The morning call., 1891-01-16
NAVAL SCANDALS.
Interesting Letter From an Officer Sta
toned at Mare ISIa1d.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The following
letter from a naval officer stationed at the
Mare Island Navy-yard, California, to an
officer in this city, will be read with great in
terest in naval circles: "It is with many
misgivngs that write you concerning the
latest scandal connected with the yard-that
of the Alert. The recent coal steal expose
stirred matters up to very high pitch for q
WHILE and we were about settling down
to the even tenor of our way, when
another chapter in navy yard bung-
ling and inc0mpetency is now, l am
exceedingly sorry to confess, paraded
around in public print The San Fran
cisco papers had a monument of fun at our
expense over the eccentric movements OF the
lroquois, and now comes the Alert, with
its attendant tale of woe 1t is matter of
much humiliation to me, and | can con-
fidently say to many others at this station,
to feel that we are the laughing stock of
civilians and made target for the press.
Instead of improving, sometimes think we
are degenerating at a ratio which is GER
tainly worthy of our united attention. In SO
far as our ships are concerned, Congress has
and is doing n0bly; in fact-eXceeding our
proudest anticipatiOn--and | think the per-
sonnel of the service should be improved
accordingly.
90 L long for the day when the entire forca
OF our naval constructors shall be selected
from graduates of the Naval Academy, aud
come by their position through real merit
and not gauged by the amount of work done,
AS an ordinary ward-Striker in the slums OF
politics, as is the case at the present time.
The Alert's condition to-day is attributed.
in u more or less degree, 10 this very state
oil affairs. We can expect no better, nor
hope Tor any improvement so long as con-
tractors are showed into the service in the
manner in which they are, ami hold their
position through the Vaccinations Of politi-
clans, coupled with the abilities of alien
draughtsmen and lackeys galore.
-Four Boards of Survey on the Alert, on
work performed by the Construction and
Repair Department, and the first one called
months after that department had reported
her completed and ready for sea, is the con-
dition OF things here at the present writing
Gan you wonder at my surprise and dis
gust, and in this connection 10 ask whittier
arc we drifting? 1t came out very plainly
during the recent coal steal expose that
some OF the officers attached TO this yard at
that time were either decidedly or indirectly
connected Herewith. At least, they were
exceedingly friendly 10 aid continually as
sociated with contractors.
when | think of what has transpired out
here during the last year or two it only in
creaSes my desire to get back East. Just
think OF it: the commander of a vessel leay-
ing Honolulu for San Francisco and wind
ing up at Port Townsend, Wash. Another
commander Of a vessel writes and criticizes
our chief engineers, and reflects discredit
not Gnly on the Department of Steam En-
gineeriug but the line aud staff, aud gpner-
ally and particularly the head OF the Navy
Department. The paper printing this article
comments boastfuily In its editorial column.
The officer who freely uses his pen 10 run
Gown our service is tried by c0urt-martial
and acquitted.
THE unearthing of one of the most con-
temptible frauds ever perpetrated upon the
Goyernment-that of the recent coal steal
has had good effect for the time being;
but how Ing it will last | cannot say. 1t
has resulted, however, in many changes at
this yard, and now we are thoroughly into
the Alert scandal, with court martial pos.
sble in the near future"
This letter was being shown around by
naval officer at the navy-yard to-day, hop
ing that ii might be brought to the attention
of the Navy Department, SO that rigid in
yestgation would be had.