New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
AFFAIRS IN THE NAVY YARD.
THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL WAR YES
Sells LIvENS INTEREST.
RI,MoRs AFLOAT REGARDING THE SAILING OF
CRUISERS TO cuBA-vINDICAT1oN OF THE
OFFICERS OF THE STEAM ENGINEER
ING DEPARTMENT-THE FLAWS
IN THE TEXAS.

ING DEPARTMENT-TIE FLAWS
IN THE TEXAS
With two vessels Of the North Atlantic squad
ron at the navy yard, third down the bay. a
ram ready for going into commission and a
monitor so nearly completed that the detail Of her
officers and crew is under consideration, the
home station has been an unusually lively place
FOR this season OF the year. In addition to this.
the training-shp Essex, Commander Edward T.
Strong in command. came to the yard for
slight repairs and. as a result OF the combination
there has been active work in the week just
ended.
The Columbia. which has been IN the timber
dock for scraping and cleaning, was foated out
at high tide yesterday and taken to the coal
wharf. 1t is expected that she will leave the
yard to-day or tomorrow and go direct to Hamp
ton Roads where she Will report to RearAd-
miral Bunce.
The stay of the Cincinnati at the yard is as yet
VI settled, but the fact that the big cruiser has
been hurried away leads TO the belief that the
time previously allowed to her for repairs will
be somewhat curtailed. and that she will join
her sisters within two weeks.
Much to the surprise OF those who are ac-
quainted with the crew OF the New-York and
the manner in which the men are treated by Cap
tain Schley her commander, some Of her men
who had had shore leave returned TO the ship
late on Friday evening under arrest. having been
engaged in fight on the wharf at Tompknsville
The reports were that shots had been fired. but
as no one more seriously hurt than would
be expected from general "scrimmage' among
sailors the shooting was probably more or
scare than an attempt 10 take life The men
will have a chance to mediate onthe evil results
Of riotous conduct. and the time spent In the
brig will do them good.
The flagship sailed for Hampton Roads yes
terday afternoon. The programme FOR the feet
has not been announced. but there are rumors
that a few Of the ships will be sent TO waters
within easy reaching distance Of Cuba and the
remainder be retained within immediate touch
of the Washington authorities. and occasionally
sent out on patrol duty. In regard to this
"patrol" duty there Is a peculiar state Of affairs.
While the obedience of naval officer to orders
Is not to be questioned and any instructions
with regard to apprehendng vessels suspected OF
being flibusters would be promptly carried out II
is no violation of confidence to say that the ma
iority Of the officers Of command rank are not
at all anxious 10 aid the cause of Spain any more
than they can possibly help. Still, orders are
orders.
OFFICERS INDICATED
The mountain has labored and brought forth
the usual result The officers OF the steam
Engineering Department in the yard. with one
exception have been vndcated and the long list
of charges preferred against them has fallen
through Commodore Phythian, Captain Hggin-
son and Chief Engineer Smith q. A.. with Lieu
tenant Knapp as recorder or the Board, went
into the matter thoroughly. and the result Is
that even on the point on which the dsciplining
of an employe was suggested there was divi-
no being acted
on bv the Secretary. Chief Engineer Ayres, for
merly at the head Of the local bureau. is acquit-
ted OF any intentional wrong-dong in the sign
ing of a certain incorrect payroll. the charges
against Passed Assistant Engineer Hall and
Ouarterman Machinist William Miller are not
substantiated, and out Of eight counts against
j. p Howatt, the master machinist OF the SHOPS
seven are thrown aside as unfounded THESE
charges as noted at the time the trouble began
were favoritism, oppression, moral incompetence
physical incompetence. intellectual Incompetence
obtaining his place through fraud, aPpToprlatne
Government property to his own use. and draw
ing pay for time not actually put IN the yard
II was on the latter count, involving eleven
days. that the majority or inc boaru ho1hu ha
current account Of the findings, Chief Engineer
Smith contended that, if all the overtime justly
dine was credited to Mr.. Howatt, the time ne
was absent would have been fully accounted for
The Secretary. 1t Is said adopted the majority
report of the Board but in view Of the long and
faithful service of the master machinist and his
exceIlent reputation decided to infict what is
equivalent to thirty days suspension. nineteen
Of which are covered by absence from DUTY with
out pay and the remaining eleven by duty In the
shops without pay. II is understood that posi-
BILE errors in the matter Of overtime and the pay
Of yard employees will be obviated BY new rules
which are to go into effect at once, covering
ali possible contingencies of work, and provd-
ing that the time book shall show all overtime
for the month, properly credited to the day on
he nnt ~ re6 ONQ IN
another month
There is a strong feeling among the men in the
ward that the master machinist has been made
the burden-bearer for the sins Of omission OF
others and some of the men who are conversant
with the whole affair are not slow in asserting
that the contention of the minority member OF the
board was correct and that 1t is not exactly the
proper thing that a ranking employe OF the civil
establishment In the yard should be made to fee
the effect Of what is termed "a spitefu KICK or
trade union against the Governments way OF
handling its business.
THE DEFECTS IN THE TEXAS
. Much Interest has been aroused by the publica-
ton Of the details Of Captain GLASS; report on
the defects in the battle-ship Texas and the re-
pairs needed to fit her for active service. Ii may
be remembered that when the Texas was in New
York waters and making the anchorage on
Tompkinsville the base Of her operations. the re-
norris which were sent TO the Department were OF
a rosy nature and beyond the recital OF few
minor defects in the engne-room, conveyed no
hint that the vessel was in the condition the de-
tailed report has shown. At the same time II
was stated in The Tribune that the vessel was
not At to be in commission owing 10 dlHeIent
causes. and the truth Of the statements then
published has been shown by the document re-
Gently sent out. There is little douDt ma tne
lesson taught by the trials OF the ship bult from
foreign plans will be needed by the Department
and that the experiment of going to rival ma !,
ton for designs for warships VIII not be repea'eu
soon.
Work on the ships and In the shops OF the yaru
has gone at steady rate In the last "eeh,
and 1t Is expected that In week or zen oas
the first OF the big low-pressure cylinders for the
Chicagos engines will be set up in the testing
shop The extent of the repairs ana alterations
on the Atlanta has not yet been decloea on, pue