New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
TO PUNISH THE GUILTY
INDIGNATION IN CONGRESS OVER THE
DRYDOCK SCANDAL.

ACTION WITHHELD THUS FAR ONLY ON ACCOUNT
OF SECRETARY LONGS PROMISE TO BRING
EVERYBODY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
RAsCAILY WORK TO JUSTICE
lyY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRiBvNEl
Washington. Jan. I5-The report that some
=, the active promoters and friends OF the Mica
c,a Canal are trying TO delay the return of
r,rineer M.nocai 10 The United States TO meet
che charges against him on account OF the faulty
obstruction Of Drydock No. 3 at the Brooklyn
NAVY Yard and his recommendation in favor OF
,.s scceptance from the contractors. has excited
scn,e unfavorable common; among members OF
,,e House Of Representatives who have read the
-acer, exposures In The Tribune Of the sham
uo-k and rascality by means Of which hundreds
%, thousands Of dollars were drawn from the
National Treasury 20 pay for a dock which is
10, only worthless in its present condition, but
rbich perhaps can nev At be made to answer the
,urposes for which II was designed.
Judging by remarks made 10 Tribune CORE
s,ondent to-day by prominent and influential
republican Representatives. the House is In no
.,oa n encourage or countenance the slightest
.,-recessarv delay in setting on foot and prose-
,.,r~ q thorough and searching investigation.
- ,,-tshinC to the full extent any and all
Ulcers Of the Navy who were guilty OF neg
,ac, Of duty or any graver offence by whlch
,ba contractors were enabled 70 saddle TINS
worthless and expensive structure upon the Gov
a-rrent No Investigation which is not riglo
.,d thorough. no whitewashing. no faiure OF
,,s,lce as A result OF official or personal or pro-
f.ssioral sympathy Will be tolerated The first
,ra,ca,ion Of a failure in any OF these respects
oul be the signal for investigation py
committee Of Congress. The introduction and
,horf ms
lrg his action has been withheld thus far In
daference TO the anxious desire Of the Secretary
=. the Navy and his pledge TO the members Of
.bs lamentations Committee and other repre-
s.,.o-fves that prompt and effective steps would
;. taken bv him thoroughly 10 investigate the
whole matter and bring 10 trial all officers OF the
Navy against whom accusations might be
brought or justified
AZ UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCE
o-s unfortunate consequence Of the scandal
which has heretofore been foreshadowed IN
these DISPATCHES IS the obstacle 1t raises against
.-,,r,-ria,i lions which have beer urgently recon-
-,s-1as nv the Secretary Of the Navy for the
Nnusirg = several new drydocks and the en-
,a-eer,ent Of several Of the old ones. Within
~ las, TWO or three days more than thirty
REPRESENTATIVES have declared in conversation
with The Tribune correspondent that until
,sis BROOKLYN drydock scanda. has been prop
e-Iv dealt with. and the persons responsible Tor
=. FINISHED" and until they had become con-
WINGED that ell proper and necessary safeguards
had been established agans. a repetition OF
q they would vote and work against the ap-
rropria,son q a single dollar for the building
or enlargement Of drydocks.
Some of these Representatives. moreover, ex-
pressed with much emphasis strong doubts as
70 whether there any officers In the naVai
service who are competent TO deal successfully
with the engineering and construction prob
lens involved IN the building Of drydocks suita-
bic for the larger vessels Of the new Navy.
There were others who took even q more seri-
Gus view OF the case-one which expressed
doubts respecting the official integrity. as well
as the professional ability. OF some OF those
officers
NEED OF MORE DOCKS ADMITTED.
That more and stronger and larger drydocks
are needed most Of these men admitted, which
fact makes their present attitude seem all the
more unfortunate. Under the circumstances
the condition Of the National revenues and the
demands on the National Treasury for various
other necessary objects-it would not have been
an easy task 10 persuade Congress al this ses-
son 10 authorize the building or enlargement
Of even three drydocks. If no doubts had been
raised respecting the ability and integrity OF
the officers who might have charge Of the work,
and 70 facts had been disclosed which apparent
" show the virtual worthlessness OF the ex-
pensve Brooklyn structure.
Eft 3rts 70 obtain from Congress necessary au-
thority and appropriations for new docks will
therefore be heavily. II not fatally. handicapped
81 the outset