New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-08
AN IMPORTANT NAVAL COURTMAR TIAL.
PAY DIRECTOR BILLINGS TO BE TRIED on Sc
RIoUs CHARGES.

RIOUS CHARGES.
Washington Feb. Z (SpeciaD-A naval court-mar
tial OF unusual interest account OF the high
rank OF its members and the serious nature OF the
charges has been ordered by Secretary Long TO
meet at the Washington Navy Yard next Wednes-
day TO try Pay Director Luther G. Billings. the
general inspector OF the Navy Pay Corps on &C
cusations made by the Secretary OF the Navy
which. 81 substantiatcd would disgrace one OF the
most trusted officers in the service The court
consists OF Commodore r. V. McNair. president:
Commodore Henry'L. Howison. Commodore Albert
Kautz Commodore George c. Remey. Commodore
! Norman H. Farquhar. Pay Director Charles H.
Eldredge. Pay Director Edward May. Pay Director
| Thomas T. Caswell and Captain Sllas Casey.
with Assistant Judge Advocate-Ceneral Charles H.
LauchheImer Judge-Advocate. Captain Casey
will probably be commissioned commodore by the
time the court opens.
The precise charges against Pay Director Bill
lngs. whose headquarters are in New-York City.
are not divulged by the Department, which in
deed preserves the greatest secrecy regarding the
affair and wished TO have the matter sifted In
private, without publicity. but the accused man. 1t
is understood, demanded a court-martial Ii is
however. stated officially this afternoon that Cen
eral Inspector Billings Is TO be tried "for offences
growing out OF his transactions with the American
Compressed Food Company of New-Jersey. which
manufactures an emergency ration patented by
said Billings" From what can be gathered from
Billings Secretary Long IN December and sug-
gested that the Navy ought TO have an emergency
ration similar TO that recently adopted in the
Army. but, on account OF the radical differences In
the pursuits and tastes Of sailors and soldiers the
Navy ration would have TO be determined indie
pendently Secretary Long pleased with
the idea that he authorized experiments to cost
not more than 800
Secretary Long was astonished to notice a para
graph In newspaper about Christmas that Bill
lngs's name was listed rs one OF the ncorporators
and stockholders In company just formed to make
IA naval emergency ration. and he promptly sum
moned the oflcer TO inquire into the matter Mr.
Billings denied all knowledge OF the company's use
OF his name. which totally unwarranted. he
said, and declared he did not a share OF stock
secretary Long was not altogether satisfied with
the peculiar condolences involved in the AFFAIR so
he caused a private investigation to be made which
resulted In his again calling Mr. Billings to Wash
lhSton 10 tell him that the records showed him In
be director as well as stakeholder IN the corpo-
Ihton Ihs In turn was vigorously denied bv Mr.
aIinhsh anu proceedings were once lnstitutsd 10
NM OUT mo whole truth OF the matter The chief
oIIceis OF the Ray Corps understand that evidence
nas been readily obtained. and that "A, least ,un
Ses those Of falsehood and scandaIous cond,,"t
VIII ne presented 10 the court. and Mr. DIllinrs viii
Hsve inc fullest opportunity to disprove them hoth
J., me matter was carefully concealed by those hn,'
NE chafge OF II until to-day, when the ordcrs %
lhc court leaked out, and at once ali oficers an
uuty NJ tne navy Department were thrown into !"
great state OF excitement over IT, PAY Director