Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-18
WILL Use A GUNB0AT
The Government to Seize the
Galveston.
TO COMMAND Y ARD
LAUNCHING TO TAKE PLACE MON
DAY AFTERNOON.
Removal Intended as ''Friendly Act
of War"-Rfghts Of Contractors
to Be Saved.

Acting on the advice of Attorney General
Knox. the Secretary of the Navy has decid-
ed to use force (if necessary for the re-
moyal of the cruiser Galveston from the
private shipyard of the w. r. Trigg SNIP
BIZ lding Company. at Richmond, Va, to
the navy yard at Norfolk. Va. In order
to complete the construction of that vessel.
The circumstances of the case are such
that the officials of the government feel
that they are justified in using force in tax
ing possession of the warship, especially In
view of the fact that 1t is the only course
by which that result can be attained unless
the authorities consent to await the de-
termination of present and prospective It'll
CATION, which may run on for an lntermlna-
BILE length of time.
The plan of action decided upon Is prac-
tically without precedent In the history OF
the United States, and was only adopted
after thorough consideration OF the ques,
ton in all it's constitutional ana legai
phases. AS has been heretofore stateu III
The Star, existing complications are the re-
suit OF the failure of the w. r. Trlgg Com
pany, which company had the contract LOT
the construction of three government YES
sells, viz, the cruiser Galveston for the Navy
Department. hydraulic dredge for the
War Department and a revenue cutter Tor
the Treasury Department. These vessels
were in various stages of progress when
the company failed and the government de-
cfded to remove at least two of them to
the Norfolk navy yard for completion
Action of Subeontractors.
The execution of the orders to that effect
was prevented, however. by the action or
certain subcontractors. who had claims
against the Trigg company on account OF
materials furnished for the vessels. They
ment's taking possession of the vessels, par
ticularly the warship until after arrange
ments had been effected for the satisfaction
of their claims against the company. In
order to accomplish their purpose the cred
itors have instituted proceedings In the
state courts of Virginia for an injunction
to restrain the government from taking
possession of the vessels. 1t was realized
by the officials of the Navy Department
that considerable embarrassment would be
experienced by the government If the COM
pletton of the warship was delayed until
all the legal questions involved were ad-
Indicated.
1t was therefore decided after consulta-
ton with the law officers of the government
to disregard entirely the action Of the
Virginia state courts, no matter what their
character and proceed with the plans Of
the government to take possession Of the
warship and the hydraulic dredge at once
and complete them at the Norfolk navy
yard.
Tacit Assent Of Contractors.
Although this step will involve the en-
ployment of the armed forces of the gov
eminent, 1t will be done with the knowl-
edge and tacit assent of the contractors
who have insisted, in order to protect
their legal rights, that 1t must be shown
that the government acted against their
protest and obtained possession of the YES
sells only by the employment of force
which they were pOwerless to resist.
1t is asserted that the federal authors
ties have no disposition to prejudice the
legal rights of the various claimants in
this litigation and that all the questions
involved can be eventually judicially de-
termined, regardless of whether the ves-
sells are in the possession of the govern
ment or in The hands Of the contractors
Launch Of the Galveston.
In accordance with the plans of the
Navy Department, the cruiser Galveston will
be launched at the Trigg ship yard next
Monday afternoon. All the arrangements
for the undertaking have been confided to
Capt. Charles Train of the navy, who Will
act as a representative of the government
On that occasion. The actual work Of
launching will be superintendent by Naval
Constructor William G. Groesbeck, who
las had charge Of the construction work
for some lime past. Miss Ella Sealey Of
Galveston. TexaJ who was selected as
sponsor of the vessel some time ago. will
break a bottle of champagne on her Prov
as she starts down the ways and christen
1t Galveston"
l. is not expected that any interference
will be offered to this part of the program.
as under existing conditions, 1t will be
imEoss. BILE 10 take the warship OUT of the
yard. To do that the government will be
obliged to constr uct locks as to deepen
the basin and let the vessel drift into the
riyer channel That will be a WORK Of
about six weeks time, and 1t will be at
that stage OF the proceedings that the gov
ernment will make its demonstration IF
force
A aGunboat in the James.
That will be in the form of a warship Of
the gunboat class, which will take posi-
ton in the James river, so as to cover the
ship yard with it's guns, and in that way
prevent the success Of any attempt to inter-
fere with the proposed removal Of the war
ship Inasmuch as this is intended only as
friendly act of war" 1t is not likely to
result in any actual hostilities. The Navy
Department feels fully equal to enforcing
its purposes Gin this matter. and will not
call on the War Department for any troops.
except in the unlooked-for emergency Of
armed resistance.