The National tribune., 1893-02-16
ARMY AND NAVY.


There is small war on hand between Secre-
tary o. the Navy Tracy and Board of Naval
officers appointed several weeks ago to examins
certain other Naval officers for promotion.
Among the officers was Pay Inspector Steven
son. The Board recommended all the officers
for promotion. and Secretary Tracy approved
the findings of the Board, except in the case Of
Inspector Stevenson, whom the Secretary re-
fuses to promote, il is said. on account OF his
moral conduct. The case was taken 10 the
President, who upheld Secretary Tracy, and
another Board was ordered on Tuesday, Feb.
z, TO examine Inspector Stevenson, with the
understanding that they would bring in diff
ferent verdict. No officer has failed of promo
tion on account of moral un6tRess for years,
and there is no precedent in the case He can
not be placed on the Retired List, because he
has not reached the age limit, nor can hs
very well be dismissed without trial by court
martial. and there charges that can
be brought against Mr.. Stevenson az this late
date il is difficult for the officers at the Depart
ment TO see what can be done in the matter.
Mr. Stevenson was stationed at the Naval
Academy some years ago. and was detached as
the request of Capt Sampson, the SupeTintend-
ent. The bad conduct for which, it is said.
Secretary Tracy declines 10 promote him dates
back to some years ago when he was in Japan.
The Brooklyn dry-dock matter, which has
been before the Navy Department for several
be told to go ahead and build the big dock al
soon as he can. After Mr. GiIiss bid to con-
struct the dock had been accepted by the De-
partmeut, it was determined TO make it 20 fees
longer, so as to admit ships of the City of Paris
size, and the question then arose as to the
amount he should be paid for the additional
length. Mr.. Gillis contended that il was worth
$4,000, but the Department has decided that
this is TOO much by $4,000, and Mr.. ellis viii
have to accept the reduction. The dock will
be $50 feet long when completed, 25 feet longer
than the largest ship in the world aloat or
building It will also be the largest dock in
the country and nearly as large as the big Eng
lish docks.
controversy over the appointment of al
enlisted man in the Army to the position OF
Second Lieutenant has been tied by the SEQ
retary OF War in favor of the soldier promoted.
It concerned the promotion of Corp'l Orrin z.
Wolfe of Co. III, 18th Inf. in accordance with
the act Of Congress which provides that en-
listed men may receive commissions in certain
cases. Wolfe had been cadet at West Point.
but did not complete his course there and left
the Military Academy owing to his failure to
pass the necessary mental examinations. Hs
enlisted in the 14th Inf. and was soon pro-
noted TO be Corporal, and successfully passed
the examination for commission. Objection
to his promotion was made by number of his
former fellow students at West Point, and
protest was forwarded by them to the Secretary
of War. After careful consideration Secre-
tsry Elkins has decided that Wolfe's failure to
pass the West Point examinations does not in
terfere with his right TO receive commission.
and that the law compels the President to issue
commission to a soldier who has passed the
necessary examination for promotion from the
ranks. Orders have been issued, therefore,
announcing the appointment of Corp1 Wolfe
to be a Second Lieutenant and his assignments
to the 22d Inf.