The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-22
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital

COMMANDER MCAbLAS SEVERE SENTENCE.
The sentence of tho Court-Ma which
recently tried Commander Bowman III. Nc
Gala, U. S. Navy, was approved by the Secre-
tary of tho Navy on Thursday last 1t suspends
the accused from rank aud duty for the period
of three years. aud TO retain his present number
on the list of Commanders while so suspended.
The charges upon which Commander MCCala
was tried was for Striking another person in
the Navy (Fireman John T. Walker violation
of the 2Ith article of the articles for the gov
ernment of the Navy (in1cting improper pun
ishmentl; maltreatment Of persons subject TO
his orders; conduct nnbecoming an Officer of
the Navy, and violation of the 10th clause Oft the
oath article of the articles for the government
of the Navy, in failing to read to the ships
company the articles for the government of the
Navy" The court found him guilty of all the
charges.
The action of the Navy Department is en-
bodied in n general order, in which, after re-
citing the charges, specifications and findings
of the court the Secretary says that tho pro-
ceodings and findings Of the General Court
Martial are approved, except that part of tho
specification of the second charge, in which
Commander McCalla caused the men named in
the specification TO toe q seam on the quarter
deck from nine o'clock p. IN. to one a. m. for
-four consecutive nights. The court finds that
this punishment Is not in violation of tho 9th
article Of the articles for the government of the
Navy. which part of the finding is disap-
proved"
The findings of the specifications where the
men were lrOned together was reluctantly ap-
proved by the Secretary " in view Of the fact
that the court appears to have been of opinion
after full consideration of the evidence, that
the ironing of men together on tho occasions
specified was, under the circumstances, neces-
sary and warranted as a means of restraint"
Accompanying tho record in the case is n
recommendation 10 clemency signed by 10 of
the members OF the court, who ask for elem
enCy for McCalia upon the grounds Of his pre-
| vious character and reputation, and of tho
mitigating circumstances which have appeared
during tho trial. The Secretary, however,
| thinks that after careful examination and
consideration of the proceedings in the case.
| there does not appear to DO any grounds which
would, in the judgment of the Department,
| justify mitigation Of the punishment imposed
by the court. Therefore, in the opinion Of tho
Secretary, the sentence, under the circumstan-
ces, is not too severe, and he orders it duly exc
cuted.
During Commander McCalla's three years
suspension, under sentence of court-martial, no
will receive the pay of an officer on waiting
orders, which, in the case of Commander, is
$1,000 year. Under ordinary circumstances
officer coming home from cruise such as
that OF the Enterprise would be first given from
three To six months leave of Absence the pay
being the Same as waiting orders pay, and he
would then be given shore duty at $1,000
year Thus, taking no account of the leave
which bio would have obtained, Capt. AcCalla
will lose s., l00 or the difference between shore
duty and leave pay.
ARMY AND NAVY.
The War Department authorities arc sorry
now that they asked Congress 10 make an ap.
preparation for canteen buildings for the Army
at different posts, for with tho amendment
made by the Senate TO the Army appropriation
bill, on motion of Senator Hale, prohibiting the
sale of ardent liquors on military reservations,
the canteon system receives seyerer blow than
| if no appropriation at all had been made Should
this amendment finally prevail there is but
little doubt that the 50 cAnteens already sue
ecssfuily started will have TO DO closed. for thoy
cannot possibly be supported without tho rev.
euucs from the sale Of beer. Reports from all
those now in operation show this 10 be about
the only item OF profit
The Department would good deal rather
have tho appropriation fail altogether than 60
have IL accompanied by the prohibi,ory eIanso
| adopted by the Senate. Indeed, IL is under
stood that the Conference committee will DO
asked to strike ont the entire provision. aud IL
is generally expected that the committee will
comply With the request. for with the oxcop-
ton Of Senator Hale no one Of tho coufcrrcos is
sufficiently interested in tho temperance ques-
ton 10 insist upon its application TO the can
teen when it is made so manifest by Army
officials that the rumsellers the outside Of
military posts are the people who will be bcu-
Gifted in case the sale of beer Is prevented in
the Government canieens.
Bids were opcnod last week IN tho Office Of
| Secretary Of the Navy Tracy for some Of the
heaviest gun making machinery ever built for
use at the Washington foundry. The machines
/ 10 be constructed are rs follows: Eight Ig-inch
/ gun lAthes and five l4-inch gun latheA ali TO
| be On either the Departments plans or those
| devised by the bidder. Bids we're received
| from the Niles Tool Works, OF Hamilton. o.;
Bement, Miles & Co, Of Philadelphia; VIM.
/ Selers & Co, Of Philadelp hia. aud the Pond
| Machine Tool Co. of Plainfeld, y. J.
| Secretary of War Proctor has ordered Con.
| eral Court Martial 10 convene at Tucson, Ariz
! June 10. for the trial of Capt AonZo r. Milti-
/ more, Assistant Qaartermaster, u. s. Army
now on duty in Arizona, on charges Of dcfraad-
| ing the Government The detail of the c1urt
Is AZ follows: Col. ii. M. Black, Odd Inf Col.
| Thomas NJ. Anderson, iith Inf: Lieut. Col Il.
| i. Pearson, oath Inf; Lieut. Col q. II Weeks
| Deputy Quartermaster General Lieut. Col
Anson Mills, 4th Art; Maj. IS. d. NJ. Young. Sd
| Cav; Mai. john 81. Bacon, 7th Cav Mai. G. A.
! Wikoh, lith Inf; Maj. s. +. Norweli. 10Th Cav;
Capt. q. B. RUSSELL. 9th Inf; Capt +. II. Ed
| tnunds, LIST Inf, with Capt. Harvey C. Car
baugh, Acting Judge Advocate. as Judge Adj.
yocate Of the court Capt. Miitimore enlisted
| in the 33d Wis. in 1862; was discharged in 1863
again enlisted in the 18th Wis battery, and was
| discharged; was made Second Lieutenant LIST
| Wis. Art, aud mustered out ia June 1865 lie
was appointed Second Lieutenant Ist IT, S. Art.
in 1856. and Captain and Assistant Quarter.
master In 1879.
STATUE FOR GEN. GRANT.
The Senate on Saturday last passed n bin
appropriating 100000 for a statue 10 the
memory Of Gen Grant. The bill originally
appropriated 100000 for AN equestrian
| statue, but 1t was amended to 100000 on mo-
ton Of Mr.. HOar OF Massachusetts. and by
| Mr. Edmnnds, Of Vermont, 10 leave ont the
| equestrian clause, that the statue could
be decided upon by the parties who would DO
| selected to carry out the act OF Congress in
whatever style or manner they might think
best. There Is little doubt but what this bill
will become law at this session Of Congress.
and as soon as il is passed work will DO COM
menced at once
GEN. SHERMAN DIEEs AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Although the official season is at an end the
President and Mrs Harrison have not and will
not cease giving pleasant entertainments in an
Informal way. On last Wednesday evening
Gen. w. T. Sharnian and his daughter Rachel
were given dinssr at the White House by
the President aud his wife, which was "A most
enjoyable affair. The dinner was quite in
formal, aud WAS served in the private dining
room. The table WAS laid with covers for "a
persons and had decorations Of roses aud ferns
There were oyal-skaped pieces at each end and