The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-27
Interesting Questions Arising
 in the Navy Department

ing Precedence in the Navy grows moro scandalous. And so the following official statement just given out surprises nobody in Washington. and there Is an earnest hope that 1t will re-assure the nation
 Secretary Moody has called upon At- torney General Knox to judge the vital question as to whether Rear Admiral Taylor or Rear Admiral Bradford is of right to sit at the right hand of Admiral Dewey on the general bench The great importance which the question has at tained is of deep and abiding consequence, since it involves the specific issue whether temporary rank shall give to an officer precedence over another officer of equal rank All the chiefs of bureaus and ev- erybody, including the chairwomen, in the Navy Department are deeply con- cerncd.'
 Needless to say, the nation will appre- ciate the gravity of the situation in the Navy Department, and it is further need less to say that it is all on account of Crownlnshield. It is well understood that Mir. Long retained the office of Secretary of the Navy for months after the Presl- dent was more than ready for him to get out, MT. Longs purpose being to conf plete the official outrage upon Schley and to promote Crowninshield as rear admiral and place him in command of the Euro pean Squadron. Crowninshleld sat at the right hand of Dewey on the general board. His promotion made q place for Bradford. commander-in-chief of the European Squadron was to write and publish a gross insult to the Italian government In connection with the arrest and punish ment of the American naval officers who are alleged to have been drunk and riotous while on shore-leave in Venice. The consequence of that insult is strained diplomatic relations between Italy and the United States, with serious trouble a possibility. Crowninshield's first act In European waters, 1t will be remember ed, was to take his entire squadron on an official visit to his son, who is a mere agent of an American consul and is sta toned at Castellamare Italy.
 This endless stiffness and incompetency in the Navy Department reminds one of naval story that General Patrick A. Collins, now mayor of Boston and for merly our consul general in London, used to love to tell
 One night in Boston there was a' great Junction." whatever that may be. which was attended by everybody who was any, oody' including the then acting com mandant of the Boston navy yard This officer was not even a captain; but what he lacked in rank he tried to make up In self-importance on account of his temporary position.
 The Function" in question took place in Boston's best club big burly jolly Irish policeman was on duty to call the carriages, and in the course of the even ing he was commanded by the acting commandant to call his carriage. The officer was resplendent in uniform when he bore down upon the Irishman, and very stiffly he said my carriage" The Irishman sized him up well, without having the slightest notion as to who he was
 What name, sor?" was asked
 "The com-man-dant-of-t of-the-navy yard" the officer strung out his answer majestically.
 Beg your pardon, sor?'
 ''The-Com- man-dant-of-the- navy yard!"
 The bombardmint iv tn N-a-a-vy! yelled the Irishman. and without smile he proceeded to call other carriages.
 What trouble and what fun stuck-up folk do cause in this world!
 LUCIEN JIJIJEN WAIKER