New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-12
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
CHANGES ORDERED IL THE sERVIcE-CRrISERS
THAT ARE NEARLY READY-AN M
pNRTNNT DECISION.

POWINNT DECISION.
Washington. July I1.-sccrctary Herbert has de-
iach,d commander G. VI. Thomas from duty in tn
Bureau Of Navigation Navy Department, and ordered
him IN command the cruiser Bennington. r'ieN-
Ing Commander II. u. Brandford, who is detached
nd granted two months leave.
orders were issued to-day dctaclnng number OF
Officers from the Aaln;a. when she So'S ont OF
comm sion and ordering them to other vessels.
Commodore George Brown. who Is to command
the Norfolk Navy Yard, appeared before an eNamn
Ing board at the Navy Department to-day to pas
an examination for promotion to the grade of Rear
Admiral lie successfully passed the physical cX-
animation AMI Will undergo the professional test, in
a fcw day. II h. pL-s's this examination ia" Will
he Obliged to wait for hi promotion until there Is a
vacancy among the Admiral. but this /, not likely
TO De "A long tmc for 1t Is understood that Admiral
Weaver viii retire as soon as he Is confirmed by the
senate I'm his rank.
Commander Harrington has been ordered to relieve
Commander Frank Wilde On the Yorktown.
An order was issued a. the Navy Department
day placing Chaplain " IT, stewart on the retired
list Of the Navy. lie was appointed from Ma'Na-
chnsett, and has been In the service thirty years
The Columbia Iron Works have notified the Navy
Department that IA, cruiser Detroit built 10y them,
IS ready for delivery TO ihc Government. The re-
ports Of the Bureaus o; Construction and Engineering,
recommending the acceptance Of the vessel are In
the hands Of Secretary Herbert and will probably be
acted on tomorrow. The vessel will be sent from
Baltimore 10 the Norfolk Navy Yard where she Will
stay until she goes into commission.
Philadelphia. July 1.-THE armorcd cruiser New
York I, now within n few days Of readiness for
mission. The Cramp Company have begun the final
planning OF her decks and mounting OF her turret
batteries shipment OF her IS proceeding pidly
AT the League Island Navy Yard. The first cruise
OF the New York will be an event In the history Of
the Navy She will first be made the flagship OF the
home squadron. Then She will so to Europe, and
probably finish her first three years commission by
a voyage around tn" world.
The Cramps have decided to launch the protected
cruiser Minneapolis on August Il next. Miss Wash
burn daughter OF senator washburn. OF Minnesota,
has been named by secretary Herbert TO oficate rs
g0dmother NJ the christening.
Attorney General Olncy rendered an opinion to-
day Of considerable interest to Government
tractors The eject 4 the opinion Is that executive
department Ia, authority 10 delay the opening Of
bid, for reasonable time after the hour stipulated
for such fOrmaty In the advertisements inviting bids
for any particular work The which brought
forth the opinion was that ~ contractor who bid
on the work of building a wall at the League
Island Navy Yard The BIDS were 10 have been opened
al noon on certain day. shortly before this hour
a Telegram from Philadelphia announc that delay had
Lccn accidentally caused In sending one of the bid
der propositions. but that the bid would arrive later
on the appointed day. Accordingly, and in pursu.
tho Navy. the opening Of all bids postponed for
few hours The delayed bid arrived al the de.
lowest bid The attorneys for the next lowest bidder
contested the award OF the contract In view OF the
fact that the beated bid was rrcguary received and
should not therefore be entertained. Secretary Her
brrt referred the legal points 10 the Attorney General
for an opinion with the result previously mentioned
important point In the case is that none OF the bids
was opened before the arrival OF the one which |
brought up the questions OF law and equity The |
Attorney General attached much significance to this
none Of the competitors for the contract We're affected
by the psstponement authorized by the department.