New-York tribune., 1908-11-09
NAVY MEN GUESSING
THO REAR ADMIR4LS.
Goodrich Expected at Nary Yard
To-morro.r-The Florida Question.

---s &c not 2 little curiosity manifested ct the
- ard II Brooklyn as 70 Just what VIII happen
- Fer Admiral Caspar F Goodrich, the COM
.,ssut arrives home from his tTip TO Spain.
- he represented the United States at the
.-ses attending the centennial Of the siege Of
c.-srossa he is expected home tomorrow. and
- rfs arrival there vii he rear admirals II
oE,e Al the yard. holding offices in which one IS
.-,ho-sinate 10 the other and far below him il
.Ao-i.~ This IS the accepted rule IN case OF feet
81 sea where the commander in chief S a rear a6-
-riraI. each of the division commanders being Of
.ha same grade. but ~ a shore station It becomes
= altogether different matter. AS matter Of
esr- there VIII be three rear adrirals at the yard
hrt oue of them. Rear Admiral Conway Il. Arnold
rs the Dolphin for his flagship and is assigned to
ssa duty in command Of the third squadron q the
Atlantic feet SO he is interested in the OF
he C1Hce-s or shore duty.
TIE peculiar situation arises through the promo
sio- OF Captain James Dexter Adams. TIE captain
r the yard, 10 the higher grade, his commission
ha-f-r been issued . week ago. There has been
taTk of Rear Admiral Goodrich being kept or spe-
-ial duty until his retirement date. January next
leaving Read Admiral Adams acting command
Ert- but doubt has been cast on this programme,
IS # Is believed Izat there are plans affecting the
working forces and the bureau heads al the yard
20 which Admiral Goodrich Is held largely re
spousIbIe. ard their working out. Il is held VIII
naturally be-seft in his hands. II this view Is cor
rect the disposition of Admiral Adams becomes the
question % the hour.
There Is considerable 6issa abstraction al the yard
ever questions OF consolidation and arralgar1auon
and gloomy forebcdIaEs as 10 1le effect CT the
present trend OF affairs upon the personnel and the
efficiency Of the station are not confined 10 those
vho are opposed 20 the outlined plans It Is pointed
our that expected increase in efficiency and reduc-
ton OF cost has, except !n few Instances, turned
Just the other way that bureau allotrneIlts OF
money affected by unjust charges against them
that many of The men are working under condi-
z-r7f17 and Viii
sre 1rksonle 70 degree, well IS being IL conflict
with their trade organization rules and customs,
ard that even under the present only partly com
rleted plan the yard is far from being II the con
Irion II was when Admiral Evans praised it for its
efficiency
The ELORIDA'S ENGINES
Bids for tie construction Of tie machinery Of the
ra--Iesi Florida which Is 10 ea built At the yard
. III BE- opened to-day a the Navy Department n
Washington, and according 10 the present under
sLz-6i-- the bids Of the local steam engineering
bu-azu vii take their chances with the others
captain Parks having submitted estimates for both
turbine and reciprcc2-i-g tyre Of engines. The
po-Ee- oversize question as 70 whether OF not TIE
engines may 5e built by outside contractors s re-
Ez-5eG tie yard being much ike tempest
g. teapot -here EeiaE no doubt there of the Sec
---s-v Of the Navy having full power TO award the
contract Tor The engines outsiders If the interests
Cf the government call Tor such action. That IT
VII be fer the governments interest IN 90 So IS
I1- 5etieyel s1l5 there arc many reasons advanced
Why matter or policy and fn EieE of the de-
r.-zt--ry OF keeping Teu trained and expert
ho6y ct mechanics together % here they nay be at
-s-ud when wanted r1e engines should be built in
The IG-aI shops. which amply well equipped 70
luil5 anything IL that Iire which ---- 1e needed
L-e- are running ar present minor repair work
and Increasing the supply If standard articles which
v--- h= needed when The ships come horus but that
work Is slack ard The force Is GisirreEratlnc are
shown bv The dscha-rr last week Of about zev47tv-
men II. rle employ Of the bureau II viii De AZ
least rUo months before t1e AIsbarua is turned
n-s- 70 the yard fes her big ure-Halziuc- the e,-
-e11---rss on r'e tiS collier TesJal .4re limited 70
8 small monthly slin, and. beyond the preparatory
ve-s t7- the Florida, the finishing Of the Massa-