New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-15
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
A PLEA FOR JUSTICE.
AN Ex-NAvAL OFFICER SHOWS THE NEED FOR
CAUTION IN coNpEMNING OFFICIALS
IN THE sERXI(,E


AN Ex-NAvAL OFFICER SHOWS THE NEED FOR
CAUTION IN CONCERNING OFFICIALS
IN THE SERVICE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: During the last ten days there have appeared
in the newspaper press throughout the country
flaming articles headed Fraud al the Navy fard.
etc These articles misleading In their CHAR
acter and unjust TO the officers whose names
are mentioned In connection with these Tauos'
and whose lips are moro or less sealed oy Depart
ment regulations, that. IS an ex-naval omcer.
desire to enter strong protest against the sour
ri,ous attacks that are being made at times on
Army and Navy officers who are not In position
to defend themselves against such HDcous charges
know but little OF the merits Of the case regard
ing the two officials who have been cersured by the
Navy Department bu: It ought 10 be known 70
every one of your readers that 70 sucn irauus
have taken place as have been reported, from the
su,pie fact that no officer Of the Army or Navy
ESCAPES these charges OF fraud without having 10
appear before a cour,-martlal and as ;he gentlemen
implicated have simply been detached from the
Brooklyn Navy Yard and ordered 10 another Navy
Yard II is In itself evidence that. while they may
have been guilty OF minor infringement OF ma
val regulations these charges are cruelty UNJUST
both 10 themselves and 10 their families.
The positions OF Navy Yard officials are often
difficult, and any who. like myself. mas &C.
cupied similar position in dealing WITH contrac-
tors knows that the majority OF these contractors
coming In contact with the Government fee' that
they have a perfect right 20 take advantage OF 'he
Government In every possible manner eve" s'op-
ming abort Of no dishonest methods. as rule. TO
gain their ends.
know of no more trying DUTY Army and Navy
officers are called to perform than to come IN
contact with a class OF men many Oh WHOM ""e.'
their goods are rejected being inferior IN quail
i,y, have used political influence at washington IN
their endeavors TO place officials In false hsnt
and few officers occupy these positions to-day IN
either service who do not have to be constantly IN
hot water with the politicians at inc navy Aard
and in Washington. and with the men whom they
are irving to force to live up to their contracts.
Having had experience In such matters 90 not
hesitate to assert that the red-tape regulations no"
In practice at the departments, where omcers are
forced TO accept the lowest bid. cause the Govern
ment Losses amounting to hundreds OF thousands OF
dollar. as they are utterly unable under present
regulations to accept bids OF such firms as VIII
honestly live up to their contracts with the Gov
ernm.nt OF course these regula lions must be re-
spected; yet II officers under either service and IN
responsible positions were allowed TO pursue the
course they knew would be to the best IN
tcres. OF the Government, I can assure you
these losses would not occur, as the pres
ont system OF putting an officer In charge
OF Department and not trusting him far
enough by causing him to be responsible for his
own acts. to give the Government the very best
service by dealing only with those whom he knows
are willing to live up TO contracts Is mostly the
cause Of all this.
Il was not long since that your journal. In COM
menting on some OF the appointments OF Mayor
Strong, suggested to His Honor that II he saw M
to appoint some graduates OF the Naval Scnool or
West Point "he could depend upon them under an
circumstances TO do their duty are your reaaeas -
these two institutions there has seldom oeen a
breach q rs, COMMITTED By any nd sssdua's rSs
hat nj
rarles speaking OF the immense sums drawn py
commanding officers for the maintenance OK our
Navy throughout the world stated that there nad
not been one single Of breach OF trust II Is
been tried by court-martial for overdraw'ng their
nay accounts but think these oflcers Will De
found on investigation TO have been po.ticaI ap.
pointments. and not graduates OF the Aeaoemy a'
In discussing the injustice done by newspapers 70
Army and Navy officers. have no desire 10 enter
into controversy as to the merits OF the case IN
question In which he two gentlemen mentioned
the fact that the majority OF newspapers nave oeen
untru;hful and unjust to these men az they nave
been llbeous In their character. 81.
The writer OF this article has met only once one OF
the gentlemen referred to. but he has known them
both by reputation and he believes ne only voices
the sentiments OF the entire Navy In staun8 that
both of them are guilty OF no act on their par;
that would reflect upon their integrity officers and
men -, ,
| trust you Will give this letter the same prom'-
nence that has been given to the disclosures In the
Of the public to the injustice done Army and Navy
officers who have no redress and are compelled
under service regulations 70 remain silent. no mat
ter how grossly they may be lihelled.
Philadelphia July L.. 1895