Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Charge of "Whitewashing"
Captain Cowles,
M R. MOODY CALLS
WILL PROBE MATTER THOROUGH
LY BEFORE FURTHER ACTION.
Mechanics in Naval Gun Factory Want
Higher Pay-Sioux Chiefs Call
on "Great Father"
M R. MOODY CALLS


| influence from high source interfered to
| obtain the "whitewashing' of Capt. Wm.
| S. Cowles, commanding the battle ship Mis-
souri,.
Capt. Cowles is a brother-in-law of the
| President, and was placed in command of
| the battle ship Missouri after being relieved
| from duty as assistant chief of the bureau
| of navigation. He was in command of the
Missouri when that vessel collided with the
Illinois and came near causing a serious
mishap at sea. Capt. Cowles was sum-
moned before court of inquiry for fouling
the Illinois. The court recommended that
no further action be taken and the chief of
the bureau of navigation concurred. Ad-
niiral Dewey did likewise. This apparently
settled the question of blame, the court of
inquiry virtually exonerating Capt Cowles
and concluding that as the ship was a new
one. with a new crew and a new signal
off1cer. there were opportunities for trou-
Bile, especially when it was shown that the
steering gear of the Missouri was defective.
Inc army and Navy Journal charges that
while the court of inquiry was In session
two telegrams were received from fnfuen-
tial sources, and the intimation was con-
veyed that pressure had been brought to
bear to 'whitewash' Capt. Cowles. When
the President heard of tn Sc tn ngs he i'm
mediately directed that a most searching
examination be made of the facts On
icdN!HS tHe Willie I1OuSe IOudy secretary
Moody said: Il have made a pretty care
full inquiry as to the statements that have
been published This does not show that
any one sent kilograms to the court of in
Quiry. This much is certain. No such
kilograms were sent from the White House
or from my office l intend to continue the
Investigations, and quick and positive action
will be taken should it be found that this
is the case. l intend to probe this matter
to the bottom. 1t is the desire of both
the Pres dent and myself that there shall be
a most rigid investigation"
1t is known that the President has direct
ed that nothing be left undone because
Capt. Cowles is his brother-in-law If 1t IS
ascertained that influence was used to pre-
vent fair investigation and to shield Capt.
CowleS the President would direct that
court-martial be had. This is what some
influences are driving at, anyway. There
are vague rumors in the air that if court
martial is ordered the facts will show to
the discredit of Capt. Cowles and compel
severe punishment of that officer. In Navy
Department circles, well poit cal, it
is said that there are suggestions hat a
court-martial would be the only satisfactory
way out of the affair, but this is reg irded
as natural in view of the prominence of
Capt. Cowles. There would of course be
great deal of gossip, whatever the facts.
Secretary Moody far thinks that there
is no eason to yield to what appears to be
idle gossip and order more searching pro-
ceedings. Instead of doing that he is pro-
ceeding to conduct an investigation of the
charges that are openly made and he does
not hesitate to let 1t be known that If the
facts warrant there will be decisive action.
If they do not he will not permit gossip to
| direct course that his judgment and the
truth do not authorize.
Mechanics Want Better Pay.
The President gave a hearing today to NJ.
A. Bowen and E. c. Ford. mechanics in the
| naval gun factory at the Washington navy
yard They represented the large number
1f anio i,,f hot fan{ ha
object of their visit was to ask the Fresi-
| dent to give whatever assistance In his
power toward the passage of the bill pend
| ing in Congress providing that mechanics
| In the gun factory shall receive the same
pay as mechanics in the various depart
ments in Washington Messrs. Bowen and
Ford pointed out to the President that the
| maximum pay for a skilled mechanic in the
| gun factory is 1896 per day, while in the
government printing office and other places
| in the government service a man received
| 81 per day a mechanic, and for work re-
| quiring much less skill. All the committee
| asks is that skilled mechanics in the fac
| tory be put on the same footing others
under the government. The wages in Wash
| ington are regulated, it is stated, by an act
passed in 1862, when the Washington navy
| yard was a small affair and designed for
work small vessels. Since then it has
| developed into a great gun-making plant,
and the work required is of nature that
| would demand much higher pay. 1t is also
| pointed out that the increased cost of liv-
| ing since the act was passed justify the
wCrkmen in asking for better wages and
| In expecting that Congress will grant their
| demands.
Roosevelt Boys Go Back to School.
| Theodore Roosevelt jr., and his brother
| Kermit Roosevelt, left Washington today
| for their school at Groton, Mass. They
| have spent the Easter holidays at home
| and have enjoyed their vacation in outdoor
| exercises of all kinds horseback riding
forming one of the principal pleasures. The
| two boys will now remain at Groton until
| the close of the school term.
| There have been many excursions to
| Washington in the last week or so, and the
| President has shaken hands with large
| number of people about noon each day,
| after he had filed his engagements with
| official visitors The President shook hands
| today with several hundred people who
! have come to Washington on excursions.
| By reason of the great amount of his time
| that is taken it is doubtful If such recep-
| tions will be continued.
| Sioux Indians Call.
Three fine-lookng Sioux Indians were in
| troduced to President Roosevelt today by
Senator Kittredge of South Dakota. They
were Chief Hump. Iron Lightning and
| Tape-tola Giles interpreter. Hump and Iron
| Lightning were each six feet tall, well built
and with fine features and bright eyes
They were once scouts in the service of
| the United States and did excellent work.
| They are now on reservation in South
| Dakota. All they wanted at the White
| House was to pay their respects to the
| Great Father" They enjoyed their visit,
and when they went away nodded their
| heads and said How" to everybody in
! range.
l.. 7. Brown, general superintendent of
| the Carnegie Steel Company; III. Davis of
the Homestead Steels Works, and j. Unger,
superintendent of the armor plate depart
ment of the Carnegie Steel Company, all OF
| Pittsburg, called on President Roosevelt
today. They are en- route to Norfolk, Va.
| to attend the ceremonies incident to the
launching of the battleship Virginia. They
| are enthusiastic about the new ship, de-
| claring that, when completed, 1t will be In
all respects the finest fighting machine
| afioat.
Simply Trot Against Time.
John 8. Wise Of New York. formerly OF