The morning call., 1895-01-03
1T IS SO POOR !!
The Government Service
Afloat.
MORE MEN ARE NEEDED.
But They Are Not Likely to Be
Furnished.
GOV. MARKHAM'S REQUEST.
GOV. MARKHAM's REQUEST
Wanted the Naval Reserve to Have
the Use of the Philadelphia
for a Cruise.

The United States navy, coast survey
and other Government service at10at are
suffering from lack Of funds. 1t was re-
ported yesterday that the coast survey
boat Thetis, now at San Diego. will be
ordered to San Francisco ON the 18th and
put out of commission. Two reasons are
assigned for the expected move. One is
that there is not enough money on hand
to prosecute the survey work, and the
other is thai the men of the Thetis will be
wanted to fill out: the cruiser Olympia's
complement. This statement is only a
rumor, however, which originated with the
crew of the Thetis, and should not be &C
cepted as positive until confirmed by dis
patches from Washington.
But there is story of Government pow
erty that comes from the Philadelphia that
is authentic. Governor Markham requested
the Secretary of the Navy to allow the
California companies of the naval reserve
to use the Philadelphia for a week or ten
days for practice cruise. The Secretary
replied courteouSly that the Government
could not afford to send the Philadelphia
on a cruise just now, except in the case of
an emergency. IF the naval reserve"
added the Secretary. will supply the
necessary amount of coal for the cruise. l.
will order the vessel out" Unfortunately
the reserve is even more pressed for funds
than Uncle Sam. They have just recoy-
cred from the loss of several hundred dol
lars on account of being ordered out dur
ing the strike, and they have not more
than enough money to purchase a few
sacks of Wellington for their armory
stove.
Al White. who ships most of the men for
the Mare Island Navy-yard, seems to be
greatly impressed with the poverty Of the
United States treasury. He has been
helping the local naval authorities to solve
the problem of manning big feet of war
ships with very small draft of men. He
is of the opinion that, owing to the money
less condition of the Governments gold
vaults, the chances of any increase TO the
total of men drafted for service in the
United States navy is small.
The shortage of men is soaring those
who are interested in seeing the Olympic
put in commission just as soon as her
armor- plates are set. The formidable
fighter is. according to the croakers. des-
tined to remain passively beside the Union
Iron Works dock until her prime coating
of white paint fades into an ancient yell
low.
There is one rather humorous phase of
the apparent stringency in the coin de-
partments of Washington. The super
stitious tar, who sees things In an entirely
different light than does landsman, does
not attribute hard times in naval circles
to the Wilson tariff bill or other matters OF
recent national legislation. He laoors IN
dnStriouSly under the impression that
President Cleveland's fishing and hunting
excursions have much to do with the case.
'lf be would only stay in Washington
and figure q little on how many men are
needed to man ship" argues Jack. che
might learn something about the navy.
Whv. one time when he went fishing we
didn't get paid till thirty days after pay
day.
swell, the old sport did not catch any
fish that day." closed the speaker, with an
air of having been partly compensated FOR
his "hold back" because the nations chief
executive was not successful angler on
the occasion referred TO.
The barkentine Retriever, 1917 days
from Port Hadlock. arrived yesterday
afternoon. The Retriever is the vessel
that sighted the derelict. Southern Chief
the wreck to make an investigation.
Oresti Ferrari is an Italian fisherman
who got full of claret Oh Tuesday night
and created rnmpus in the saloon in the
rear of 314 Pacific avenue. Ferrari
bounced into the place fiourshing pistol
and declaring that he was real Ameri-
can COW boy. He compelled a mum Der of
whis'-players to dance jig on the card
table, and stood the barkeeper and several
OF his friends Up in line and made them
play the part of soldiers. Just when Fer
rari commenced to think he was having
an excellent time at the expense OF the
gathering. be was grabbed by Officer
Charles Ca lahan of the harbor police,
who disarmed him and placed him under
arrest.
Charles Miller. the man of the crew of
the wrecked bark John Worster who
made complaint of his treatment by the
officials at HOQuiam, arrived
in this city yesterday. Miller .reiterates
the statements before made by him and
L IL bills hAd at The time