New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-20
ANXIOUS DAYS FOR MR.. WHITNEY.
SOME THINGS He MAY NOT DE ABLE TO AccoS
PIIsH BEFORE Ills RETIREMENT.

Washington, Jan. IS (SpecaD. anxious
days in the Navy Department. and Secretary whitney
was never so busy he Is now, trying 10 set his
official house in order. Many things worry him.
There is the Gaze OF Commodore Beknap for example,
who was ordered here from San Francisco at tho
public expense 10 undergo examination for promotion
TO vacancy in tho grade Of admiral, which, in
the ordinary course viii not happen until weeks
after Mr. whitney TO DO Secretary OF tho Navy.
He IS anxious reward Belznap for his eminent ser
vices In the discovery Of structural weakness IN
the Dolphin and II Is understood that the latter sue
cessully passed the examination, but the Secretary,
Il IS said, has begun TO doubt his own authority in
tho matter lie regards questionable the right OF
the President 10 anticipate vacancy BY sending In
a nomination in advance, especially as a change OF
Administration Will take place before the appointment
can be made.
Another matter which, according to tho naval
gossps is giving Secretary Whitney much concern IS
the status of Assistant Naval Construct
ors gowles and Gatcwood. They. with
other officers OF the same grade, were ordered
to appear before a Board for examination for pro
motion Tho report Of the Board, Of which Con-
strtctor PoOk was the president, was recently sub
mtted TO the Secretary and IL was intimated that
Bowles, from whom much was expected, stood at the
foot of the list, and that Gatewood stood next Now
II s asserted that an examination OF tho papers shows
that both of them full below tho percentage required
TO enftlc them to promotion and that Secretary Whit
ney IS I'm ~ state OF mind" over the discovery IL
is even intmated that Board VIII DO convened
and that Bowles and Catewood VIII be given chance
"to try again. OF course, Secretary whitney IS
deeply anxious that Bowles shall carry OF his pro
motion with flying colors, for no has staked great
deal on the ability and Judgment Of that young officer
Il IS no secret that approving the calculations and
recommendations OF Bowles In regard TO tho Texas
and ordering work on that vessel TO bo resumed Mr.
Whitney has dsrcgarded the recommendations and
warnings of some of the ablcst and
most experienced officers In tho Naval service,
who declared that the English plans OF
tho Texas were defective, and that ship built IN
accordance with them would not noat--that IS, that
she would sink eighteen inches below the norma!
load line as Indicated by the plans themselves Bowes
Insisted that the ship could be spliccdmade fifteen
feet longer neutrality-suspicious. changing her lines
and that the plans well enough. Work was
suspended for time, but few weeks ago. upon
a formal report by Bowles, the Secretary ordered
IL TO DO resumed. IL is tho opinion OF competent
and experienced officers that one OF the FIRST Onclal
acts Of Mr. whtneys will be TO order the
discontlnuance Of work the Texas until the whole
subject can DC thoroughly Investigated 1t IS cst-
mated that moro than 100000 has been already
expended on this ship including tho premium for tho
design and for the plans, paid 10 tho English com
pany.
whitney good deal OF annoyance was the mscalcula
ton Of tho Advisory Board. Of which Assistants