New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-27
CHARGES AGAINST MENOCAL
SECRETARY LONG TALKS ABOUT THE
DRYDOCK SCANDAL.
TIE CIVIL. ENGINEER ACCUSED OF cuLPABhE
NEGLIGENCE OF DITY-PREPARING FOR
THE COURT ARTIAL-ENT1RE CON
FrDENCE REPosED IN CON
sTRUCToR ROwLES.
[sr TELEGRAPH TO THE rEIpuNE.l


been drawn by the Judge Acknowledgement Of
the Navy. the substantiation Of either Involving
dismissal from the service. The first is that
OF culpabe negligence In the performance OF
duty. under which fall at least ten specifications.
every one fortified by the most damaging EVIL
dence. The second charge so far formulated Is
that Of neglect Of duty, and under this at least
n dozen instances are specified They relate TO
demonstrable gross frauds practised directly UNI
der the inspection OF Mr.. Menocal not on oc-
casons when he was temporarily absent from
the scene Of operations or when n subordinate
was filing the inspectors place; not "hen MT
Menocal was in Florida. or during any OF his
frequent visits TO New-York City. but when, II Is
asserted he was in direct charge OF dock con-
struction and actually witnessing the progress
OF the contractor
There Is nothing indefinite about any OF the
specifications It is said that hundred could
have been drawn from the evidence already
collected but some OF them might have been
difficult 70 establish before impartial jury,
so all have been thrown ont that might be at
tackled by defence OF alibi or placed on sub
ordinate and only few Of those deemed clearly
irrefutable will be submitted TO the considera-
ton Of the court.
EVIDENCE Dug OUT OF THE MUD.
The efforts of the naval legal authorities how
ever. have not ended with drawing the nrst
two charges with their specifications and collat-
ing the testimony TO secure conviction uPo"
them. Assistant Judge Advocate-General LAUGH
beirnar who has been in Brooklyn working UP
the case and examining the evidence dug out OF
tho mud hv Constructor Bowles, has fully an
other month to complete his presentation for the
nrosecution and It IL strongly intimated that
before that oeriod expires he will charge col
lusion between the Government inspectors and
the contractors So far. while no charge or col
fusion has been formally presented to secretary
Long several ugly facts have been brought 70
light which would merit severer measures tnan
those yet threatened
Secretary Long says he supposes Men'cal VIII
hurry away from Nicaragua without any delay
and thinks he certainly should arrive IN New
York by the middle Of February. AS the &C
cused man Will undoubtedly wish to examine
the charges and. on account OF thelr gray
itv. 60 over them with his attorneys before 'h'
trial begins the first sitting OF the court-marta'
,,a,. no nostnoned until March |. but not day
1onger than that will be permitted. When asked
todav why no court Of inquiry was contem-
Mated Secretary Long replied that the province
~ a court Of inquiry was merely to develop
facts which might might not warrant charges
and subsequent proceedings. There was no &C.
CASTOR for any such preliminary investigation IN
this instance for It evident that some one
WAS guilty or not guilty Of the most serious
charges that could be made against n naval
officer In fact the most thorough court OF IN
ou,rv had been proceeding for over a month. enc
that involved no personal opinions or syinpa-
thetic bias. but relied upon the precision Of
photography.
WORK OF CONSTRUCTOR BOWLES.
Constructor Bowles. in repairing the dock. had
taken photographs continually of the bad Work
as II was exposed. The camera had preserved
beyond the shadow OF dispute the exact ap-
pearance and location OF piles drawn from the
work inspected by Menocal. Some Of these
showed piles declared to have been driven forty
feet when hauled out. to be but four feet long.
simply stumps stuck in the mud and chopped
off level on top Similarly. the poor concrete
and It's worthless placing had been pictorially
demonstrated and recorded and all the other
had work depicted in manner TO convince an
court that the inspection was either mockery
or a shameful deception.
Regarding the efforts now in progress 10 re-
nair the damages and render the dock service
able to the Government. Secretary Long Is most
hopeful that the huge structure will be ready for
the battle-ships when they return North next
spring He pays the highest tribute TO the skill
and resources Of Constructor Bowles, who. he
Saws has shown himself better fitted for the
complicated conditions and problems TO be solved
than any other officer he can name lie re-
Gently authorized Mr.. Bowies TO call in some
eminent engineers for consultation. and one or
two Of the most capable in the profession
viewed the work and fully approved Mr..
Bowles's plans and progress. Chief Engineer
Buck Of the new East River Bridge was one ~
these and his opinion supported Mr.. BoWles
throughout The Secretary says the difference
between the work now going on and that when
passed MenOcals inspection Is marked. me
sheet piling driven by Bowles Is tongued ana
grooved. is driven down accurately thrty-eieht
70 forty feet and The result Is waterproof and in
every respect honest and effective.
In the former work piles were driven In helter-
SHELTER lust deep enough to appear all right to
the most superficial observer or dishonest IN
snector and as results showed they might bet
ter have been omitted altogether
no CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY PROBABLE.
There will probably be no Congressional IN
vestigation cf the dock scandal certainly not
before the termination Of the court-martial
which the Secretary has been able to convince |
members OF Congress will be- a drastic proceed
ing throughout Secretary Long recently gave |
a letter 10 Representative Bennett, Of New |
York. introducing him cordially to Constructor
Bowles who directed 10 offer To the mem |
Der Of Congress every facility TO investigate all
details Of the actual work now undertaken 20 |
replace the f.msy construction. Mr.. Bennett at
the outset confessed to a prejudice against |
Bowles but after an extended visit to the Navy |
Yard he told Secretary Long to-day that he was
fully satisfied that no Congressional inquiry was |
needed that the evidences Of fraud developed |
ND To this time convincing. and that in his |
opinion. which was supported by eminent civil |
engineers no better man could be In charge OF
the work than Constructor BOwlcs II that offi- |
Ger could not save the dock and put II in con- |
dition 10 take the big ships. Mr.. Bennett was |
sure nobody could. Tho Congressman vas en- |
thusiastic over the prospects for the speedy |
completion Of the structure. although recogniZ- |
Ing the possibility that serious difficulties might |
yet develop.