Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-19
OPEN DEFIANCE
Of the United States by Courts
of State of Virginia.
Injunction Against Naval officers Pro.
ceeding to Launch Galveston.
Uncle Sam Will Pleasantly, Politely
but Firmly Act.

ftiCilIfoiu, Nd., June lS-JuQge Grin
nan of the Richmond chancery court,
today, granted an injunction restrain
ing Lieuts. Thesis and Grosbeck, United
States navy, from proceeding further
towards the launching of the cruiser
Galveston, under construction in the
Trigg shipyards here.
The injunction was granted on. pc
titiOn of S. H. Halves & Co. of this
city. supply creditors of the Trigg Co,
now in the hands of a receiver. and
restraints the government officials and
all other persons from in any way in
tcrfering with any Of the property at
the Trigg yards under control of Lii
burnt Myers, the receiver and especial
ly the cruiser Galveston and the dredge
Renyard, under construction for tie
government.
Lieuts. Thesis and Groesdeck were
sent here by the navy department to
superintend the launching of the Gal
weston, which it was the intention of
the department to send to the Norfolk
yard for completion. All preparations
had been made for launching the YES
sci, Monday next.
Washington, June 1S.-It Is stated
here that proper respect will be shown
the mandate of the courts so long as
they keep within their Jurisdiction but
that the navy department cannot sub
NIT to any interference with it's rights.
The cruiser Galveston at Richmond it
was added, will be launched when
ready. Secretary Moody is not at all
disposed to act hastily regarding the
Galveston, but indefinite delay upon
the construction of that vessel in the
event of an international emergency
might prove grave matter and the
department therefore feels bound to
proceed with the work as rapidly az
possible. 1t is hoped that the vessel
will be in condition for launching, next
Monday afternoon.
Secretary Moody was informed, to-
night, of the action of the Richmond
court restraining the government from
further work on the Galveston, but
declined to talk on the subject until
after Il conference to be held, tomor-
row, with the President and the at
torney general. Attorney General Knox
also was unwilling to be quoted in the
matter until his opinion rendered to the
President as to the jurisdiction of the
government over the Galveston has
been made public. 1t can be stated
however, that the attorney general re-
CARDS as emnently well taken the con-
tcntion above announced by Rear Ad-
miral Rowles, chief of the bureau of
construction and repair, that no court
his the right to interfere with the work
on q waFovesSel and that the govern
ment would be warranted in calling for
federal troops to protect its agents en-
gagged in such work.
Instructions have been sent Lieut..
Thesis and Naval Constructor Groes-
deck in charge of the work on the Gal
weston. to proceed with all possible dis
ratch in the effort to get the ship ready
for launching. Monday. An invitation
has been sent Miss Ella Sealey of CAL
weston. Texas, selected as sponsor for
the vessel, to be present, Monday. to
chriStcn the Galveston with the tradi-
tional bottle of champagne. Capt.
Charles Train will act as the represent
tativc of the government
When the Trigg Co., failed. last
spring, it also had under construction
an hydraulic dredGe for the war de-
partment and a revenue cutter for the
treasury department. These vessels
will be taken to the Norfolk navy yard,
together with the Galveston for COM
petion there.
The government has no objection to
the supply creditors of the Trigg Co.
proceeding in the courts to protect
their rights, but it takes the position
that work on n warship is too mpor-
tant to the nation at large to be de-
laycd while private firms are adjusting
their financial difficulties with one an
other.
The department feels that it has
acted with unusual leniency toward the
Trigg Co, and regrets that financial
embarrassments of the company should
have necesSitated seizure of the YES
sell
When the Galveston is launched a
g,nboat probably will be sent to ac-
company her to Norfolk. 1t is not ex-
pccted that the department will have
to resort to n show of naval or military
force To execute its orders