New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
THE CRUISER NETWORK STARTS FOR
KEEL.
WHAT THE LATEST INVESTIGATION AMOUNTS TO-
WORK IN THE sHops-rHr DRY
DOCK MIDDLE.

DOCK MIDDLE
The question as to just what the Navy Depart
ment Is trying to find out by the Investigation made
by Lieutenant ]. j. Knapp. whose report has re-
Gently been made to the Department at Washington
Is a Chinese puzzle to the bureau officers at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. Sensational reports have
found their way into print which would lead to the
inference that the various bureaus under which
laborers Of different classes employed at the
yard are hotbeds OF corruption. and mainly Kept
up for the purpose OF swindling the Government
This theory will be exploded before the matter Is
entirely settled. Officers at tho yard agree on the
statement that the foundation for Lieutenant
Knapps report was laid before the present system
Of checking and indexng and otherwise watching
over the small army Of employees was put In iofce'
As at present handled. the men employed IN the
departments watched In such way that 10
effect any swindle Of Importance on the Govern
ment there would have to be q system or coIiusioh
which would be so widespread and Involve so many
individuals that It could not be continued for any
length Of time without being exposed. W'nou'
doubt there have been few minor cases "heie
slight carelessness or oversight has allowed Vi
petty mistakes, but that there has been any oiea r
lied attempt at carrying dead men" on the payro'S
or paying men for q higher grade of labor than
they were performing or In other ways soa"'hs
the Government. Is laughed at by those VINO "i'
thoroughly acquainted with affairs at the yaru'
In accordance with instructions from washington
chiefs orders for reports covering the points at Is
sue These reports will be ready in short tine' anu
there is little doubt that they viii be Satisfactorily
One man we'll informed in Navy YARD matters en
pressed the opinion yesterday that the whoe anair
could be summed up In a few words that the ue-
partment was trying to find good for 'bounc-
ing some OF the well-known Republican employees
Whether 1t will be successful or not, II the
Ing Is to be done substant!ated charges' Is d
matter in regard to which he mad considerao'e
doubt.
It is not known how long the delay will be be-
fore the result OF the Kershner court-maruai 10
made public 1t Is understood that the report OF
the court has gone to Washington. ana Is now III
thu hands OF the Secretary. OF course none OF 'he
members of the tribunal will say word' ana the
only thing that can be done Is TO walt
The case OF Rear-Admiral Meade Is still causing
a great deal OF comment. The announcement from
Washington Yesterday that the President had de-
cided 20 grant his request for retirement ana "o"'
probably sign the necessary papers on MONDAY was
taken 10 mean that the matter WOMB po u''iPN'
~ gently as possible with regard for INC ''s''"s'
OF the Administration, That the Admiral mas uo-
oidedly tina better end OF the controversy ID TOO
main a matter 20 allow of dispute rs II h'hh'S ~
present, there IL nothing on when he can DC Vpu't
iuArtialed ana " he cannot be contributions" "
II hard 90 SEQ how he can be fepi'mh'u'" 'h' ~
val regulations providing that an officer cannot po
subjccled 90 reprlmand withou, just cause 'hu'
tho lust cause In shown the grounds on whon "e
Admiral can DO Hcodcd are rather slender ~ "
the general opinion OF those who have looked INTO
the matter not only from "a naval but leEhi punt
Of view, that Il In case OF the least sao 'he eoo"
est mcnded" ana II n likely that calm reasoning
will show the Administration that this view OF the
matter IL a wise one. Whether wisdom VIII govern
the action OF the powers that be Is point on whch
there 10 considerable room for debate.
Shortly after "eght bells yesterday noon. the
cruiser New-York. Captain Robley ID. Evans III
command. left the Navy Yard and practically
started ON her voyage to Kiel The understanding
was that she was to cross the bar at hlsh tde'
shortly after 4 o'clock. The crack cruiser never
looked pretter than she did on her way down the
East River, for she was only Few days ago IN
drydock. and had thorough overhauling and clean
Ing her hull being scraped. painted and coated win
an anti-fouling composition. and her white Sides
from which the black muzzles of her guns pro-
truded shone and glistened in the sunlight as she
moved with stately grace past the citys piers.
The four big yellow tunnels Of the flyer Columbia
better known as 1.-THE Pirate" following the track
of the New-York, will be the next naval spectacle
afforded to the people OF the two cities and as she
ba. finished coalng she will be ready to start for
the Baltic Canal at moments notice. Her de-
parture Is set for Monday. With the New-Aorh'
Columbia San Francisco and Marblehead under
his command at the great naval celebration next
month. Rear-Admral Kirkland will have no cause
10 blush at the naval representation of the United
vessels more powerful battle-ships and heavier
armor present at the affair but there Will be no
more trim effective vessels or their SIZE anu no
mora swift craft than those which will fly the Star
snancled Banner Representing four different types
~ the new Navy the foreign officers who see
them will have the best opportunity yet afforded
them Of iudging what strides the great Republic
has made in naval affairs, and just how prominent
q factor 1t is likely 10 be under thoroughly Amer
lean Administration In the settlement OF interna-
fiona, complications on this side OF the western
Ocean.
Iucania were not far apart when the Bar was
reached gave color to the idea that Captain Evans
might try conclusions with the crack transatlantic
messenger boat the way across.
Tn the mechanical departments at the Yard there
has been constant activity in the last week The
new engines for the Chicago are being advanced as
"a mildly as possible Mention made short
time ago of the successful casting of one OF the
b,gh-pressure cylinders The second one is now
IN the Dit in the foundry, and Will probably be
moulded this week. The patterns for one Of the
intermediate cylinders and the brick work surround
ing them are in process Of construction. and every
dav marks a step toward the finishing Of what will
probably be the finest set of engines ever turned
IN the Yard. The Chicago, which Is over at the
cob Dock wall. has so far been untouched In
place of orders to strip her instructions nave been
received to wait while. but 1t is not likely that the
wait will be any longer than is necessary TO pro-
vide funds for the Construction Bureau.
one OF the little torpedo boats when me Name
ready for her trial trip In a short time TINS TIP
viii be an exceedingly interesting aiiar. IN me
DIST place the engne-room people VIII take their
lives in their hands soon as the machinery Is
started The space allowed Is SO small mat IA case
ssrvthine breaks some one Is sure 10 De hurt Ihe
steam pressure will be high and there wiz DO no
,cssibiy OF escape. The trial Will DE run over
ponras ~ mile or a mile and half In the Hudson
river starting from point or me os dn,b W
nnhoken and running north win n mean depth OF
t.t~ean ak and seven fathoms. ana u Is expected
thsf The little boat will develop speed OF AZ ehs
nnw sioat will DO launched early In june and on her
trial Trip win 20 over 'ae sane scconds Of
s s inch thick, and tho remark was made at The
a. 80, tba boat was launched thet COTS navy re-
ume W" wouii have no trouble In sending u ball
nearly through he boa, Tns eSsI' nrs n mo, or
onnriins them being to launch thcin from The bat
sisahips with steam up READY ior bnsnets - no