New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-21
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
lrHoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

washington.
DRYDoCK OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is eH-
pected with the contractors who are building the
big drvdock at the Mare Island Cali Navy Yard
These are the same from whom the Navy De
partment took away the contract for similar
structure at the League Island Penn) Navy yard
a year ago. At the same time a recommendation
was made that the Mare Island dock contract be
annuIlei also but influence was brought TO pear
upon the department to postpone this action nam
" upon the representation that the dock builders
would comply fully and promptly with the de-
partmental requirements and that the structure
would he completed and ready for use within a
reasonable period. The civil engineers in charge
OF this work at Mare Island now report that for
many months no work has been done on the dock.
and that previously such work attempted
resulted in nothing, owing to the destruction
wrought by the elements In the mean time the
correspondence with the Washington authorities
In an EFFORT 10 have this or that feature of the
Of the requests made have been refused. and dur
ing the present week the Navy Department has
declined to extend the time within which the dock
must be built So little has been accomplished
the department will be obliged TO annul the con-
tract and complete the work on Its own respOn-
sibility or relet the contract to another bider
NAVY MEAL TICKETS DIsHONORED.-The
navy meal ticket issued TO travelling enlisted men
Of the service has been dshonored in a number Of
places. and the Navy Department proposes 10
change the system of furnishing subsistence to the
enlisted force route under orders so that that
official instrument shall Do treated with respect.
When a bluejacket marine travels from point
point IN this country he IS furnished with tick
cts. each representing hfty-Cent meal These
tickets addressed 20 restaurant keepers and
hotel propretors. requesting them to furnish
meal not to exceed the price represented BY the
ticket This ticket hitherto was duly signed and
sent 70 Washington; whereupon vouchers were
sent back FOR formal signature. These vouchers
were then forwarded through the official channels
and eventually arrived at some navy pay once
The process Of settlement took at least three OF
four weeks. and may consume as TnuCh time as
three or four months. Added TO this crcurnS lance
IS the fact that the settlement OF ever voucher OF
tho government means an expense or 80 It was
found that restaurant keepers refused 10 pc hoth-
cred with tickets that required SO much red tape IN
the settlement Of the account, especially when the
meal II was found that at some places. notably
%e,y-yor}, restaurant prOprietors did not care
20 serve meals on any such troublesome -equsition
from the government. The Bureau ~ NaEicatlon
hos now co-operated with the Bureau OF supplies
and Accounts In preparing meal ticket walch VIII
he horOrcd by a cash payment when presented 70
me nearest navy pay office This may he accom-
r.Ifshed without signing vouchers or other papers
and without the consequent delay on inc oIlcla
srr-c,--I of accounts rendered This puts the
nur9e- 81 voucher work on the navy pay oHlcers
ybara a. more properly belongs than on the man
vbo serves a ffty-Cent meal TO an enlisted man OF
the navy.