New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-17
THE NAVY DEF4LCATIONS.

Mr.. Hendricks lacked discretion when he at
tackled Secretary Chandler in his indianapolis
! speech. His charges were based upon mcagr'
| and imperfect abstract of the testimony taken
by subcommittee of the Senate, and the Sec
rotary succeeded easily in convicting him OF
misrepresentation and partisan spite. The full
record of the evidence relating to the driatca-
tions in the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
was accessible and it was an offence against
good morals for Mr.. Hendricks to talk at ran
dom. and to sccl, to implcatc the Secretary,
whose action throughout had been prompt de-
cisive aud sayacous. Apparently "ihc keen
sunlight of publicity y in which the sole hvtr
to the "Faud and Reform isuc has suddenly
emerged from an uucongcniAl ohscuiiN has
turned his head. Secretary Chambers mcsivc
letter ought tn have had a sohrriug effect upon
him, and to have warned him against renewing
the assault without examining the evidence IN
the c.pc. Tho soul ol small Indiana lawyer
however, could not rise above the petty doNir'0
at bustcr and pyttilogging The following
passage of his rciumdcr Ia the Secretary 5 letter
illustrates ut once the mtaluesS and injustice
ol hi, criticisms, and his Ignorance ol the SUBJ
jcct:
II hcromc- moro serious far as You are individually
concerned when tue fact /, considered that you hul
notice and yet took mo- sufficient action You
receive. lcttrr last year chargin- CoH-t one "l iho
ulrr. with druuEeuuc-., 90 after that man ctur To-
You ald told you that klriwood aud Cori-n we're en-
.t.cI n irauI- Dd NOT That put you upon notice and
inte.tigatipul You testified that Some Inquiry Wa.
,do and the conclusion WIS TINT while there was some
-u,pcious circumstances they dd not warrant con
c,u.iou of guilt After % notice, verbal and IN wIhnI'
Won loft the men In Office You did mot bring tile
- .rftr. ft.. o..
WAS Government Detective Wood who discovered the
frauds and the Associate, Press report says that wood
declared that hc would nave further dealings with
Your Depart cnt, bat Wodld press an investigation
before Congress.
Secretary Chambers testimony respecting the
discovery of the dcfalcatious was clear and UNI
cuuiyocal. The first charge made against Corr
ri.an was in an Anonymous letter. Ii was
general accusation scarcely worthy OF notice,
and contained 40 reference to the fraudulent
practice, subsequently discovered. The Sccrc-
tary, however, did take the precaution TO hand
the letter t. DR.. Wales. the chief Of the bureau,
and received from him the assurance that there
was no ground for the charge, which was that OF
drunkenness. when the SccTetary'S attention
was definitely directed by Detective Wood to
the frauds in the bureau, he took measures to
investigate the charges, to arrest the guilty and
to IcorgJnile that branch Of the department in
the face of strong political opposition especially
from the Democratic side. \ new head OF the
bureau and new chief clerk were appointed
without delay, and the investigation was con-
Quoted in an orderly and effective way.
The dcialcations in the Navy Department oc-
cured in a quarter where they were least To be
expected, and in a bureau whose head enjoyed
to an exceptional degree the confidence OF Il
large circle of influential Democrats in Wash
ineton. 1t is undoubtedly a source Of keen an
noyancc to the Secretary that such disclosures
should have been made while he was in charge
of the department. He is however altogether
blamelcss, the system of fraudulent vouchers
having been cunningly devised several years
before he became connected with the depart
ment. His conduct in reference to these dis
closures is not open to criticism. His frank tcs-
tmony ought to satisfy even his political enc
mics that he acted with vgor and discretion.
He has conducted the Navy Department with
remarkable intelligence zeal and ability. In
deed. it is the testimony of all wcll-inlormcd
officers m the service that the department has
never been managed 50 satisfactorily as it ~ at
urpgput,