New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-10
EXTRAORDINARY YARD
SECRETARY HERBERT WRITES SHARP
LETTER.
HE COMPLAINS OF THE PERSISTENT DISREGARD
OF CIVIL. SERVICE RULES IN BROOKLYN


OF CIVIL. SERVICE RULES IN BRooKLfN-
FERNALp AND AssERsoN TRANSFERRED,
WASHINGTON July a.-Secretary Herbert t"'S
morning issued an order transferring Na'a' Oo",
structor Bowles and Civil Engineer Mehoca' u ''e
New-York Navy Yard, in place of Cohs''"''o
Fernald and Civil Engineer Asserson' VINO WIN
go to the Norfolk Navy Yard The chahsc IL y"
dered to take place August J. AT the same ""''
he made public long letter sent last night 10
Commodore Sicard. OF the New-fork Navy i"'"'
regarding the tvasions OF the labor regulations
which took place under Fernaid and Assersoh Al
his letter Commandant Sicard 'he @e'e''
says.
Referring to the report OF Lemtenan Which the reg
l.. S. ". concerning the manner IN VIM ~ labor at
ulaons governing the emp s iae erect and the
replies OF the various heads Of departments III ue~e
PLANTATION OF the numerous M, orofn, consdera-
ton OF the statement and explanations Of in
gretfuly concludes that in quite and Jealous CO.
operation in enforcement OF the labor fcers
at the New-York Navy Yard.
He adds that no censure upon the conduct OF
the Commandant is intended or TO be imphed i'o''
the remarks which follow. The letter continues
In putting into operation a complete new system
We're was 10 al admnser Would make mistakes
and that and then the Department wonrn
to rules There is, and has been however, nTn anS
d sfng Of ih the systems for few hours
would enable any competent officer TO 9nd ers,anu
To- details paid to each step as taken in TIE adH', n,
istration Of the system ought to De sulmarhahe
guard against important errors IL Is man
fact that three years after the system was na ,b
nstSd the s Bpa n o. eaS Of
found to be persstenty violating in many % cSai
tional and more definite Instructions issued Novem-
her s ap nd hs Gns ahd Knapp into the
Of the yard consequent upon numerous Sowa been
IL study ~ the Orls4udi l"'c' -
been made by those who were TO admnss so nade
quste a compliance with and so total a mscDn-
srmcon OF these as at anS pocks and
Construction and Repair Examples only MY, OF ma, ma
Of these departments have proceeded upon the
idea that they could by one means OF a''o ,hey
wished by uspendng them Instead frC of sae
ture. to another trade Again. when there was
no work mechanics and laborers instead Of being
on again without certicaton by the b S ; q,
and intent of the regulations. such admnisirau atom
this has brought the Deparmen, henr con-
stantly pracused at the New-York Navy harI amu
lion rolls was a delusion. INVESTIGATION shows
that the most satisfactory answer , ie s neas
could not understand the rules. . . -.
Ro.e. eaPalo from abcrer to helper M En-
gneer Asserson states that he was governed s IN ,h
Of s as request SnS ss
Bureau OF Yards and Docks has his once al W ash
ngton He is not Immediately concerned In the al
minisration of the rules governing labor at YARDS
and ' s letter s k se ns M to
infringe the rules. 1t says:i do NOT want any vio-
reprehensble ignorance Of the rules to such
request. any request whatever from whom-
wsSe for m Ser SiaSon ocers
the rules IA issued by the De-
THAT statement o, ciy4 Engineer Asserson that
ali the irregular transfers in his department from
trade another have been doWn anG mot n
economy is not substantated by the records The
aaGSe Si PpfoSdd for in p the
Instances are cited to sustain this statement s1
n.hed Of names carried on the construction and
repair rolls under assumed names The Secretary
while IT is true that sometimes men may apply
presumption is against such hypothesis. Laborers
registering would generally give the names by by
SURE OF getting notices The fact that so many IN
sls srohs Of rauduen
notices sent out to other persons or thst 'a use
Navy Yard. and II false names are used in 80
many instances. there must be great careiessness
Sere eoud be many frauds Of his character with
out the connivance of the quartermen and leading
\ men under whom these men worked
The Secretary directs Commander slcard TO carry
the Recommendations Of the Board to discharg-
Ing certain men into effect
At the Brooklyn yard yesterday afternoon both
the officers named in Secretary Herberts letter to
Commodore Sicard preserved silence regarding the
outcome of Lieutenant Knapps investigation.
dispatch had been received from Washington saying
that the official orders OF detachment were on their
way and they will probably be received at the
yard to-day Officers attached to the bureaus were
not In a cheerful mood. and the only comment made
on the transfer that while the Secretary had
the undoubted right to transfer officers as he saw
IT. in this case II would that there was more
than simply desire TO enforce Civil Service rules
behind the changes made.
a party CT officers and men from the Austrian
cruiser Donau visited the yard yesterday forenoon;
and were escorted through the shops. They visited
the flagship Cincinnati, the cruiser Maine and the
monitors Terror and Puritan. and were delighted
and surprised the perfection Of structure and ar
mament OF the vessels On leaving the yard they
Invited the officers of the station and the ships TO
visit their vessel.
Chief Engineer William c. Eaton. OF Chief Ayres's
staff has assumed control of the engines the
Vermont relieving Chief Engineer John l.. Han
num- who has gone Philadelphia TO take the place
of Chief Engineer John l.: ID. Barthwick. Of the
Amphrite who attempted to commit suicide a
short time ago by cutting his throat