New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-05
CRITICIsING SECRETARY WHITNEY.
srNAToR INGALLS, REVIEWS HIS COURSE WITH RE-
n.uI. 70 LILLE pin


GARD TO THE DOLPHIN.
W,su1SGroN. Feb. (Spccab.-An attempt 70
rush Trough the Senate to-day the bill authorizing the
appointment of an Assistant Secretary OF the Navy,
vitbopt sufficient evidence to show that such an ocer
was needed resulted i'll bringing up for discussion MI
Whneys treatment of John Roach and his attempt 10
condemn tie Dolphin on the ground OF STRUCTURAL
weaknessr Messrs. Hale aud Cameron found niue 10
say in favor of the BILL although they did not oppose IT,
They made the point that the Assistant secretary
sbonld he taken from civil life aud not from
among the officers of the Navy. They thought That
what was wanted was infusion of business ideas and
methods into the Department If naval officer were
chosen for the psoe it wonh create jeslousies and
pickering without end in the service. Mr. Plumb said
that the new Assistant Secretary would simply be
another functionary to wear a In buton-hnle,
give receptions dispOrt hmst for the edbcaton
of outsiders so to make the Government show
more complete The Office was not needed 1t should
not be created. Mr.. Hawley favored the bull mas
much az the Department expended from SlZOoo,oOo
10 S15OOj,O0O annually it not unreasonable
that the Secretary should have competent assistant
from civil life, especially as Mr. Hawley hoped and
believed that the DEPARTING mt in the near future.
would cxpend much more money than at present. Mr.
Beck too favored tho bill. He referred to the fact
that previous Congress had authorized the appoint
a year. but that the appointment was never made be-
cause Mr. Chandler said that he unable to secure
the requisite talent for so small sum.
Mr. ingalls, was unwilling TO vote for the bill IA long
as the Secretary of the Navy had not thought worth
his while TO ask Congress for assistant. Mr.
Buffers attempt to show that Mr. Whitney had done
this In his annual report failed 80 convince Mr. lng
who said that he could not forget the repeated at
tenn f. of the Secretary of the Navy to inJnTe an i
rorfant american industry and compel ship builder
To suspend operations upon the pteeXt that the Dol
phin which had been constructed according To the &c
signs of the officers of the Navy Department, was
strmoturally weak The board crea cd with view
to condemn the vessel Mr. ingalls, said, nad proved
failure Another board. created for the same purpose
was equally unsucces sfu. still another attempt was
made 10 accomplish the Secretary's purpose by send
ing the Dolphin search of a cyclone. inc Nersel
met one of Cape Hatteras The waves were 80 hleh
and the sea 80 tompcstuOus that the eApertA were
compclled to seek tue sccu,On OF the caDln because
the rot scasc and they finally returned without dis
COVERING nny structural weakness There was now
some snbtcrranean arrangement being made ny "hlch
the vessel could he accepted. IL nnderhanded
piece of business The effort TO crush John Roaoh ny
which , 600 men wcro thrown out of employment,
was gross and abomnabo wrong II Mt whitney
had had an assistant. Mr. Ingal, thought that ht
might have been successful III his " betoniean en"rt
to reject the Dolphin UnGcT these circumstances ne was
unwilling to vote for the bill.
The expiration of the morning hour put stop 10
some rambling remarks by Mr. Butler and an li'.Inp
by him % press the measure to vote II order I" hc~u
OH any further attacks upon Mr Whitney proved
failure There is doubt that the measure val LEAD
10 u SPICY debate before it is finally disposed oi.