New-York tribune., 1897-07-11
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARGES
AGAINST NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR
BOwLES.

ONE DAT MORE WILL. PROBABLY END THE HEAR
INos-IMPoRrANr CHANGES THIS MONTH
AT THE HOME STATION.
One more day will probably finish the investi-
cation by Commander Davis Of the charges that
have been made against Francis T. Bowles. the
Chief Naval Constructor at the Navy Yard. The
investigation has been long drawn out and thor
ough, and II is hoped by those who have re-
gard for the best interests Of the service that
It will be the last Of the attempts made by people
who know little or nothing Of the works or re-
quirements Of the department to compel its ad-
ministraton on lines which they wish to lay
down. So far. the whole affair has been of no
credit to the men who originated 1t. and even
those who have considered themselves aggrieved
by the actions Of the constructor in handling the
forces under his control. have been compelled to
admit that the good Of the service and the well
fare Of the Government have been the objects
sought IN all cases when changes have been
made in the personnel Of the shops 1t Is q
matter Of little satisfaction to the prosecution
that Hugo Hirsch one of the best known coun-
sellors Of Brooklyn did not consider the cause OF
the men sufficiently strong to show any prospect
Of success and for that reason would not under
take the legal end Of the attack.
Only day or two ago one OF the foremen who
had been counted on by the men to aid in show
Ing that the constructor had been guilty OF
ong-doing, admitted before the court. II such
II nsbe called. that the requirements OF the
work in certain instances were such that men
who had reached the years averaged by the vet
Grams employed in the yard were physically un-
able. 10 meet them. and that II the work was to
be done at all 1t would have to be done by
younger and stronger men. and that he. himself
q veteran had asked the constructor Tor permis-
sion to put on men of youth and strength. who
had never had any connection with the Army
solely on the ground Of greater efficiency.
COMPLAINTS FOUND TO BE RUBBISH
Counsel for Mr. Bowles has pointed out that
the separate complaints when sfted down have
Invariably been shown to be the merest rubbish,
and In pointed language has declared that 1t Is
little less than an insult to the head OF one or the
greatest departments II not the greatest. In the
yard, t. compel him to devote time and attention
for which the Government pays a good salary, to
answering complaints having no more founda-
ton than those so far brought against the pres
ent chief In this he is sustained by the general
opinion Of the officers Of the yard, and while
there Is little doubt that the whole affair Will
ultimately prove a benefit to the constructor II
is~the unanimous opinion that the policy Of
silence so far pursued in connection with the
case is wise This wisdom Is to the benefit Of the
men who have been most prominent In the at
tempts to run the yard, as IL is not believed
that they would be advanced in public opinion
by the full publication of the testimony in the
cause which they have championed for the sake
of the spoils. While the attempts are not at all
likely TO prove successful it is regarded
case of "the least said the soonest mended.'
The placing in commission Of the gunboat
Helena was the principal incident at the yard
in the week just ended The ceremony, which
1 took place Thursday afternoon. was carried
out in the usual way and the officers took charge
Of their ship without any extra fuss The
vessel is commanded by Commander William T.
Swinburne: with him are Lieutenants c. E.
vreeland. Charles Laird and A. w. Grant. En-
signs Davis. Horace G. Mcfarland and Edward
Moale. jr.. Assistant Surgeon James F. Lys. AS
sstant Paymaster John II. Merriam and Chief
Engineer Frank II. Eldridge.
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES
This month will see some important changes
at the home station Captain George w. Sum-
ner will on the Goth come to the yard cap
tain of the yard taking the place Of Captain
Francis j. Hgginson, who relieves Captain
Frederick Rogers of command Of the Massa
chuset.n Captain Rodgers has a short leave
Of absence at the expiration Of which he will
20 on board duty in Washington. Captain Sum-
ners last visit to the yard was when he appeared
before the board which investigated the ques-
ton of his culpabity in docking the Columbia
at Southampton. just previous to her record
making trip TO this port. Captain Sumner being
in command of the cruiser at the time.
The approaching retirement of Commodore
Rush r. Wallace. at present in command OF the
Naval Station at Newport. r. l.. has given rise
10 talk of an attempt to carry out deal for his
promotion TO the grade of Rear-Admral before
his retirement This was to have been carried
out by inducing Rear-Admiral Lester A. Boards
lee OF the Pacific Station. who goes out In Janu-
ary 1898 to apply for retirement two months
earlier. in order to permit the promotion OF MS
brother officer. Commodore c. s. Norton. who
ts also Interested was understood to be will
ing an1 the plan looked entirely feasible. IL is.
however. made unnecessary through the proba-
biluy that Rear-Admiral Joseph y. Miller, SOw
in command Of the Brooklyn. will ask for re-
tireYnent under the lon-service clause soon
after the arrival Of the Brooklyn home She Is
expected here some time this week This will
probably result in the assignment OF Rear-A
mral f. O. Matthews. now Of the Bureau OF
Yards and Docks to the command OF the Pa
cifc Station. for which Admiral Miller had been
slated and will leave the Civil Engineering De
partment TO be run by Peter c. Asserson. the
present ranking officer. or Mordecai b. Endicott.
IL il be possible for a staff officer to obtain
in,portant a place. In this in other instances.
the technical knowledge necessary Is not re-
garded as likely TO have much weight. and the
friends Of the engineers are not making any bets
that men who know the business will get the
control Of the work.
THE PROGRAMME OF MANOEUVRES
Preparations are being made at the Navy De-
partment for putting in effect the programme OF
manpuvres recently perfected by board which
assembled at the Navy Department. Orders
were issued 10 the battle-shp Iowa directing her
10 proceed from League Island. Penn. TO New
port. r. l.. where she will receive her torpedo
tubes and torpedoes. II is expected at the De-
partment that the battle-shp will leave not later
than July 13 While making the trip she will
test her turrets and guns. The Departments
also fennrlafe the of this