Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-19
Orders Given to Prepare to Launch New
Vessel on Monday,
CONTRACTORS FAILURE CAUSES TROUBLE
Government Practically Has to oOnfsC,te
Property to Protect Nation.
TROOPS WILL Be USED IF NECESSARY
Decision IL TO Finish warship at All
Costs, Rs Country's safety Might
Depend on It in Case of
Emergency.

RICHMOND, Va, June 1S--Judge Grin.
nan of the Richmond chancery court today
granted an injunction restraining Licuten-
ants Theiss and Grosdeck United states
navy, from proceeding further toward the
launching of the cruiser Galveston under
construction In the Trigg ship yards here.
The injunction was granted on petition
OF S. II. Hawes Co, supply creditors of
Trigg Co., now in the hands Of re
cetver, and restraints government officials
and all other persons from in any way in
terfering with any OF the property at the
Trigg yards under control of IAlburn A. T.
Myers, the receiver, and especially the
cruiser Galveston and the dredge Benyard,
under construction for the government.
Lieutenants Thesis and Grosdeck were
sent here by the Navy department to SUI
perintend the launching of Galveston which
it was the intention of the department to
send to the Norfolk navy yard for com
pletion. All preparations had been made
for launching the vessel on Monday.
Department VIII Ignore order.
WASHINGTON, June 1s.--The Navy de-
partment officials, while wishing to re-
spect the courts, declare they cannot sub
NIT to any interference with its rights The
cruiser Galveston at Richmond, 1t is said,
would be launched when ready. Secretary
Moody is not at all disposed to act hastily
| regarding Galveston, but indefinite delay
J on that vessel in the event of an inter
/ national emergency, might prove grave
matter and the department, therefore, is
| bound to proceed with the work as rapidly
as possible 1t is hoped the vessel viii be
in condition for launching on Monday after
| noon.
Secretary Moody was informed tonight of
| the action Of the Richmond court restrain
! ing the government from further work on
! Galveston, but declined to talk until after
! conferences tomorrow with the president
| and attorney general.
/ Attorney General Knox was unwilling to
be quoted until his opinion rendered TO the
president as to the jurisdiction of the gov
ernment over Galveston has been made
public. 1t can be stated. however. that the
attorney general regards as eminentiy well
taken the contention advanced by Rear
| Admiral Bowles, chief of the bureau of
| construction and repair that no court has
the right to interfere with work on a war
vessel and that the government would be
| warranted in calling in federal troops to
protect it's agents engaged in such work
instructions have been sent Lieutenants
Theiss and Naval Constructor Grossdeck,
in charge Of the work on Galveston, to pro
ceed with all possible dispatch in the effort
Monday, and an invitation has been sent
Miss Ella Sealey of Galveston. Tex, to
chrlsten Galveston on Monday Captain
Charles Train will act as the representa-
tive of the government
When the Trigg company failed last
spring it also had under construction an
hydraulic dredge for the War department
and revenue cutter for the Treasury de-
! partment. These vessels will be taken to
the Norfolk Navy yard, together with
Galveston for completion.
The government has no objection TO the
supply contractors OF the Trigg company
proceeding in the courts TO protect their
rights. but it takes the position. that work
on a warship is too vital to the nation al
! large to allow private quarrels 10 delay 1t.
The action determined on is practically
: unique in the history of The Navy depart
ment. 1t was decided on only after tn,
president. the attorney general and tn,
secretary of the navy had given the subjec
their careful consider alton. II is not ex
pecGed that the people Of Virginia will re
gard the action OF the Navy department Al
I'm the slightest degree rejecting on tn
sovereign rights of that state The depart
ment feels that IL has acted with unusua
s leniency toward the Trigg company AM
n regrets that the financial embarrassment
/: OF the company should have necessitate,
l. the seizure of the vessel.
= When Galveston is launched a gunboa
T. will probably be sent TO accompany II L
Norfolk. It is not expected the depart
y ment will have to esort TO show OF nava
d or military force to execute It's orders