Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-24


Tracy to investigate the question of organiza-
tions among naval officers In order to enable
him to answer Senator Chandlers questions
met this morning at 10 o'clock in the room
usually occupied by the naval examining board
In the basement of the Navy department
The court consists of Commodore Jas. A.
Greer, president; Chief Engineer Chas II.
Loring and Pay Director Thos. IL LOCKER,
with Lieut.. Vim. Stayton, marine corps, as
judge advocate. Mr.. Loring's trunk.
the non-arrival OF which caused the de-
lay yesterday, had turned up since the
organization and he appeared at
the council board resplendent in brand-new
uniform coat his cuffs bearing four wide bands
Of gold lace. The formalities of organization
having been performed at the short preliminary
meeting yesterday the first thing done this
morning was the swearing of the court and
Stenographer Johns.
LIEUT.. BEATTY EXAMINED.
As soon as this was concluded the first wit
ness, Lieut. Frank Z. Beatty, U.SN., was called
and sworn. Lieut. Stayton conducted the ex-
animation.
existing among naval officers for purposes not
merely literary scientifc?" was the first
question propounded-
Il do!' frankly responded the witness. at
Is known as the line offlcers organization.
who are the officers?"
Capt. II. l.. Howison, president mvself
secretary and treasurer, with committee con-
slstlng of the officers and Commanders c. Ii.
Davis and Chester, Lieutenant Commanders
Z. NJ Thomas and Ackley, Lieuts. Meigs and
L. u. Nj. Mason and Ensigns Chase and Acker-
man. The objects of the organization are.
primarily, to oppose all legislation that would
be prejudicial to the interests of the line. and,
secondarlly, to properly represent to Congress
the nature Of any measure regarding the re-
organization of the service"
WHAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS DONE.
Then. by means of a series of well-directed
questions, the court learned that the line
officers organization was formed last Novem-
Der, when meeting held that it was an
annual body, SO to speak, requiring a new
organization every year Just before the meet
ing OF Congress. The witness said that no
money had been solicited from members of
the body to influence legislation. nor had any
contracts for the payment of money been So
hcited, nor any money expended for this pur-
pose or debts contracted. The witness re-
collected receiving some time ago a contract
from ex-Representative Thomas regarding the
payment of money upon the condition
Of the passage of the famous
Cowie bill and the increase of naval
pay. He knew of a movement other than this,
In charge of committee representing all
branches of the service which resulted in the
=
ments in favor of the passage of this measure.
Copies, he said, had been sent to officers.
STAFF OFFICER OVERLOOKED
At this point Pay Director LOCKER wanted to
know why he had not received a copy, and the
examination was interrupted while Lieut..
Beatty made his peace by explaining that he
had been left to do the work all
alone, and that some mistakes,
he thought, were almost pardonable.
NJ
skipped when his name appeared at the head of
the list OF the pay corps. He seemed to want
to know if the papers were sent only to the
junior officers of the service. The witness
hastened to explain that there was no such in
tention.
THE MEETING THAT WAS POSTPONED.
The matter of the blighted meeting of naval
officers to discuss the Phythian bill was then
taken up, and the witness told!the court how the
Secretary of the Navy had told him that he did
not think 1t advisable to hold such a meeting
at the present time, and so the meeting was in
definitely postponed.
HAS the bill presented to the court by you
been changed since the call for the meetingf'
was asked
''Yes, in several ways"
"Then this paper-this bills not really the
bill adopted by the committee of representative
officers" asked the president.
mo"
counsel to further its objects?"
No"
"Have any unsolicited contributions been re-
ceived| asked MIR. Loring.
mo, siri'
.'Then the treasurer is without funds2"
Eyes, siri'' i
Then there was a period of intense silence
while the court thought of some more possible
questions, and, finally, the witness testimony
was read to him; and, after some minor cor
rections, Lieut. Beatty was excused
Before he went however, it became quite
evident that neither he nor the member Of the
court had much of an opinion OF the Cowie
BILL Lieut.. Beatty said that he had tossed
away the circular from Thomas and this was
apparently what had been done by the other
naval officers present.
COMMANDER CHESTER ON THE STAND
Commander Colby NJ Chester was the next
witness called to the etand His testimony was
corroborative of that of Lieut. Beatty. except
ing in the fact that he did not know the name
of the line officers organization. He said that
he had not attended a meeting of that body for
years, although he had performed his duties as
member of the executive committed In
mentioning the objects of the organization he
said that he thought the original object was to
defend itself against certain aggressions against
it which the members believed to exist Its
policy always had been and still was, he
thought, to act on the defensive. This answer
was not exactly satisfactory to the court, and
when the witness was reminded that the inves-
ugatlon was to cover only present organiza-
tions he said he believed that the present idea
was to benefit the entire naval service.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
He knew Of no money obtained for the pur-
pose of influencing legislation, but he believed
that some money had been obtained as a pay
ment for the retention of legal counsel At
this one OF the members OF the court moved |
rather uneasily in his seat, and q voice |
was raised against the witness telling about bis
beliefs Commander Chester said he had |
received q contract for money payment direct |
from ga lawyer" whose identity was discovered |
to be that Of Hon. John r. Thomas. He had /
torn up the document as soon he received |
it, and he thought it was accompanied by q /
letter from Paymsster Cowie.
IN CHARGE OF THE PHYTHIAN BILL
Il was learned that the joint committee hav- |
ing in charge the Phythian bill is composed of |
Medical Inspector Wells, Pay Inspector Ten |
ney, Assistant Engineer Bieg and the witness. |
This committee, said Commander Chester was /
not formed with any idea Of influencing legis-
lation and had not solicited money or con- |
tracts to pay money. 1t was formed about ten |
days ago.
In reply to question by Mr.. LOCKER the wit |
ness said that he knew Of no organized move |
ment for the passage Of the Cowie bill. and |
that in fact he believed il was yerv generally