Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-29
There's no soft-fst-ry about John L. Sullivan
THE NAVAL INQUIRY.
The Court That 10 Getting Information
for the Secretary Closing Its Labors.

The naval organizations court Of inquiry met
this morning at 10 o'clock and cleared its
decks Of witnesses and testimony, so that all
that is now left is for the court to consider and
digest the things that have been told it and to
formulate it's report to the Secretary. Imme-
diately after converting Assistant Engineer p
c. Bieg reappeared before the court as wit
ness, at his own request to correct some errors.
One was in regard to the date of the meet
ing of the engineer committee and the
other in regard to the amount of money re-
ceived by the engineer corps The meeting
was held during the latter part OF October in-
stead Of November. Instead Of about 81, 700,
which he at first said was received by the COM
mittee in answer to their call for funds, he
should have said that 81 800 was 30 received.
The other 81 400 was an unexpended balance
from last year.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Loring the wit
ness said that he knew Of no methods employed
by any corps in the navy to effect or secure leg
islation that he, AS an officer and gentleman,
would call In any way improper.
REAR ADMIRAL DAVID b. HARMONY
next appeared on the witness stand and said
that he didn't know of any organization among
naval officers. He was equally ignorant of any
effort to raise money or Of the employment of
counsel except, he was going ON to say, that he
had received a circular from Mr.. Thomas, when
Commodore Greer exclaimed:
"Oh, never mind that! That is admitted; il
| is plastered all over the record"
In reply to aquestion by Mr. LOCKER the adj
| miral said that he had received letter from
Mr.. Cowie prior to his receipt of the Thomas
circulars, enclosing his bill and asking his
| opinion Of its merits. He had responded by
| by saying that he thought it was not
| bill that would 90 through Congress and
should not be presented. He was excused from
the witness stand at 1920, the only reason for
| his appearance being that the court wished to
obtain some representative testimony from an
| officer of the highest rank.
] SENATOR CHANDLER AND THE COURT.
Then the judge advocate read letter from
Senator Chandler, dated January %, in reply
to letter from the court dated the oath asking
the originator of the resolution which
called it into existence il he had
any Information which ne wished to
| impart The Senator said: 'If the court
| should desire to summon me Q witness will
| oheerfully attend and answer such questions az
may be asked" In other words the court
said you can come if you like" and the Sena-
tor said .'rll come II you like" 1t is therefore
be called; II would be doubtful if
information that would aid it, for the members
| have kept the witnesses down with great strict
ness In their replies to what has happened
since the 18th of December. This policy, it il
| the staff corps men, has kept out Of the record
some exceedingly interesting testimony.
The court will probably reach decision to.
day as to the nature of its report to the Score
tary and it Is expected that it will be signed by
the members tomorrow morning and submitted
They will confine themselves strictly to the
facts adduced by the testimony without giving
opinions.