The Portland daily press., 1890-08-28
WITH NEITHER FEAR NOR FAVOR
Tho Navy Department Will DO the
Work Committed to 1t.
Secretary Tracy's Statement Re-
spectIng the Yard at KIttery.
Maine Elections Did Not Influence
the Increase Of force.

WASHINGTON, August 27.-Secretary Tracy
today sent to the House his answer to the
Cummings resolution calling for information
as to the necessity for increasing the force at
the Kittery navy yard for the various con-
structlon work now in progress,a and whether
the contemplated employment of an increas-
ed force was intended to affect the approach
ing Congressional election in Maine rather
than subserve public interests. In reply the
Secretary says the necessity for the increase
in the working force in July was due to the
fact that the appropriation for the current
fiscal year became available July 1st. He
quotes the act forbidding an increase of
force within 60 days before an election ex-
cept upon certificate setting forth its neces-
sity. He says as the Maine elections were
fixed for September 8th, the force at the Kit
terry yard could only be increased upon GER
tlfcate, which he accordingly issued July %.
The Secretary says the force numbered June
l, 1880, 418; July l, 347; August, 1. 443. The
decrease in July was due to the exhausted
appropriations.
Touching the necessity for replacing the
fire last January, the Secretary says: "In
view of the fact that June S0th, less than
month before the publication of the order
covering the work, Congress directed the
work by law, and emphasized its urgency by
making the appropriation Immediately avail
able, it would seem to be unbecoming in
one of the executive department, whose duty
it is to obey and execute the law,
to make any comment even
by way of answer to inquiry, on an opinion
thus clearly pronounced by legislation. The
work on the Lancaster and Monongahela,
and the building of lannch were assigned
to Portsmouth because work of that kind
has been done there for years. The assign
ment of the Lancaster was made eleven
months before the approaching election"
In conclusion, Secretary Tracy says: I'm
view of the character of the interrogat0ry
of the House of Representatives which, In
direct terms asks the head of an executive
department whether he has or has not been
guilty of gross abuse of power in public ad-
mlnistrati0n, ! deem it proper, in terms
equally direct, to deny that the contemplated
employment Of such increased force at said
navy yard was inteded to affect tie ap-
preaching Congressional election in Maine
rather than subserve public interests, or
that any increase of force at any time
has been or will be made by the Navy De-
partment under the present administration
elections or defeating any particular candi-
date. have the honor to add that the Navy
Department, while pursuing steadily this
policy, does not propose that the progress
Of public works, directed by law and by law
committed to its charge, shall be interrupted
or postponed by the occurrence OF elections
or that the department shall be deferred
from the performance of what 1t believes to
be its duty by any fear that unjust and un-
founded suspicion may call in question the
motives of its action"