New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-12
pROFlNE WORDS IN THE NAVY.

Thou shalt not swearl' Is one OF the orders
laid down in the Laws for the Better
C,vernrncnt ~ the Navy" Yet an oath
docs sometimes escape inadvertently. and
when fl does the one who is sworn at has
the privilege 81 bringing the matter TO the atten-
ton OF the Navy Department. \ case or this
ratur. IS now under consideration by the powers
M Washington. who are to decide whether or
not the instance WAS one so aggraVatins that
Commander william NJ. Foger must be tried
and surfer such sentence as c0urt-Inaruai
may innict. From the reports that have leaked
out from the Navy Department. 1t would seem
that Commander Folger was warranted IN losing
his temper. even II he was not justified in using
profane language. to Passed Assistant James NJ
Pickrell.
Commander Folgcr Is the commander OF the
cruiser Yorktown and recently. when on the way
from San Francisco 10 Tacoma, and AFTER reach-
ing the cold ATTITUDES. he sent for the engineer
officer and instructed him TO have the steam
heating apparatus put in condition for USE Inc
orders were carried ont at once, and when Com
mander Folger was standing by the heater, just
after steam was turned on. n Jet OF oily water
flew through the little relief valve and directed
It's course into the Commanders port ear. There
is no record Of what he said just at that instant.
but he lost no lime III ulSpdtcHlIlB Ills oiuciiS
for Mr. PickreI and when the latter appeared.
so Il IS reported, the commander took no Thought
OF the Articles Governing the Navy" but en-
croached upon Article g. which says: Such pun
ishment as a court-martial may adjudge may be
inflicted on any person in the Navy who il
guilty Of profane swearing falsehood, drunken
ness gambling fraud, theft, or any other scan
dalous conduct tending TO the destruction Of good
morals" The result was that Mr.. Pckrel
ported this serious violation 10 the Secretary OF
the Navy.
That Commander Folger should have allowed
his tongue to become unbrded Is surprising 10
some OF his brother officers. who are inclined to
be charitable. and believe that he was msled
by his misinterpretation Of the bill In Congress
authorizing commanding officers OF vessels to
administer oaths to others" But II he had re-
ferred TO Article 1.724 OF the Navy Regulations he
could have seen what 1t says with regard TO the
forms 10 be used" Hiram Maxim is credited
with having invented the term "Fogerized' while
Commander Folger was Chief Of the Bureau Of
Ordnance. and 1t is possible that a certain form
OF profanity will be known as "Fogerzed' in
the future. or course such a breach Of the law
would never happen on board OF flagship. n big
armored cruiser for chapains are assigned to
these ships; but such small vessels as the York
town do not have these commissioned teachers
of morals and religious instructors 1t makes no
difference If the army did swear in Flanders
the use Of the Big. Big D. Is entirely out OF
place In the Navy. and will not be tolerated at
any time: and while the Navy Regulations do not
define various explosives common to the New
England vernacular profanity. Article l,02S
would seem TO govern 1t. II reads Supporters OF
every grade are forbidden to injure those under
'heir command by tyrannicai or capricious con-
duct, or by abusive language. Authority over sub
ordinates Is to be exercised with firmness. but
with Justice and kindness"