Dezendorfs
charges. They declare him to be man unworthy
of any crcdence whatever, and they hlnt, III
threatening manner. that if the inquiry Is pushed
any further they will bring, about another
inyestigation which will be very dam
aqing TO other officers of the Navy
Department higher IN rank than either Commodore
MAYO OIL Constructor Varney. 1t is understood that
one Of The charge9 ia 81 - IS IN eil' rsat nne
Callahan. who was discharged from the Norfolk
NAVY Yard BY the Presidents order, was snbse-
ouently employed by Secretary Hunt, ostensibly 70
work in the League Island Yard that he paid
a very high figure for his that he spens
nearly all his time IN Washington and In Virginia.
dong political work that he was thus continued
i'm employment for months after Chief Constructor
Wilson had been apprised of the fact that he was
peclecting his legitimate duties. Mr.. Callahan Is
an anti -Nahonc man.