The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-18
SECRETARY WHITNEY ON THE WAR
PATH


tie Navy Yards. 1t is said, are producing
good results The Washir gton correspondent
of the New York san says that these inv esti-
lions began at Mare Island, and very soon
revealed outrageous tardiness there In com-
pleting work, and extraoi binary expense in
whatever was done. A little furthsr study
disclosed clue to the delay and the ex.
travsgant cost 1t appeared that incompe.
tent men had been appointed to important
places in the yard, and bad coerced the votes
of the employees. II was natural that work
and wages should De prolop gsd, under UGH
circumstances, in order 70 procure votes
The Secretary accordingly called upon Com
modore Russell; Commandant of the Yard,
to cooperate with him in turning
the rsscas out. The Leaeue Island Yard
next came under observation. This was
one OF these in which work was closed by
Secretary Chandler. Nevertheless, it has nov
been ascertaiped By his successor that sew
eTal officials connected with the construc.
ton and repairs of wooden ships have con-
tinued ever since TO draw their So !aries with
as unfailing regularity SIS if work WAS still
going on there. Secretary Whitney has
found no difficulty in dispensing with their
services. Attention was then directed to the
Brooklyn yard, and there, though the cir.
cumstances were little different from those
prevailing at League Island, there was found
plenty OF opportunity for reform. About q
dozen heads have recently fallen in the Con.
struction Department, the master workmen
and foremen suffering notably. Employees
were also discharged at Portsmouth. 1t is
said that for years these places have
been managed in the interest of political
iut1igues. Mr.. Whitney was interviewed in
New York on Friday night, and the inform
alton is valuable and interesting you
ask me" said the Secretary, what special
significance is to be attached TO the removal
OF these foreman bosses. l will tell you. 1t
means that intend to introduce new sys.
tenn into the Navy Department, and pro-
pose that it shall be on business principles
in the future. 1 had not been in charge of
the department many weeks before discov.
cred that Is business was being conducted in
a most remarkable manner; that money was
recklessly spent and that men were
paid for work that was never done.
In fact. that the whole system
was rotten. You may imagine how bad it
was when tell you that wooden chip of
1900 tons displacement that was lately
finished at the Mare Island Navy Yard, cost
the Government over S350,0OO. 1t is not
worth So for practical war purposes, and 1t
could be built to-day for S250.0O0. This is
only q single instance of many that could
name, and some Of them are ten times worss
than this" OF course the Republican party
orgsus in answering the new Secretary of the
Navy will sound the old squsak-''the
money in the Treasury vaults has been
counted and only two cents are mis-
ing. Now you Democrats had better
keep quiet" The Secretary gives some
further information. II four that 1T ch
navy yard had a number of departments for
dong the same work, and that there were
altogether too many of these so.called FORE
men and bosses. The pay roll in the yards
was IN this way unnecessarily increased and
an extravaganza prevailed in the Government
ship-yards that no private shipyard would
tolerate for an Instant
The people will remember that Robson
and Cbandler-two Republican Secretaries
of the aware responsible for the irregu-
larities In and this cad Encouragement of
our Navy Dep artment.