New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-17
ARMY AND NAVY notes.
Secretary Meyer Annoyed by
Leaks in Navy Department.
. IFrom The Tribune Bureau
u-a~.I,ir-fcr7 NJ

washington, May 10
NAVY DEPARTMENT LEAKS.-secre-
tary Meyer has been greatly annoyed by
appeals from competing bidders for I'M
portant annual contracts for certain naval
supplies. One of the controversies prevail
ing for two or three weeks is over the pro-
posal received by the paymaster general OF
the navy for the yearly stock OF gaskets
In the awarding of this contract, as in
other instances. it is necessary TO accept a
bid on the basis of samples submitted, and
1t usually requires two or three weeks for
the bureau for which the material IS pur-
chased to make comparative tests The
results Of these tests are usually regarded
as confidential and the recommendation OF
the bureau respecting the award is intended
only for the guidance Of the head of the de-
partment.
Mr.. Meyers office has recently been
deIuged with letters from Senators and
Repre- sntatives in behalf Of one or another
competing bidder for this gasket contract
and after investigation he learned that the
various bidders possessed sources OF tnfor-
nation within the bureaus The Secretary
was requested to take this or That acton
before the bureau recommendation reacneo
him. This Importantly has had the erect
of embarrassing the department. Mr. Meyer
has now issued instructions that the con-
sideration of bids by the various bureaus
shall be regarded as confidential and cnat
no information concerning the bureau
recommendation of bids shall be impaired,
except through the official channels
MIR. Never has been advised that some OF
the bidders maintain relation with employees
of the department for the purpose Of &C
curing advanced information and so block
ing official action. He believes that an en-
ploye Of the government should not repre-
sent bidders and should not give tnforma-
ton which will enable bidder 20 seek the
influence of his Representative or senator
There is some skeptimism regarding the
effect of this order, but Mr. Meyer enter
tains no doubt that his Instructions in the
matter will be effective and believes it will
be possible to trace TO it's source informa-
ton used by bidders in attempting to in
fuence departmental action.
ORDERS IssUED-The following orders
have been issued:
ARMT
Iisutenant Colonel. WILLIAM c LANGFTTI-
corps OF engineers. to duty as engineer secre-
tary OF Lighthouse Board renewing r4 III
corps OF. engineers. VINO will report 10 cnlei
Of engineers for duty. =
l TfeJrteuaut Colonel EUGENE LGADDs ukOE
rival at San Francisco, report 70 coLnLIl-no-
irg general Department Of California, a
adiutant general OF thai ,,rser n Gics1 -
as adjutant general Department OF the lakes:
vice Major HARRY c. HALE, 70 O11isna, es
Vice Maicr CHARLES ". KENNEDY. upon
expiration OF his detail in ad1utanI general ,
Colonel JAMES / KERR. after arrival in United
states and upon expiration OF present leave
OF absence to cf1ce Of ad1utant genera daIo, a.
CHARIEs. w. TAYLOR, to Denver, as ad-
irtsnt general Department OF the Colorado
Major BEAUMONT 3. BUCK. 18th Infantry: de-
tailed in adjutanr generals depaIIIIle No 70
take effect July IL thence 1 @ a.
the Columbia
Major WILLIAM D. CoNNOR corps OF en-
Efneers detailed chief engineer ofdcer camp
Of instruction at Gettysburg during July
Following officers medical corps 70 A[Lny g
Examination for promotion: Majors HENRY
p. sNYpER. PHILIP G W " Is Ai ,IesR.
RIFT w IRELAND, HENRY c. FISHEF
HENRY A. SHAW and FRANCIS A
Ff-st Ijsntenant STEPHEN o. FUQUA. 2sd n
fantry. detailed for duty pertaining 70 IN
struction- OF organized militia OF Lou $50
ming july IL
Second Lieutenant MAURICE, 3 - " L--a.-.- =
Fort Monroe June b 49,.
Leaves Of absence: Captain At.IaIE l. ~
gust Is; Captain ,FREpERICk z JOHN-
STON. paynnaster coast artllery), nrreen
Eft T. RICH. 26th Intantry, four months.
NAvY.
Srrxeon J B kaufman. commissioner
rsntain ". NJ PARKS. detached navy yard.
s S9T board navy yard washington. vice
Captain J K Barton, retired. 70 nome
Boston; 10 navy yard, New York