The sun., 1896-01-28
NAVAL NEWS AND NOTES.
Tho Chicago and AtIanta-Naval Courts
Patent RIshta-The Peraonnel.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-The Chicago now gets
b,0S4 maximum indicated horse power from her
engines, and her speed Is 15.1 o knots. With new
boilers. of which four will be Scotch and slx
Babcock & Wilcox coil. and the new machinery,
at an aggregate cost Of 100000. she Is ex-
pected to get 5000 horse power and eighteen
knots. She Is ono Of tho most heavily armed OF
our cruisers for her displacement and we'll de-
serves tho new motive power. Now boilers OF
these or other types are to be put also into the
Atlanta, and possibly she will have twin screws,
whereas she now has single-screw horizontal
compound engines. But this latter change mny
money on new ships
A bill before Congress, introduced by Mr..
Hilborn. provides for the taking Of the deposit
tions in naval court cases Of officers at u dis
tance or about to go to a distance from tho
place OF the court. This last Is practically the
measure recommended by Secretary Herbert in
his last annual report. The same Congressman
brings forward a bill for compelling witnesses
to appear before naval courts martial and courts
Of inquiry; but that involves quite different
considerations, as 1t concerns civilians. II a per-
son refuses attendance or the answering Of in
terroGations. an attachment under this bill may
be issued against him by United States Dis
trict Judge, or Circuit Commissioner for con-
tempt and he may be brought up for a hearing,
and the Judge or Commissioner may punish the
contempt in any manner not inconsistent with
That measure Is also advocated by tho Secre.
tary of the Navy: and finally we have a meas.
ure for the Governments acquiring the rights
to use patents issued to navy officers upon
such terms. or at such rate of compensation. as
may to the Secretary OF the Navy seem Just and
To be paid by the United States for the assign.
ment or for the use of such devices regard will
facilities in originating the work or perfectlnK
the invention which the inventor may have
pnbe thoueht thst this %1n
Inent would be fair one. as 1t would not wholly
deprive the naval officer OF the fruits Of his
work, while taking into account the claim of he
Government to his services and his time, and
the aid which his round of duties has given him
The navy machinists have not been forgotten
In the general rush for more pay, and a bill In
BY @ s hs
500 per per month The pay Of chief f machinists is
now $50 month. that OF iirst.class machinists
$55 and that of second class $40.
The Baltimore Is to go out OF commission for
needing crews. II is rather a relief than other
wise to get rid OF the necessity Of supplying one
to a ship already thoroughly tried. And GER
tainy after her experience with the Pacific
typhoon. the Baltimore ranks among well-tried
ships: Capt. Day thought that he had better
she took many seas aboard. An important gen.
eral subsection which he gave in his report was
better head 10 had we stopped the engines san and
ridden to anchor. Ships should be sup
p!ied With 3 such an appliance It would be ex
the midst OF a heavy gale" However, Capt. Day
wa was proud a OF mis- ship Her sen. s;e9gong qualities
he himself hnd never been very eager to test
them. but IN the worst weather at sea he ever
indeed. no ship could have done better. so that
the baltimore ia an excellent sea boat.
A statement in regard to the Naval Associa-
tion bill laid before the Secretary by Commo-
dore Matthews, as already noted. 10 that 1t
would promote at once four Commodores, four
Captains. twenty-five Commanders, twenty four
Lieutenant-C Commanders seventy -four Chief
Engineers, fifty Lieutenants, forty-three Sur
geons. and sixteen Paymasters. Tho annual
casualties. other than age retirements, are com
puted to average three each In the grades of
Rear Admiral Commodore. Captain. and En-
sign; five In that of Lieutenant, one each In
those of Lieutenant-Command and Junior
Lieutenant, and two In that Of Commander. 1t
is therefore, calculated that this measure
would insure promotion to the grade of Com
mander at the age of As. in the year 1910. or at
about the Same time as the Meyer bill.