New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-19
our Big SISTER CITY.
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
Turner's Having Jolly Tme-nterest in the Coming Election
PLANS For a. New Armory-Pushng at
Navy Yard-VariOus Items of General Interest.

thirty years. and he has been recognized az one ~ ,hs
T e srcnoilues III gunneFy, subject 10 which no
Las gwen years OF special investigation and stndy.
lie making urgent efforts 70 be retained 10 tie service
on tie grohnd That eoorbUndness does not necessarily
impair MS VaIue The point is made that since tho
Navy department by OF its own specified color
DnndhesS a. physical disqualification. the secretary
may SCI aslaS Jle provisions OF the order will;
hence, the Secretarys decision is awaited vita much
Interest since 1t Affects several officers who have been
aleduy Sured or dropped from the service for that
defect.
IL was only a few years ago that Lieutenant John c.
chusetts and brother Of Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy j. Russell SOley, was retired for colorbindness
from the service because OF color blindness. CADET
J. G. McWhorter was found color blind in 1882 and
commissioned lieutenant In the Marine Corps, tho
plea being made that as marine oncer he would have
no occasion u decide the color OF lights. Lieutenant
tion for promotion, is also known to be coorbind lie
decorated by the Austrian Government recently
for galantry displayed in saving life.
II Lieutenant Meigs bad been promoted he was to
have received command Of the gunboat Petrel
announced TO give that command TO junior euen-
ant commander Lientenant Commander LOngnecker
prominently mentioned at one time for this com
mand, but he is No in his grade and is likely TO be
promoted In few months when he will be entitled .
better command the consideration Of his name was
abandoned Lieutenant-C Commander LeDtze, Of the
Philadelphia, was also mentioned. and the idea met
general approval. All speculation finally set a.
rest yesterday by the order Of the Department deach-
ing MISUNDERSTANDING ~ R. 5. Mackenzie as
executive officer of the Chicago and ordering him TO
command the Petrol He was born In TIL:
lie was one of the staff officers Of Admiral Fsrrsgut
when he commanded the European Squadron, and had
the frigatc Franklin his flagship Lieutenant-Com-
mander Charles ;. SperTy, whose home Is In Water
bury Conn. and who has been on duty as instructor
at the Naval Academy for long time, takes Leuten-
antCommander Mackenze's place on the CHICAGO
is believed that the Petrol will be sent TO tho
South Atlantic Squadron TO relieve the TslapOOsa AZ
ghtdraugt vessel IS most needed for service on te
River Platte. the Petrol would be the most servceablo
OF any VI the vessels available.
The immortal Kearsargc has been visited DIV hun
dreds people In the last week. people who have been
reminded that she is the vessel which ended the
unenvabe career OF the moderate privaecr Aabams
off the coast Of CherbOurg, France, on June ~, l-A
Two weeks ago IL was feared that the needed repairs
upon her might Of the 20 per cent llnit
allowed for npa!rs T. the ships Of the Navy and that
she might be sent TO Rotten Row, but a survey has
decided that she may be repaired and she Is 10 be sent
10 the Portsmouth Navy Yard for that purpose. on
her deck is brass plate. bearing the date. June 10,
1864 when she sank the Alabama: and on one OF tho
gun carriages IS the Winslow.' after the com.
occasion Ter present armament Is antiquated, as
compared with the guns Of the Navy, but she VIII
probably do service for a number Of years yet
The Civil Service Examining Boad Of which Zap.
tain F. W. Bunce + chairman held only three days
session at the Navy Yard last week. The members
simply examined the data which had been submitted
relative to the organization Of each department. the list
Of workmen In the various departments, the business
relations existing between the different departments
and the rates of paw n the men, The board started
on Thursday for Philadelphia tO investigate tnc various
departments at the League Island Navy yarn mier
finishing the work az League Island. the board VIII go
TO tr other Navy yards for similar work. and then
return TO New-YOrk TO conduct a competitive exam
nation OF the leading mechanics.