New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-16
NEWS OF ARMY AND NAVY
OBJECTION TO THE CONTROL OF THE
NAVAL OBSERVATORY BY a CIVILIAN.
COMPLAINTS FROM TIE ARMY ABOUT THE
RETENTION OF SOLDIERS PAY-A
NEW RAPID-FIRE GIN.
IpY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.I

ny TELEGRAPH To THE TRtBtNfI
Washington July i5-The proposition before Con-
gress that the superintendent Of the Naval OBJ
servatory shall hereafter be A civilian IS meeting
with the earnest opposition OF the naval authori-
ties 4 few DAYS ago the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs reported favoraby on the proposition
The Committee Appropriations failed TO incor-
porate the idea "a a feature Of the Naval bill,
but later made II n provision OF the Legislative
Executive and Judcia, bill Secretary Herbert.
Commodore Chadwick. chief of the Bureau OF
Equipment AMI Captain McNair. superintendent
OF the Observatory. are prominent among the naval
authorities who oppose the proposition Secretary
Herbert appeared before the Senate Committee
on Appropriations. arl. In carefully prepared
argument stated the objections to the change
He said among other things in favor Of the present
system. that the observatory has been for years
and IS now an essential feature OF the naval es-
Enlistment: that II II passed into the control OF
civilians another institution OF the same general
character viii have to be provided for the Navy;
and that however advantageous the change may
be 70 interested civilians IT VIII result injuriously
to the Navy and the merchant marine
The Secretary explained at some length why the
observatory assprmarily nava. institution. and
The importance Of It's MAINTAIN ming It's prescn, char
acter. Nava! officers very generally. are opposed
% III, change. They say that in making It hose
who propose a new system ,ose sight entirely OF
The mariners side Of the case II Is argued mat
at the Naval Observatory the annual nautical al
nonac and ephemerls 50 essential TO navgators
- the high seas. compiled There aso the
chron,rnc,ers upon which 50 much depends in the
transit - ships from port To- port, are r1tei ana
adjusted before being sent - deep-sel cruisers.
:, long a. mariners know that this important
work r. under the charge ~ practical naval experts
they VIII have confidence In the records and instru-
en,s furnished from The observatory for their safe
euillncc This IS especially true with respect 70
chrYn1m.;ers n IA said II IS important mat we
error aut rti" y ch'h InSINiI'n' S'''"' - 80, :,
rlfry known. When chronom"t"rs are s"ht ID
panied los thelr history and rating. prepared by A
practical expert. who has had Them IN ch'rge. ana
-lonslbc for their trustw rthnsss rms iac' SNsS
com lence 10 the navigator oihcrrs say ~''h ne
"a. hands 81 scientists. however abe. who were
~; familiar with al the practical requirements
Officers and enlisted men OF the Army nav" q
,.. cause for complaint and Congress Will soon
hc called upon for remedial legislation Under ex,
AN enlisted mans monthly pay. This money as,,
er"gaung $40 In The course oi HNr y'aIS ~ mn i
The mean time IN" man gets no benefit rom , lne
saving however crediiable may d, ms SET ~ -
receive f3 month. plus the longevity lhorrhsr %
ST. - and g. which accrues at me 1' OF t h , ,
In fnci he gets but s. per month rhc presi, law
P9aoogs to he MTyi s1 rcpsa ocTs md
that The men much dissatisfied win the prs,
his flu paw ana In good faith ne Is entitled 10 re-
"cive H. lust as officers and other employees of the
,;n,ernrncnt are II has been suggested that COM
handing officers OF departments and posts be re-
ncsci 10 report their experiences 20 General Scho-
h,lI preliminary t. recommendation being maze 10
Congress .,..,.,
Inscription Of the SlSoda gun has been obtained
Tho weapon IS soon 10 be- put I'm competition Win
no other machine guns undergoing trial hY boari
~ Naval officers. Tho invention IL singular IN s"V-
oral particulars Its total weight * only twenty hVe
hounds and man can easily carry H.. with "A
aunntitv OF ammunition. from place 10 place. II
has but one barrel. which can b" regulated Tor
quick or slow airing. The firing Is done automat
lraiv the rccou of the hrcech being employed 10
reload the chamber. The gun can be- worked on
almost any mount and FOR that reason II ~ equaiy
s.rvceable on the deck ~ ship or boat ana III
the field In action IL readily be lifted ana car
rl.d from one point to another ow'uS To its lgnt-
ness. en- shots can be fired every minute" II dc.
sired or deliberate aim as Is possible with small
arms NAV b. taken In recent experiment the gun
has continued firing for nine minutes discharglhB
during that time 100 cartridges. without becoming
too greatly heated Using smokelcss powder. veloc,
tiles OF so feet per second and rnnge or loV
wards have been developed TIL" breech mechanism
appears to be simple and strong. The parts are
few comparatively. and capable OF being EASILY re-
moved and replaced Experiments Will be made
with the gun 20 determine whether or not II VIII
mi tho requirements for light. durable rapid-hr-
ing weapon for use board ship 0rd In boats that
would bc employed In landing parties