Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-27
TO ASSIST LEGISLATION.
Money Paid and Promised by Naval
Officers to Help sect Bills Through"

| TESTIMONY BEFORE THE NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY
| ToDAY-THE MATES FUND FOR CoUNsEL-CoN-
| TRACTS FOR PAYMENT OF FEEs-CAPr. HOWL
| SONS STORY OF THE LINE ORGANIZATION"
| The doors of the naval officers organization
court of inquiry were opened this morning at
10 O'Clock, after short consultation in exec
utive session to determine the line in which
the investigation should be pursued.
MONEY THE MATES PAID AND PROMISED.
Mate Charles II. Cleveland of the Fishhawk
WIS the first witness. He testified that the
mates of the navy had employed Hon. A. H.
Craigen and John Paul Jones to look after the
\ interests of the corps before Congress in order
| to secure legislative relief. He had paid Mr..
Cralgen retainer fee of $40 and signed a con-
tract to pay an additional sum of $50 in case
the bill proposed became a law. Il am very
sorry to say. he added, that nothing has
been done. lie had not paid Mr.. Jones any
thing, but had signed u contract with
him TO pay 1900 in case the bill was passed.
The witness thought that all the mates in the
| navy Cthirty-one) had done as he did with MIR.
Cralgen and that most of them had signed the
Jones contract There was no organization
among the mates of which the witness was
aware. Mr.. Baxter being the originator OF the
scheme. Mate Cleveland said that he had re-
ceived a copy of the Thomas circular. but had
paid no attention to it.
WITNESSES WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Nal Horatio b. Lowry, marine corps, on duty
at marine headquarters, said that he knew of
no organizations among the officers of the ma
riDe corps nor Of the employment of counsel.
Neither did he have any knowledge of money
solicited from officers, not even by means of
the Thomas letter, which had not reached him
Boatswaln Chas Z. Hawkins, stationed at the
Washington navy yard, was next called to the
stand III order to give him chance to say that
he knew OF 10 organizations among the boat
SWANS or warrant officers of the navy With the
exception of the Thomas circular he knew of
no solicitations for funds.
SIGNED THE CONTRACT But DIDN'T PAY ANYTHING
Mate j. ii. Wilmot, on duty at the ward in
this city, was the next man to show that he
knew nothing of organizations, but he was one
OF the thirty-One retainers of Mr. Craigen. He
remarked that he supposed when he signed the
contract the affair had the sanction of the Sec
rotary. He had understood from Mr. Craipen
that the Secretary had authorized his reten-
ton. No one else had told him that The wit
ness at first showed an inclination to be YER
bose Ill his replies, and il was with some diff
Guilty that he was kept down TO the minimum.
tie had, he said signed the 900 contract with
John Paul Jones, but he didn't pay one cent
from him."
Did Mr.. Craigen tell you personally that ne
was acting with the saction Of the Secretary"
asked Mr.. Loring
mo, sir; only understood it."
MATE WHO WAS To PAY COUNSEL $500.
At the close Of this testimony the court took
a ten-mlnute recess, and upon reassemb bling C.
ii. Venable, gunner, on duty at the yard, was
called. He knew of no organizations or money
solicited and was quickly excused, and was fol-
lowed by Mate Creighton OF the Fishhawk. His
testimony was about the same as that of Mate
Cleveland In regard to the employment Of Mr.
Cralgen, except that he had signed q contract
TO pay $500 to pay both Craigen and Jones' con-
tlngent upon the passage Of the bill for the re-
hef OF the mates. According to the witness
view of the matter these gentlemen were to act
as advisers to the corps and to represent the
mates before the committees of Congress-.
CAPT. HoWlsoN STATES THE OBJECT OF THE LINE
ORGANIZATION.
Capt Henry L. ::Howison, president of the
naval steel inspection board, was called to the
witness stand.
What do you know about organizations
among naval officers for purposes not literary
or sclentitct"
Il know of the line organization of, which I
am member OF the executive committee, 1t
was formed to look after the interests of the
line oflcers and the naval service generally
for Its good, and to advocate bills which might
be introduced that were in the interests OF the
service or to oppose bills that might
De against the interests of the
| service. /. as senior officer of the committee
was elected chairman OF the committee / do
not understand that the organization has any
other objects than those which have men,
tioned- II proposes to keep
CAREFUL WATCH on BILLS
that may be introduced affecting the naval
service, and, if necessary, to employ counsel if
the line officers should agree to pay the ex-
penses- The present committee has no counsel
| a haa
proposed by individuals and has approved of
one 10 increase the number of officers. This
committee has received no money nor has it
| solicited any,"
/ Capt Howison thought that the same by-
| laws which were adopted when the organiza-
ton WAS formed about ten years ago prevailed
| at present, although none have been formally
! adopted. Those bylaws simply authorized the
committee to look after the interest Of the
| line. to introduce no new measure but to act
/ mainly on the defensive. He thought il was
considered that all line officers of the navy are
considered as members, but there is no auaIif-
cation as to membership beyond belonging to
/ the line.
AN ASSOCIATION WITHOUT FUNDS
The associetion itself, thought Capt Howl
/ son, has no fund
Then the treasurer has nothing to do2'
/ asked Mr.. Loring.
! He has something to do in case the COM
mittee decided it necessary to employ counsel.
He would then inform the members of the need
for money and ask them il they wished to SUBJ
scribe. He would receive all subscriptions that
might come in and to the disbursement.
Ihe committee has a small sum left over from
! previous years
Capt Howison was anxious to have il under
| s'ood that the association had neither funds
nor ofhcers, II being distinct from the commit
| zee, beyond the fact that the committee repre-
| scented it.
Mr. Loring explained that he was not at all
iamiliar with the method of organization. not
being line officer himself.
| ihh CONSULTATION KowNN TO SOME FORMER SEC
RErARIEs OF THE NAVY.
capt Howison remarked that the organiza-
ton and its purposes were known to some of
the former Secretaries of the NAVY. He
doubted whether the present Secretary had
gwen the association his sanction or not
You haven't been to the Secretary and told
hun that 1t was your purpose to employ coun-
sci, have your" was asked
Il have not. Others may have zone 70 him. 81
Medical Director John Y. Taylor was the mex
witness. He knew Of no organizations.
AT l2:l5 the court adjourned until tomorrow
morning, when the examination will nrohahlv