The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-02
Hobson,s Eyes.
Washington Correspondent of the New
York Tribune.

Washington Correspondent of the New
York Tribune.
Capt Richmond P. Hobson the hero of
the Merrimac. has placed himself in an
awkward position at the navy depart
ment, and he is now practically under
surveillance by the office of the surgeon
general. Captain Hobson applied for
leave of absence for an indefinite length
of time. This was refused because the
naval construction bureau is run on
short allowance of officers and the build
ing of the new navy has required the
services of every available man.
Since the war with Spain the record APP
pears to show that Mr. Robson has had
more and longer leaves of absence than
any officer in the construction corps, and
for the last eighteen months, except for
a brief tour of duty at Elizabethport, N.
J., Ills work has been confined to serv-
ing as one of the representatives of the
navy department at the expeditions at
Buffalo and Charleston. His duties in
both places were almost wholly nominal.
and he had frequent opportunities, which
he always awaited himself Of to deliver
public lectures for compensation.
Captain Hobson applied for retirement
on the ground that he was physice lily m
capacitated for work A board of Off
GERS declined to retire him, ana 1t was
limited at the time that he expected tc re-
ceive his three-quarter pay for i'll health
and then go about the country on a lee
turing tour. Later on application was
made In Congress for the passage or a
bill retiring Capt. Hobson in spite of the
adverse action of the naval board This
was finally turned down by the naval
committee, and thereupon Capt Hobson
made application for a long leave of ap-
sence. He alleged that his eyes had given
out.
The application Immediately followed
his assignment to duty in Elizabethport,
and 1t was disapproved by Rear Admiral
Bowles, chief constructor of the navy.
Secretary Moody however, has decided to
give Captain Hobson the benefit of the
doubt SO far as the leave or absence Is
concerned This approval of Capt. Hob
sons application for leave is, however.
coupled with a singular condition. 1t is a
matter of notoriety in the department
that the hero of the Merrimac and OF the
kissing episodes has engagements to iec-
ture for the next three months, which of
course he could not fill II he We're assign
ed to duty at Elizabethport. In granting
the leave OF absence the Secretary of the
Navy has ordered the Surgeon-General to
make an examination for the purpose of
finding out whether Capt. Hobson's eyes
which are too weak to do service In the
navy, will not be injured by the glare of
the lights and other work in connection
with the preparation and delivery of
| lectures.
| AS a matter of fact, Capt Hobson has
! been under surveillance by the medical
officers of the navy, with the understand
ing that If they find lecturing is as bad
! for the eyes as constructing ships in the
| navy yard his leave Is to be revoked at
once. The whole transaction has created
a vast amount of talk In the department.,
as 1t is not considered good form for OFF,
GERS of the navy to shirk routine work
for the purpose of attending to private
business.