The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-20


matter was given out at the executive
department this morning and It includes
the following letters:
GOVERNOR GARvIN's. LETTER TO
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
May l2 1904
To the President. Theodore Roosevelt.
Washington. ID. c.
Dear Sir-Permit me 20 call your at
tention 10 n matter which is OF interest
10 the people OF this state
So far as | can learn, in every case
where United States battleship has
been named after A state of this Union,
the navy department has communicated
with the governor Of that state and has
requested him TO name n lady formally
20 give the states name to the ship
I'm accordance with the determination
OF the naval authorities
AS | understand II, the ship has no
name but only number until such for
mai act is performed, when she becomes
the namesake OF the state, and that this
function OF naming United States war
vessel is wholly in the hands OF the navy
department and In no wise rests, with the
private contractor or any person or COM
mittee outside OF that department. !
have also been informed that naval Off
GERS and the navy department were most
punctilious In the matter or etiquette
and form. and that they never departed
from the proper courtesies toward oni-
cial representatives.
INTERESTS THE CITIZENS.
From the public prints learn that ar
rangements have been completed for the
naming of the vessel Rhode Island. with
out consultation with the governor OF
l. l. ffaF n
no consequence. but feel that IL Is due
10 my Official position and TO the senti-
ment OF the people who placed me In this
office to mako inquiries of you as 10 the
reasons for this departure from the or
binary courtesies OF such an event
Whether Il is an oversight or an inten-
tional ignoring OF the chief magistrate
OF this state is question OF oeeP III
terest TO our citizens.
,,,sb clearly TO state that your
answer will be considered OF public ma
ture which will give a reply to the IN
.ouiries OF the citizens OF Rhode Island
who fail to understand the action oTtne |
navy department Awaiting your early |
response. / sign myself, most respect
fully.
Governor OF the state of Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations.
p Enclosed find copy Of a resolution |
Mssed by the Rhode Island general as
serbly Aprii IL. 1900. which shows that |
the governor OF the state was empowered |
AT that time to act officially In the |
naming Of the ship L. +. c. G..
FROM NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
Yesterday the governor recetved this |
letter from the national capital
White House. Washington,
May Is. 1904. |
sir-I am In receipt OF the following re- |
port from the acting secretary OF the |
navy:
referring to the letter dated the 18th |
inst, OF the governor OF Rhode Island, |
relative 10 choosing a sponsor to christen |
the battleship Rhode Island at her |
launching, which was referred TO the |
department by you for a full report In |
the premises, have the honor TO enclose |
herewith a copy of a letter. dated the |
18th OF April last from the contractors !
for the construction OF said vessel giving |
notice OF the selection OF a sponsor, and |
10 state that there is found no other |
correspondence on the files relating to |
this subject.
while the foregoing would seem TO be 4
a full compliance with your instructions. |
/ deem IL proper TO state for your further |
Information that although the depart
ment has in a number OF cases, when re- I
quested by the contractors, aided them.
through the governors OF states for |
which vessels were named. in selecting
sponsors such practice has been by no
means invariable.
NOT ADVISED OF SPONSOR.
It has not infrequently happened that |
the sponsor for a vessel was selected. as |
was done in the case OF the Rhode ISL |
and" without the departments assist |
ance, and In some cases without its |
knowledge beforehand AS instances men |
toned may be made OF the Alabama
and the Colorado" the former OF which |
launched. May 18th 1898. was christened |
by n daughter OF Hon. John T. Morgan. |
United States senator from the state For
which the vessel was named, while In the /
case OF the latter launched April 25. 1908.
II does not appear that the department |
was formally advised even as to who the 7
sponsor was.
I'm explanation OF the departments not
taking an active part in choosing spon-
sors for naval vessels, 1t may be said that
there is no appropriation from which the
expenses OF entertaining launching parties
and other guests on such occasions
could be paid, and that the contractors
always provide literally for expense or
this character
In short the occasion of the launching
OF a war vessel Is generally made a ship
ward holiday: a large number of invita-
tions are issued by the contractors. ex-
cursion trains are run and liberal COLA
ton Is served
LEFT TO CONTRACTORS.
1T would in my judgment be inexpe-
dent to take this matter out OF the
hands OF the contractors
The communication from the builders OF
the Rhode Island" referred TO In the
arst paragraph OF the foregoing letter. is
ls follows:
Quincy. Massachusetts. April l5, 1904
"Sir: The company requests you TO in
form the Bureau OF Construction q Re
pair and the Navy Department. that ar
have been made for the
launching OF Battleship No. IL. Rhode
island. on Saturday. April Sth. at i0:3o
~ clock
The vessel will be christened by Miss
Maud wetmore. daughter OF Senator
: nc,hnd.. N-ntrt,nra