The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-08
Plans Are Under Consideration for a
Reduction of the American Naval
Forces i'm the Far East.
THOSE WHO SERVED IN CUBA
REWARDS PLANNED MEMBERS
OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Havana CoaIing Station to Be Aban-
doned-New York Appraisal Inves-
tigatiOn-Bureau News.

bureau chiefs, gave orders that one of the
battleships authorized at the last session
of Congress, be constructed at the New
York navy yard. TIL secretary was I'M
der strong pressure in this matter. Be
side New York, Norfolk and Boston were
strong competitors for the work. The sec
rotary was finally influenced in his decis-
ion by these facts:
That no less than two years time will be
required to bring the plant at the Boston
yard up to a point where it could under
take the work Of building a battleship. AL
so that the s175, 900 authorized by Congress
to be expended in making ready for the
construction of the ship. would be insult
hcient at Boston. At Norfolk, which made
a better showing than Boston. in figures,
principally owing to the fact that labor is
cheaper and the work could go on in the
open air all the year around, it was dis
covered that the freight charges on the
raw material from the iron mills to the
navy yard were about 10 per cent. more
than in the case of New York. and in a
ship weighing between ten thousand and
fifteen thousand tons the increased cost
would be considerable. Also, in the case
of Norfolk, it was feared thai the demands
lOI ldOOI dl III navy ydIu WOulU nave 10
be met from the private shipbuilding works
in Virginia, and the result would be TO re-
tard the work at those yards on govern
ment ships.
These considerations were believed by
Secretary Moody 10 warrant the placing
of the work at New York. 1t is the in
tention to start plans Immediately. and in
the course Of about eight months the
keel plates will be laid at the New York
yard for the new battleship.
The Navy Department contemplates max
ing a material reduction Of the naval forces
or the Asiatic station in the near future.
While our interests in the East are most
important, it is thought here that the large
number of American war ships gathered in
Chinese and Philippine waters is considera-
bly, above the proper ratio. The plans, il is
said. contemplate ordering at least one Of
the flag commanders on the Asiatic station
TO other duty. Rear Admiral Rogers, at
present the commander-in-chief of the sta
ton, has been in Asiatic waters about A
year and a half, while Rear Admirals
Evans and Wilde, senior and junior squad
ron commanders. respectively, have been on
the station only about half a year. The
ships brought TO the United States prob
ably will include only a few, if any. of the
90 "a
siderable number of small cruisers and gun
boats will be ordered to this country.
XXX
The rejection by the President of recon-
mendation of an examination for the pro-
motion of Pay Inspector Stephen Rand to
be pay director in the navy, has raised the
question at the Navy Department as to
whether the holding up of Mr.. Rand's pro-
motion will result injuriously to the person
who has next claim to advancement, Pay
Inspector Lawrence G.. Boggs. The depart
ment realizes fully the seriousness of a sud-
den check to advancements, which the
Presidents action appears to threaten, and
if injustice to those below Pay Inspector
Rand in rank is the alternative, it is said
the Presidents objection to that officers
advancement would be withdrawn.
XXX
The President has promulgated the fol-
lowing order affecting persons employed
under the military government in Cuba:
Persons who were in the employ Of the
United States in the military government
in Cuba, and who are not eligible for reten-
ton in the classified service under existing
rules, but have been specially commended
for appointment therein by the chiefs of
their respective departments, with the APP
prevail of the secretary of war, because of
efficient services rendered under conditions
OF personal danger from yellow fever and
other tropical diseases, and whose names
are embraced in the list heretofore fur
nished to the Civil-service Commission by
the War Department, may be retained and
appointed to positions of a grade CORE
spending to that which they now hold in
the classified service, with the consent and
approval of the commission"
This order affects 127 persons out of
something over six hundred formerly en-
ployed in Cuba
Xxx
Tt 10 rroot4ooIIxv eottlod A.. A. T--s4.l
States will abandon it's coaling station at
Triscornia, in Havana harbor, and Secre-
tary Moody probably will have the coal
which now lies in the warehouse put aboard
a collier and carried away. 1t had been
hoped that by this time the negotiations
which are to be conducted under the Platt
amendment for the acquisition of coaling
stations in Cuba would have progressed to
a point where the coal at Triscornia could
be taken 10 some other point on the island.
But owing to the decision of the admins
tration to delay all other negotiations until
the reciprocity treaty could be consum-
mated, this matter has dropped into the
background.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw has
quietly set an inquiry on foot to ascertain
whether 1t will be worth while to investi-
gate the allegations adopted by H.. c.
Corsa. formerly of the appraisers depart
ment, district OF New York, concerning the
alleged payment of money TO customs in
spectors at New York by the American
Sugar Refining Company. Corsa, il is said
at the Treasury Department. did not charge
that the government had been defrauded by
differentiation induced by such alleged
payments, but only that ayment had been
made for the purpose of securing fair
treatment"
The State Department officials fail TO see
any reason for a reference to The Hague
tribunal of the pending proposition to ac-
quire the Danish West India islands. say
ing there are no points of difference be-
tween the governments of the United States
and Denmark. the only obstruction being
found in the internal government at Dem
before the tribunal. Ii is confidently ex-
pected that the Danish Rigsdag will ap-
prove the treaty next September. and hav-
ing been already ratified by the United
States Senate the annexation will be com
pleted.
The British embassy will be transferred
TO Bar Harbor within the next few days.
where Percy Raikes and the staff Of the
embassy have taken quarters for the sum-
mer. Advices received indicate that Sir
Michael Herbert. the new British ambassa-
dor, will come 10 Washington about Oct. l.
az which time the embassy staff will re-
turn TO Washington. Owing to the absence
OF President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay
from Washington IL would not be possible
for Sir Michael 10 present his credentials
herOra Oct L and moreover thQra ia m