New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-14
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
WORK PRACTICALLY AT A STANDSTILL
FOR THE PRESENT
INTERESTING PROBLEMS OF NAVAL POLITICS
MORE MEN AND MONEY NEEDED-MORE
CHANGES SAID TO BE CON-
TEAiPLATEr

TEMPLATED
Little actual work In the way OF repairs Is
being done in the yard at present. except the
building Of a new spar deck on the training-ship
Alliance as with the exception Of the New-York
and the Fern there are no members Of the North
Atlantic Squadron at the yard. Naval poll
tics has. next to the fire in the NETWORKS coal
bunkers. been the most fruitful topic OF con-
,-eHsatior and many are the speculaticns IN
duleed in by officers as to what will be the out
come of tn. present state of affairs The per-
sonnet at the yard is likely TO be changed con-
siderably within the next few weeks and al
ready the axe has fallen on the necks OF some
Of the civil establishment employees, the cnie1
clerk in the Department OF Yards ard DOCKS
and some minor members Of the clerical FORCES
having lost their places. with rumors or more
changes on the slate Much interest naturally
centres in th- retirement Of Captain Schley from
the command Of the flagship ard his assignment
10 duty with the Lighthouse Board and the
transfer Of Captain Silas Casey, of the receiv-
ing ship Vermont. to the command or the
cruiser This with the coming promotion or
Commodore Sicard. the yards commandment
which Will follow the retirement of Rear Ad-
iniral Walker. and the possibility Of the assign
lnent OF acting Rear Admiral Bunce to the COM
mand Of the station are topics about which there
has been a lot Of discussion.
The release Of Captain Sch'ey from sea duty
brings an interesting point into the field. HIS
last shore service was as inspector Of the Third
Lighthouse District. which includes the waters
Of the Sound and the approaches to New-forh
HarbOr and in this place he acquitted hnsel
10 the entire satisfaction Of the seagoing world
end the people whose business is with ships.
The retirement Of Admiral Walker leaves the
place of Chairman Of the Lighthouse Board va
cant This il one OF the most important OF
shore assignments in connectio with the Navy
Department and the anly in which could
be regarded as exceeding it in Importance to
the DEPARTMENT is that OF Chief OF the Bureau Of
NAVIGATION. This latter post also becomes va
can, IN April. on the retirement Of Admiral
Ramsay. and its incumbent is the connecting
link between the personnel of the Navy and the
Secretary.
SOME POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS.
One Of the naval people who keeps close
watch on affairs said yesterday, m speaking OF
the complications involved in the canvass for the
vacant PLACES: There is one thing 70 be con-
sidered and that is that the head OF the Light
house Board should be man who Is thoroughly
conversant with it's duties. and In wnom the mar
!time world VIII have the utmost cohHuehce. All
this talk about the War Department capturing
the place Is foolish 1t belongs OF right 10 the
Navy, and should be kept there Inc war peo-
pie have enough 70 attend TO without enoeaVor-
i-g 10 encroach on the II is to be nopeo that
the little plan whereby one Of the retiring Ad-
mirals TO be doomed for Assistant secretary
Of the Navy will fall through, as otherwise II
would mean perpetuation for another term OF
little ring which has had more 10 say IN naval
matters than has been of benefit 10 the service.
Aside from the question Of law involved III
me appointment Of retired naval oncer 10
the Assistant Secre;arysnip. see wnat the re-
BUT would be. The two bureau chiefs would De-
ID all probability Captains Henry L. Howison'
now in command of the Oregon. and George {.
'ney With the Assistant Secretary, would make
sinree-cornered block which would sadly inter-
iefe with the dominance Of Secretary Long II
'ne People who have the say are wise they will
seect one Of the many good men available for
'"e Navigation Bureau, and put Schley at the
neao OF the Lighthouse Board where he belongs
!" night OF knowledge ard interest"
MORE MEN AND MONEY NEEDED
scarcity Of money and men are the leading
complaints heard at the present time from the
.'eh IN charge Of the ships and the shops. In
49, al steam engineering department the appropri-
''r march has dwindled to point where