Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-13
SECRETARY METCALF
RETURNED TO THE NAVY DE-
PARTMENT TODAY.
Will Not Talk on Fleet, Nor Will He
Discuss the Japanese
Question.

Secretary Metcalf OF the Navy Depart
ment returned to Washington today after
an absence since June 29, when he started
for California to make his sensational
nouncement about the voyage OF the Allan
tic fleet of batteships to the Pacific coast.
He referred to the coming voyage a
dead issue" when asked concerning 1t to-
day. and decl ned either to enter upon a
discussion of that or the Japanese question.
On the latter subject he said he had heard
too much. and as to the Atlantic fleet he
declared that he had been out of touch with
the Navy Department for SO long that more
details had been made public here than had
been communicated to him
Incidentally Secretary Metcalf made a
fumDer or observations of Importance In
connection W tn the visit of the Atlantic
fleet to the Pacinc coast. He found that
while the government has only one dock
on the racine side that Is capable Of taking
battieship. there are a number of private
docks that might he available if needed
vi these there are two at San Francisco
Inc only government dock is at Bremerton
ana TINS !ocat on 1t Is believed. makes 1t
more than ordinarily probable that the en-
ure Meet may go as far north as Puget
souhd before returning to Atlantic waters
Concerning this probability Secretary Met
eaiI SAID that there Is water enough at
Bremerton TO take In the entire fleet at one
time. 'o
Outbreak at Bremerton.
The outbreak at Bremerton against the
hindu laborers and other orientals occurred
before the Secretary's departure for the
east. AS he was at the navy yard there
only one day he gained very little informa-
tion concerning the trouble. He declined
10 comment upon :he cause of the assault
upon the coolies. and would not make any
comparisons betw zen the situations at San
hn
sau!ted, and cities of Washington and
british Columbia. where the presence of the
skins melted the white laborers to violence
The labor question on the coast is he
coming more serious every day, said s &C.
retary Metcalf however, and he instanced
the TACT that the navy yards at Mare Is
land and Bremerton are working far under
their capacity by reason of the labor
famine He called attention also to the
fact that In the agricultural sections of the
west farm hands being paid as high
as 20 day. The transportation question
also found by the Secretary to he
serious. He said the railroads cannot be-
gin 10 haul the crops and the passenger
traffic Is SO heavy that advance bookings
nave to be made Tor Pullman accommo-
datons.
After his visit to San Francisco Secretary
Metcalf went into the mountains of north
ern California. where he hunted small
game by tramping. He scorned to hunt
large game, for the reason that he would
have been compelled to ride a horse and
he was taking his outing with view to
getting p!enty of leg exercise. Secretary
Garfield was in the same section for a time
but the two cabinet members did not meet
Secretary Metcalf said that one day while
dove shooting he almost hit Secretary Car
field. He was compelled to explain that he
meant he almost hit" Secretary Garfelds
trail
Important Matters Demand Attention.
There are number of important matters
in the Navy Department commanding Sec
rotary Metcalf's immediate attention.
Among them are the contracts for new SUBJ
marines and torpedo boats which have
been held up pending his return. Today
and tomorrow will be spent by the Secre-
tary In comforting with bureau chiefs to IA
mliarize himself with matters that trans
PRED during his long absence and the more
pressing matters will be taken up early
next week.
The Secretary has not determined when
he will go to Oyster Bay to report to the
President concerning his trip to the coast:
in fact he Is not certain whether he will
go at all. He may delay his report until
the Presidents return to Washington.