Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-09

The time when naval officers can get leave of
absence to enter private employ is past. Those
desiring to work outside during the present ad-
ministration will have to resign from The navy.
THE STAR is able to make this positive state
ment on the authority of the Secretary of the
Navy. Consequently it may be properly re-
garded as the policy Of the department in this
matter.
Secretary Herbert said to q STAR reporter
that although he would not interfere with the
action of his predecessors in the cases that had
been brought to his attention, existing leaves
OF absence would not be extended in any case
where the officer is engaged in outside employ
ment. 1t naturally follows that no new appl-
cations Of this kind will be granted.
EFFECT OF THIS DECISION
large number Of officers and many outside
interests are affected by this decision Pressure
will undoubtedly be exerted to change it, but
it will hardly succeed. Secretary Herbert feels
that SO long as q man remains In the navy he
should serve the government alone. and give it
the benefit OF bis talents instead of Offering
them to the highest bidder outslde simply
because it paid him better. He does not
think it right that officer who is educated by
the government and trained in it, service
advantage, ia utilize his knowledge and expert
ence against the government and at the same
time remain on it's pay roll
The change of policy in this matter is due to
the fact that there numerous officers now on
leave Of abrence who are employed by private
hrms doing business with the government, and
are receiving pay from each. What makes the
matter worse. Is that these officers utilizing
against the government in the in terest of their
better-paving private employer the verv infor-
nation gained in their government service
SOME OF THE OFFICERS AFFECTED.
Among the officers affected by Secretary
herberts determination to grant no extensions
OF leave for purposes Of outside employment
are the following: Commander VIM. NJ Fol-
ger, late chief of the bureau of ordnance. and
now supposed to be in the paw of the Harvey
nickel pate syndicste-he has been granted
two years leave Of absence from January last;
Lieut. Commander VIM. Swift. employed by
Sellers & Company of Philadelphia, and fur
loughed until February /, 1894; Lieut. Com
mander +. W. Symonds and Chief Engineer L.
W. Robinson, employed in private capacities at
the world : fair, each with years leave Of abb
serce: Lieut.. Commander c. G. Cornwell, en-
ployed by the Thompson-Houston company, on
ieaye, Lieut.. A V. Wadhams lecturing, on
leave until September /, 1893: Lieut. C. A
stone. employed by Carnegie & Company, on
leave until March l6, 1894: Lieut. W. II.
briggs. employed by an ordnance company
having contracts with the government,
furlougned until September / next: Lieut..
W. L. Clsson, on leave till June 80 next
attending to private business; Chief Engineer
\. Z. Towne, employed by Cramp q Sons, on
leave TIL January, 1885; Lieut. w. W. Wood.
employed by the American Proiectie Company.
on leave since October. 1890; Civil Engineer A.
q. Menocal, employed by the Nicaragua Canal
Company, on leave till June next and Civil
Engineer r. E. Peary, employed by the Phila-
delphia Geographic Society, on leave until
November 2. 1885.
ALL ARE OF EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY.
All Of the officers mentioned above are Of
exceptional ability. That explains the demand
for their services by private firms 1t is argued.
however, that as their technical knowledge was
gained at government expense and in its serv-
ice il should not be utilized against the govern
ment's interest. at least not so long as they re-
main In Its service. There Is nothing to pre-
vent their leaving the service but it is not con-
sidered just that they should remain on It's pay
roll and shirk their legitimate duties in
order that they may be enabled to make ad-
oitional money on the outside.