The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-19
NAVY DEPARTMENT
WILL IGNORE COURT.
1t Is Asserted That 1t Will Launch
the Galveston Anyway.

the Galveston Anyway.
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 dis
posed to act hastily regarding the
Galveston, but indefinite delay upon
the construction of that vessel in the
event of an international emergency
might prove a grave matter, and the
department, therefore, feels bound to
proceed with the work as rapidly as
possible. 1t is hoped that the vessel
will be in condition for launching next
Monday afternoon.
Secretary Moody was informed OF the
action of the Richmond court restrain
ing the government from further WORK
on the Galveston, but declined to talk
on the subject until after conferences
to be held tomorrow with the Presi-
dent and the Attorney General.
Attorney General Knox also was I'M
willing to be quoted in the matter I'M
til his opinion, rendered to the Pres
ident, as to the jurisdiction of the gov
eminent over the Galveston, has been
made public. 1t can be stated, how
ever, that the Attorney General re-
CARDS as eminently we'll taken the con-
,tention advanced by Rear Admiral
Bowler, chief of the bureau of con-
struction and repair, that no court
has the right to interfere with work
on war vessel and that the govern
ment would be warranted in calling
Federal troops to protect its agents en-
gagged in such work.
Instructions have been sent Lieut.
Thesis and Naval Constructor Crosse
beck, in charge of the work on the
Galveston to proceed with all pos
sible dispatch in the effort to get the
ship ready for launching on Monday.
An invitation has been extended Miss
Ella Sealey of Galveston, Tex, select
ed as sponsor for the vessel. to be
present on Monday to christen the
Galveston with the traditional bottle
of champagne. Capt. Charles Train.
will act as the representative of the
government.
When the Trigg Company failed last
spring they also had under construc-
ton an hydraulic dredge for the War
Department and a revenue cutter for
sells will pe taken to the Norfolk Nevy
yard, together with the Galveston, for
completion there.
Locks, it is feared, may have to be
constructed in the channel leading
from the Trigg yard before the Gal.
weston can be got out, and this work
may require six weeks or more
The government has no objection to
the supply creditors of the Trigg Com
pany proceeding in the court to pro-
tect their rights. but it takes the po-
sition that work on a warship is too
important to the nation at large 10 he
delayed while private firms are adjust
ing their financial difficulties with one
another.
The plan of action based on is rrac-
tically unique in the history of the
Navy Department. 1t was decided on
only after the President, the Attorney
General and the Secretary of the Navy
had given the subject their careful at
tention.
1t is not expected that the people
of Virginia will regard the action Of
the Navy Department as III the slight
est degree rejecting on the sovereign
rights of that state. The department
feels that II has acted with unusual
leniency toward the Trigg Company,
and regrets that financial embarrass-
ments OF the company should have
necessitated seizure of the vessel.
When the Galveston is launched a
gunboat probably will be sent TO ac-
company her to Norfolk II is not ex-
pected that the department will have
10 resort 10 a show of navy or mill
tary force 10 execute Its orders